NATURE VS NUTURE - by Oluseyi Vandy

I am an optimist, not stupid. I believe that at the core of every Nigerian lies an optimist. How else will you explain them waking up each day to a worse condition or news than the day before? Still function, go about their day, think and do business. The issue is that the environment is not healthy, and so the ability to adapt becomes something grotesque, even though it's a good trait. It morphs into something that shouldn't be normal. Nature Vs Nuture. Friedrich Nietzsche once said "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. We've all at one point or another looked at the heart of the country, and know it's broken. But some how, some way, it still beats. It's an anomaly that can not be explained with a clear mind. We see a system that will break anyone, yet the people keep going. I believe Nigerians by nature are happy people, but the society and events have twisted that very nature to the point where people joke about things that should not be smiled about. Nothing holds value, not even life. We all know of the Chibok incident, kids writing exams with candles late at night, the +300 students taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School. All these events are events that should have halted a nation. Yet, people move on from it. Their focus switch to whatever new distractions, gossip or event is going on. At a time when insecurity is at an all time high, people still speak of Detty December. My question is what future do we think we are to look forward to? Can we even begin to fathom what children being exposed to this level of darkness will birth? It made me reflect deeply. The Brotherhood may be disappointed in reading this next lines. No, I do not excuse the hyperfocus on money and bad characters, but is it a wonder that our women are aggressive in nature? They go out everyday and the society shows them that the weak will be eaten up and you have 2 options; toughen up to survive, or pray for a miracle. Let me tell you, miracles are not meant to be an everyday occurrence. It shows up to supplement that 2% gap in an already functioning system. We have failed. Woefully, in every way. All that is precious and should be protected has been violated; the law, human dignity, the fairer sex, children. It seems like there is nothing sacred. This is a vivid image of the reality we live in, yet we move on. Numb, isolated, in pursuit of the next fix; laughter, party, gossip, enjoyment, etc. When will enough actually be enough? Is there a limit to what we can take, or have we been irreparably broken that the only way it all stops is when we have left this earth? We have failed, but failing is supposed to be a step before we get it right. The question is are we ever going to be willing to say "Pause, we cannot continue living like this?" The social contract makes it clear that the legitimacy of government lies only in the belief the people have in government. The people GIVE over power and AGREE to follow the directions. The state SERVES and FEARS the people. IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. Even kings know that power is a fickle thing when their subjects are not at peace

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