It was with something of a shock that I realized that almost all ‘concerned citizens’ sharing their views on the national minimum wage saga have not read a page of the National Minimum Wage Act 2019. Strange as it may sound, some are even oblivious of the existence of such a document.
It is usually easier and a lot more convenient for people to just embrace any side with the most appealing argument. Critical thinking is stressful, research is boring and ignorance is bliss. The more ‘sophisticated’ ones cleverly adopt the views of public figures that they hold in high regard and then simply move on. To do a little research of their own or examine issues more closely would mean wasting precious time. And alas, time is money.
The lure of the bliss of ignorance can be hard to resist, I know. But when one chooses to be willfully ignorant, what right do they have to complain about bad governance or other ills bedeviling our beloved country? The general populace of Nigeria is averse to analysis, research and statistics. These things bore them.
My countrymen are exceptionally good at outlining what they do not want. However, for some strange reasons, they cannot identify what they want. And these ‘concerned citizens’ can be found anywhere. Chances are that you have encountered one today or will run into one after reading this piece.
It was sometime in the middle of 2023 that I had the misfortune of boarding the same tricycle with a ‘concerned citizen’ who was bent on venting all his anger and frustration over a prevailing national issue. This passionate lamentation sent saliva flying about the cramped interior of the tricycle. I did not mind the shower of saliva.
I have come to accept such things as the price we pay for using public transport in Nigeria. So, I was forced to just sit and listen helplessly. But to my utter dismay, this countryman of mine kept repeating the phrase ‘fuel something’ in his painful monologue. It took me a while to figure out that the vexed fellow was actually talking about the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
I still cannot tell why this sheer display of ignorance offended me more deeply than the rain of saliva. Nobody in the tricycle engaged him. By unvoiced mutual consent, we reckoned that it would not be beyond this fellow to resort to fisticuffs should words fail him. But it is not only in tricycles or buses that these ‘concerned citizens’ are found. They are almost everywhere.
Have you been to a newsstand lately? Forget Mount Vesuvius and Mount Tambora. Newsstands in Nigeria are among the most volcanic spots on God’s green earth. Be warned, those ‘concerned citizens’ at newsstands are a fiery lot.
Their no-holds-barred verbal combats never fail to leave a lasting impression on the uninitiated and first-timers. A mischievous old friend of mine, tired of their endless arguments, dubbed them The Standing Parliament. Perhaps our lawmakers, if they humble themselves, might actually learn a thing or two from these great debaters.
The vigour they invest in their absurd arguments is worthy of emulation. Not that I am suggesting that our lawmakers should make illogical arguments in plenary. Our lawmakers cannot stoop so low, can they? But I digress!
It is truly mindboggling how a newsstand, a place where information and knowledge abound is the same place where the most illogical theories are propounded and argued vigorously, and falsehood and propaganda reign supreme. At the risk of sounding arrogant, I dare say that these newsstand dwellers have very little or no grasp at all of economic theories, social theories, national politics and world politics.
Hence, holding a sound and informed view of issues can in itself be dangerous around newsstands. So, you will do well to take your informed opinion elsewhere. Why people argue violently about issues that are thoroughly analyzed in the pages of the newspapers lying idly in front of them remains a puzzle.
Yes, newspaper vendors hate it when people merely pick up papers to read but refuse to buy. But can you blame them? Why would a fellow who can afford to buy sachet alcohol two or three times a day not be able to buy papers at least once in a while?
The social media space is arguably the biggest tenement of ‘concerned citizens’ in Nigeria. The breed of ‘concerned citizens’ on our social media space are even more brazen in their display and pursuit of ignorance. Surely, one of the positives of social media is that it has made it possible for people to display their stupidity on a more grand scale and to a much wider audience. Whether by design or by accident, this in itself is an unprecedented feat. READ ALSO:
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Our social media space is replete with people who only share and repost. Fact-checking or research is forbidden. Jaundiced views and falsehood spread quickly as people share and repost mindlessly. Sadly, millions of Nigerians form their beliefs and opinions from misleading information on social media. Who is to blame?
Again, I understand that the bliss of ignorance is alluring. But ignorance is steep. On this note, I implore all ‘concerned citizens’ to truly show concern. Let members of the esteemed standing parliament at various newsstands purchase those newspapers and actually read them. Granted, one loses certain privileges like privacy and dignity when they use public transport.
But let the ‘concerned citizens’ in buses, tricycles and cars have mercy on other travelers. Let them argue and wail about national issues a little more constructively. I honestly do not know how we can rid our social media space of fake news, falsehood and prejudiced views. But we can start by exercising a little caution before hitting the repost and share buttons.
Ekene Ezebuike, mystaheze@gmail.com
