Justin Trudeau: Unhealthy Song From Nigerians

Sociopolitical commentators online have been buzzing about the recent developments in Canada, particularly with the emergence of 43-year-old Justin Trudeau as the Prime Minister of a developed nation like Canada. What surprises me is not just the excitement and commentary from this part of the world (Nigeria), but also our failure to recognize that a similar scenario could have played out in Nigeria. This is largely due to our ingrained, subservient nature and our tendency to be minions without independent thought.
The colonial legacy of godfatherism has deeply ingrained a mentality of servitude in our subconscious. Erasing this mentality would require a sociocultural reawakening, which, in my opinion, is a prerequisite for rediscovering our lost identity and humanity.
If we had a deeper understanding of the debilitating effects of the godfather-godson relationship, we would strive to eliminate godfatherism from our sociopolitical landscape. Knowing that a godfather would never allow a godson to ascend to leadership while he is still alive, one would think twice before entering such an imbalanced relationship that benefits only the godfather at the expense of the godson.
We can change this narrative, but how can we do so without a conscious and deliberate effort to alter the status quo? Not long ago, before the 2015 general election, then-President Goodluck Jonathan made a statement that someone older than him would not succeed him. Although this statement was far-reaching, it was also laughable. Jonathan, who spoke about the need for a new generation to take over, failed to apply this principle when it came to the key players in his administration, such as Edwin Kiagbodo Clark and Anthony Akhakon Anenih, who wielded more power than his official cabinet.
Today, we have President Muhammadu Buhari, who is old enough to be the father of Justin Trudeau, managing a 21st-century Nigeria where a new generation is still entangled in the web of godfatherism. To be clear, I am not against Buhari’s presidency. In fact, it reflects the reality that people get the leadership they deserve. If the younger generation fails to claim their rightful place, the older generation will continue to shape their fate. It’s as simple as that.

UNEXPECTED LOVE

Enchanted by her beauty, which was further enhanced by her intellectual acumen, he was captivated by the way she radiated the effulgence of the goddess of love. He couldn’t resist the urge to express his feelings to her. Despite the class barrier that existed between them, his love for her transcended societal boundaries. Pressing forward, he walked briskly to her and said, “With you is where I belong, and that’s where I want to be.”

She, pleasantly astonished by his courage and the ease with which he spoke, was overwhelmed by a commoner who, defying the societal norms for interactions between an aristocrat and a commoner, disregarded the social divide. She smiled at him in response to his advances. Accompanied by her maids and bodyguards, she glided into the palatial building with grace and poise.

Convinced that genuine love was in the air, the young man was overwhelmed with joy and excitement and was unable to sleep the night he met his love. Being someone who never relents in his pursuit when he sees a glimmer of hope, he went to the stream, knowing she would be there.

From a visible distance, he saw the beat of his heart. He walked straight to her, oblivious to those around her. Speaking in anticipation of her response, he looked into her eyes with a squint as though he was searching deep within her soul for the unquenchable fire of her affection and said, “If Romeo truly died for Juliet's love, then I’m ready to die for you, and if need be, live for your love.”

She looked at him smiling, though she tried to conceal her blush, for she was swept off her feet by his choice of words. She responded, “If what you say reflects your feelings towards me, then I propose you do something to prove your love for me.”

Not wanting to give her any reason to doubt his love, he said, “Speak like a flowing river, and I’ll go with the tide like a helpless fish.”

“I propose you serve in my father’s vineyard for seven years without pay,” she said. She made this proposal, mindful of the deceptive nature of men, who might promise anything in their desperation to win a woman's affection without meaning a word of it.

Prodding him further, she said, “I’ve heard sweet words from nobles—men trained to speak in captivating and irresistible ways - but I’m not easily fascinated by their sugar-coated tongues. They often turn out to be a show of sweet treachery. But to hear these words coming from someone considered a ‘nobody’ leaves me stranded in utter amazement.”

To be continued...