A Call For Peaceful Coexistence
Since the evening of Tuesday, 29th September when the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, returned to Nigeria from his vacation in Europe, different narrations have filled the media space.
Most disturbing and requiring urgent address is a circulating video showing a group of individuals lined up along Airport Road, openly raining abuses and insults as the convoy of the President was passing. In the video, some persons were chanting “Ole! (Thief) Baba Werey! (Madman)”.
While everyone has the right to hold opinions about governance under Fundamental Human Rights in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the manner in which these abuses were hurled is deeply troubling and must be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians.
What makes this incident more dangerous is that the voices and intonations heard do not sound indigenous to the environment where it occurred. This raises concerns about hospitality and peaceful coexistence.
Lagos has always been known as a home of accommodation and hospitality. To openly abuse a President who is an elder statesman and an indigene of the State, on his own land, on a major road like Airport Road, is provocative and capable of setting a dangerous precedent for ethnic tension.
Today it is the President, tomorrow it could be a traditional ruler or an elder from the host community. We must not plant seeds of discord.
- Abuse of an Elder is an Abuse of Our Culture
In every Nigerian culture – Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Ijaw, Benin – respect for elders is non-negotiable. Our tradition teaches that even when we disagree with an elder, we do so with decorum.
- The Office of the President Deserves Respect
The President is the symbol of our collective sovereignty. You may disagree with policies, but the office must be respected. In civilized democracies, protest is done with placards and petitions, not vulgar abuse.
A Call to Action:
- Community leaders and parents should educate youths on respect for elders.
- All residents of Lagos, indigenes and non-indigenes, should uphold tolerance and mutual respect.
- Security agencies should ensure such open display of incivility against the highest office is discouraged.
Let us disagree with respect. Let us criticize with dignity. A society that loses respect for its elders has lost its moral compass.
Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak
Executive Director, Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA Global Resources Initiative)
08038040123 | humanrightsmonitors@yahoo.com