The Spectator Disease

In any sphere of human endeavour, one is either a spectator or a participant. And because it is a lot easier to be the former, especially in areas where the challenges are daunting, participants are comparatively in shorter supply. Defined as a person viewing anything; an onlooker, observer, a spectator’s task is simple: no task, just feed the eyes and move on. Being a spectator in itself isn’t abominable, but being one when the subject directly affects us is terrible. It is, in fact, a disease. 

Many of us in Nigeria have caught the Spectator Disease amidst so much to do in building this nation. We watch on as the nation is plundered by the wrong participants. Fine, we all get worried at the news of another kidnapping incident, or yet another bomb explosion or the killing of health workers. We all do not like the idea of politicians looting our common weal blind, and we know that, in total disregard of our rights as citizens, it does not take our votes to get some politicians into power. But what do we do than shrug off and trudge on?

We have presented ourselves as spectators in matters that we ought to act on, so the odd actors cease the moment and treat us like we lack the understanding and ability to participate. Like the spectators we are, and having being relegated to the stands by those who reap from our display of ignorance, we lay claim to false solace that we can affect our situation as bystanders. We have been brainwashed on one side and so much ravaged by our disease on the other into believing that by mere supporting a politician against the other, whether for reasons based on trivial sentiments, we have participated in the development process. That is the reason we vote, even when it doesn’t count; and criticise the government, knowing that it would fall on deaf ears.

As spectators of Project Nigeria, we are no more than football fans making demands on the players and coach without feeling the heat. We get fed with insufficient information and are allowed to travel far with speculations because that way, we are never going to truly know what is really going on. It is convenient for government officials to tell us how challenging running this country is, or how tirelessly they are working to put things right. With ease, government departments reel our figures to back their fabled achievements in 100 days or in their first term in office. To the contrary, all we see around us is extreme poverty, insecurity, unemployment, breakdown of infrastructure and many other deficits pointing to their failure. Yet, the spectator in us makes it impossible react to these realities.

Only in our Spectator Disease-plagued nation would an individual steal billions, flaunt his loot and even flout civil authorities. Government still haven’t got answers to the many corruption questions because, actually, we didn’t ask any. The horse meat scandal rocking the entire European Union started as a little suspicion in the United Kingdom, but because consumers have rights and have made themselves key players in the decision making process, EU leaders are jittery, while processed meat retailers know they are in for a big one. They all know too well that this seemingly small issue could degenerate and send the entire EU into another round of recession. All it takes is for consumers to reject processed meat made in the EU.

It was former US president George Bush who told Americans in his 2001 inaugural address that, “What you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort... I ask you to be citizens: citizens, NOT SPECTATORS; citizens, not subjects; responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character” (my emphasis).

Here, those in government may not have the guts to urge Nigerians to be active nation builders because it would involve dismantling the present structure that suits them right. However, they do not have to make a choice for us; whether to be responsible and responsive citizens or remain inactively bereaved spectators. The choice is ours.