Today, I am writing not as a member of any political party, not as a supporter of any politician, but simply as a concerned Nigerian who is tired, saddened, and worried about the direction we are heading as a people.
The recent kidnapping involving school children and teachers in Oyo State broke my heart.
As I followed the discussions online and offline, I expected people to focus on the victims, pray for their safety, sympathize with their families, and demand better security from those in authority.
Unfortunately, that was not what I saw.
Almost immediately, some people started saying the incident happened because the governor belongs to a particular political party. Others claimed it was the opposition trying to make the President look bad. Some blamed one party while others blamed another.
At that point, I asked myself a simple question:
Must everything in Nigeria be political?
-Children were kidnapped.
-Teachers were kidnapped.
-Families were thrown into fear and uncertainty.
-Parents could not sleep peacefully.
-Loved ones were praying and hoping for good news.
Yet, instead of focusing on the human tragedy before us, many people were busy scoring political points.
This is not how a healthy society behaves.
What happened to compassion?
What happened to empathy?
What happened to our shared humanity?
The truth is that insecurity does not recognize political parties.
Kidnappers do not care who you voted for.
Bandits do not ask whether you support ADC, APC, LP, NDC, NNPP, PDP, or any other party before attacking.
When tragedy strikes, everybody suffers.
Rich or poor.
Christian or Muslim.
North or South.
Government supporter or opposition supporter.
Pain does not discriminate.
Another thing that deeply troubles me is that many times we hear reports that ransom has been paid and victims have been released, but we rarely hear about the masterminds being arrested, prosecuted, and punished.
As ordinary citizens, we continue to live in fear while criminals seem to operate with increasing boldness.
This is not about attacking any government.
Every administration at different levels must take responsibility for protecting lives and property because that is one of the primary reasons government exists.
However, beyond government, there are important lessons that Nigerians must learn.
First, we must stop treating politicians like gods.
Most of the politicians we fight over today will shake hands tomorrow and move on with their lives.
Meanwhile, ordinary Nigerians remain the ones suffering the consequences of insecurity, unemployment, poor healthcare, and economic hardship.
Second, we must learn to value human lives above political loyalty.
No political victory is worth celebrating when innocent citizens are living in fear.
Third, we must learn to show empathy.
Just because a tragedy has not happened to you does not mean it cannot happen tomorrow.
The pain you mock today could become your reality tomorrow.
Finally, we must hold leaders accountable without turning every issue into a partisan battle.
Demanding security is not opposition.
Demanding justice is not hatred.
Demanding protection for innocent citizens is not politics.
It is our right.
My appeal to Nigerians is simple:
-Let us stop using people's pain, suffering, kidnapping, and death to score cheap political points.
-Let us stop worshipping politicians while ignoring the suffering of fellow citizens.
-Let us become a people who value humanity before politics.
A nation where citizens genuinely care for one another is stronger than a nation where everyone is divided along political lines.
May God comfort every family currently experiencing pain.
May He protect every innocent Nigerian.
And may we never lose our humanity in the pursuit of political arguments.
What are your thoughts, Nairalanders?
Do you think Nigerians have become too political when discussing issues of insecurity and human suffering?
Thank you for reading.
Mr. Odewale Adesoye
AKA Green Man
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