NIGERIA: THE DANGERS OF ARMCHAIR ACTIVISM – By Basil Chukwuezi

For any writer, ‘writer’s block’ manifests in two basic forms: when there is no idea about what to write and when there is an idea, but not how to write it.

I have struggled with the latter. What I wanted to write is the passive nature of the Nigerian person; in terms of reaction or response to miss-governance. We are very good at expressing our opinions about what government and politicians are doing wrong; and how the collective commonwealth is being squandered on the altar of corruption.

Once such issues arise, we are very vociferous in condemning it, but fail woefully short on what to do about it. We then wait for the next issue. We have even turned it into a comedy and drama, waiting for the next act and scene. When none is coming - or in fact sometimes, we throw it into mix – we look for what is happening in America and other western democracies and make it our major concern. 

This trend is what I will call armchair activism. If the writer’s block would allow me, I will title my piece, Nigeria: The Dangers of Armchair Activism. I will delve into definition of the terms, then propound the implications of the terms, and round up with the way forward.

However, this morning I found the best way to write the piece. It is to reproduce verbatim the story of a clergy man; and what he did when a boisterous storm arose in the sea of one of his parishes when he went visiting. For me it represents a clear suggestion of what the average Nigerian can do to bring about the change we so earnestly desire. Here is the story:

 

BISHOP ENEJA'S PHILOSOPHY OF 'GET YOUR OWN BROOM'

 

In one certain parish, the late Bishop Michael Eneja of Enugu Catholic Diocese was on a pastoral visit. That faithful late afternoon, the weather was very hot, such that staying inside the church or hall was not an option at all. The saintly bishop decided to have his teaching outside, under the avocado pea tree at the center of church premises.

 

This impromptu change of arrangement caused a stir, occasioning a lot of running around for the parish priest and other key officers of the parish council. The major drama happened when the parish priest returned with a conference table and discovered that the bishop had already picked up a broom at the front of the church and started sweeping.

 

On sighting the bishop bending down with a broom in his hand sweeping, the parish priest shouted, "My Lord, please don't do that to me! Give me the broom, let me do the sweeping myself!" Despite the priest's insistence, the bishop refused to allow him. On the contrary, he said to the priest, "Go and get your own broom."

 

In obedience, the parish priest went and picked up his own broom and started sweeping. It did not take long before the catechist arrived at the scene and saw both the His Lordship and the parish priest sweeping, and he nearly fainted!

The catechist rushed the parish priest to collect the broom from him but the priest told him, "Go and get your own broom."  The same continued until everyone who came for the conference got their own broom. Just within minutes the whole compound was clean and the bishop continued with his catechetical instruction.

 

 

Can we pick our own brooms and join in the sweeping? Whatever is wrong can be swept out by our collective action.

 

To set the ball rolling, I throw a challenge: from August 1-August 31, 2020, can we post on our social media pages this message either in the exact words or how best you see it:

 

 

 

NIGERIA!
WANTED: DEMONSTRATIVE ACTIVISM!

REJECT ARMCHAIR COMMENTARY!