HIERARCHY AND RESPONSIBILITY

There is a theory on language put forward by Edward Sapir (1884-1939) and Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897-1941) known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. The theory states that the structure of a language helps to determine how its native speakers perceive and categorize experience. It is a principle of linguistic relativity which believes that how a language is structured influences thought patterns. In other words, the culture, mentality, reasoning, strengths, weaknesses, behavior, etc of a people are coded in their language. In Nigeria for instance, we have sizeable evidence in our languages to prove that ours is a society big on respect for elders. This is a huge society-driven responsibility which places the success, the unity of our place, firmly in the hands of these elders.

  

It is for this reason that in Nigerian languages – in all that I know – there are no equivalent words for “brother”, “sister”, “niece”, “nephew”, “uncle” and “aunt”. In Yoruba for example, your sibling has to be defined (and, of course, conceptualized by you) as an elder or younger sibling. So, instead of brother and sister, there is only “egbon” and “aburo”, the older or the younger. This ensures that hierarchy is instituted right from the start at home. Respect for elders has become automatic. Has care been taken that this privilege is not abused, or is this what has brought us to where we are today? 

       

Being the smallest unit of a society, gerontocracy and hierarchy begin from the family; so is taking responsibility. If, as the first child, you enjoy the prerogative of making the first choice, then you are also groomed and expected to take responsibility. This is the ideology behind the notion of ministerial and collective responsibility. We can safely say that our customs, cultures and traditions were designed for responsible leadership by our forbearers.  This respect for that burden is evident in the crop of leaders that emerged during the struggle for self-rule. The Azikiwes, the Awolowos, the Saudanas, the Balewas were the last set of leaders who followed the trusted leadership template encoded in the way we were programmed to live.

Today’s leaders have failed. They only crave the one side of the leadership coin which gives them access to our natural resources. They are totally focused on hogging what has been entrusted to them to equitably distribute. They do not take responsibility as leaders of big society and lead by example, such that we are taught by example to mimic the good deeds of the elder, our role model. Instead, we are taught only arrogance, recklessness, greed and selfishness; a very explosive combination in a young poorly groomed mind.

In the Nigerian family, when the elder shirks responsibility, that institution called parenting withdraws the perks attached to their ‘office’. Other watchdogs such as uncles, aunts, etc are available to constantly remind them of their responsibilities. The extended family is very much part of this foundation and consequently any clan member could lodge a valid complaint, which would strip elders of their place, if found to be wanting. At what stage did we lose these control mechanisms?

Today, ruler-ship has replaced leadership. His is extractive and selfish and will unwittingly harvest unrest, whilst trying to protect his priority, his selfish interest! The consequences of years of this elitism are here for all to see.  What we are experiencing today is our failing state. The Northern part of Nigeria is particularly worrisome. I may be wrong, but in my opinion there are three failed predominantly Islamic areas in the world: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern Nigeria. Everywhere else where there is conflict with a majority of Muslims involved (such as in Palestine, Egypt or Iran), the people there can articulate their grievances or what they stand for.

Who is Boko Haram? What do they want? If they are a pro-Muslim organization, then why are they killing their own, terrorizing the nation and attempting to break our unity? Our leaders can answer these questions. The system has failed the people. We have been excluded and the vast majority is young, poor, idle and uneducated. An explosive cocktail which we cannot run from as we do not know when and where they will chase us but chase us they will. We hear the same clichéd statements every day, while the death toll soars. We must fight for a voice and take Nigeria back.  

Abuja Bomb Explosion

My thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who lost their lives in that heinous attack in Nyanja, Abuja. It could have been any of us. May their souls rest in peace and may their lives like so many before them not be lost in vain.