About a week ago, I was passing through one of Lagos’ very busy roads and an ambulance, its sirens blaring, was trying to manoeuvre its way through the traffic, repeatedly sounding its horn, its driver frantically announcing that there was an emergency. A few people tried to move, others just sat still, unyielding, while the ambulance driver was helpless. About a day before, I had seen a similar incident; this time, it was a police vehicle honking for cars to move aside. In less than a minute, everyone moved to the side and the police van drove through. Only yesterday, I learnt from a friend about how her uncle had been involved in an accident, and that while he was left there to bleed, his phones, laptop and even wrist watch were stolen, with no attempt at offering assistance.
These incidents and many more I will refer to in this spiel make me wonder, what really is the value of a Nigerian life? Some weeks ago, a story made the rounds about indiscriminate shooting by a Customs official because he was refused a bribe. A few days ago, we heard of another indiscriminate shooting incident by a policeman in Ayobo, Lagos State, even though the police have denied it.
To add to all of these, our roads are death traps a good opportunity for highway robbers and killers, or worse off, for unsavory road accidents. And while these killings and accidents are on the rise, nobody cares. The average Nigerian who is alive merely thanks God that ‘it was not him’. The government in power only makes an offhand statement, if any will be made at all, condemning the incident, while the responsible law enforcement agencies, in instances where they are the culprits, are skilled in denials; well worded press statements that play on the intelligence of citizens.
And soon after the tragedy, everyone claps their hands in amazement, heaves sighs, and moves on, as though the dead are the unlucky gamers in a game of musical chairs; the ones who after the music stopped, could not find any of life’s chairs to sit on.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections were just concluded, with violence in certain quarters and reports of absence of security personnel, or where they were there, their passiveness. This again attests to the fact that the Nigerian life is in the hands of the Nigerian; that he has no assurance of security from the government.
With all the politicking that has been happening in recent times, which of the candidates we keep rooting for has assured us that the Nigerian life would mean something? Which of them has a roadmap for affordable healthcare or low-cost housing or increased security or border control? Yet, we, the ones who bear the brunt of it all, walk to the polls and imprint against their logos, endorsing another four years for people who do not place value on the Nigerian life. Until we reverse this trend, the Nigerian life would be worth next to nothing.
Caleb Adebayo,
calebadebayoc@gmail.com
and then