I believe everyone should commit radically to self-awareness, especially Nigerian Youths (And most especially my GEN-Z baddies) Now remember, the formation of self-awareness won’t mean an absence of Bias; it means you will recognize the complexity of a given situation, and circumspect properly. Nigeria has dealt all of us our fair share of “WTF” – from the policemen detaining you because they saw a message to a male friend that read “I love you” To the lackadaisical institutions, to the recalcitrant Tech Bros who say the most bizarre things unchallenged, to Elon musk being your landlord. it’s very easy to throw caution to the wind and “insult their papa” on Twitter- ooh Twitter, the place where anyone who goes against the popular opinion is seen as the antichrist and I believe to a large extent, we are all guilty of this crime. Although, my first resolve is not rascality or insult when someone says something I instinctively disagree with, but my doubling down can come off a bit intense, especially if it’s something triggering (Trigger has become a ubiquitous euphemism to us GEN-Z for when we can’t stomach an opinion)

The last eight years in Nigeria was one for the books, so the just-concluded election birthed some insane hostility, the current president wasn’t my first choice; I went for Peter Obi because even though I can’t ostensibly speak on his antecedent (radical honesty) he represented what the Nigerian dream should be and that anything is possible and Nigeria could experience endless possibilities, inspired by the joys and grit of young change-makers, so yeah, I joined in (albeit responsibly to a large degree) to chastise anyone that “dared raise their ugly head against him” (I hope the sarcasm isn’t lost on you?). However, the elections have come and gone, and although I wish Peter would reclaim his mandate, these past couple of months have been a teaching moment for me and I reckon that Nuance is a hallmark of civilization.

For Nigerian youths to see things better, it is imperative to move away from Black and white ideological thinking and embrace Nuance. Nuance allows for a deeper understanding of complex issues, acknowledging that reality is seldom confined to simplistic binary choices, and although political ideologies can shape policies, we should not be afraid to shift them sometimes. Drawing parallels with the USA, we can see how ideological shifts have influenced the nation’s course. The political pendulum often swings back and forth (it’s giving Bisexual), emphasizing the need for a balanced approach rather than an exclusive focus on one ideology. For us to move forward as a nation, we must be willing to treat differing ideologies and opinions as climbing walls and not cage fights and apply Nuance to Governance scenarios. I am liberal in ideology; I believe people should love whoever they want and be themselves but I am also against making life-altering choices for children, I am against referring to women as (Cis) and I believe that Trans people should be referred to as “Trans”.

This complexity doesn’t make me Downlow pro-LGBT, it means you cannot subjectify Truth; and No, Two contradictory truths cannot exist, if that is the case; it means to a certain degree you are right and the other person is wrong and to a certain degree you are wrong and the other person is right. But for two contradictory truths to exist will mean a factual inaccuracy. Remember what you call “Your truth” is simply your bias speaking and it’s okay to acknowledge them.

I love the martyrdom that blooms in most Nigerian millennials and Gen-Z, however, the Bible says; “Before you go to the strong man’s house, you must first bind him”, we can’t martyr our way into a new Nigeria. Pastor Adeferashain made a comment during the election and he was chewed raw and spat out on Twitter, but that’s the truth- Saul will always come before David. Ever wondered why God (who is all-powerful) asked Mary to take Jesus and run away? Why he allowed the Israelites to stay in Egypt for that long? Why he hardened the heart of the pharaoh? Why John the Baptist stayed hidden till the time was right? It’s okay to grovel, to pander, to want access, but the essential difference is; “make sure to rewrite the status quo” and slowly we can phase out the corrupt and underqualified people. It’s easy to build a castle with your mouth, but nation-building is a compromise, it’s Nuance, it’s the long ball, and it’s strategic.

I’m not saying close your eyes to iniquity or not call out vile when you see it, by all means, please do. But I am offering a perspective, the perspective of treating differing opinions as climbing walls, of recognizing Nuance and constructively driving the point home. A perspective of radical self-awareness, recognizing those biases and allowing others to have them too. We must “Cook” on Twitter, but staying “quiet” can also suffice. Governance is not a fixed formula; it is a dynamic and evolving process. The complexities of governing a diverse nation like Nigeria require a nuanced approach and although Government must be held accountable- I believe private sectors, SMEs and startups will build this nation. America is great because it is built on the backs of Private sectors and SMEs. what we need are good policies that will allow businesses to thrive.

On a final note. Grateful to JJ. Omojuwa for inspiring this piece. Stay Well my 4 followers and anybody that will get to read this. If you say it’s too long, then you don’t deserve groceries 😊.