I beg you sir, stop all "this is Nigeria...dehumanized..." crap. Its so old. Professor Ilemobade's death in the hands of two, possibly mentally ill employees is tragic and unconscionable. But it does not reflect Nigeria, and the worth of human life in Nigeria. It represents a most deadly phenomenon, to which we have not paid real attention: it is the level of untreated mental ill-health in that country, some of which manifest in crime and recidivism. The state of psychiatric care is atrocious. I have a theory that about 15% of Nigerian adults are clinically mad; some go about and seem normal; some exhibit these characteristics and it is often covered up in what we generally describe as the "Nigerian way," but it is about time that we paid attention to these factors. Only mentally ill people could do what those two did to this eminent, octogenerian scholar. Not even the police have clinical psychologists, equipped enough to debrief these two, and understand the specific drive to this kind of crime and its potential pattern, because it will happen again.
We also need to rethink our notions of "private security" and the problematic "big man syndrome." Many of those we employ to man our gates have criminal pasts, or at least questionable pasts. We have no crime database for background check. We are often left alone in crucial moments with them. When we discard collective, communal security, for the current garrison existence of the Nigerian "big man," the true victim in the end is eventually the "big man." Finally, the level of mass poverty - specifically, its most dangerous form - the poverty of the mind, has driven many people round the bend, to use a cliché. Everybody in Nigeria who sleeps behind a gated house must have real cause to worry, because Okafor's law is clear on this matter: those who hide their wealth behind fences give fangs to envy and discontent. Those who have eaten, and are satisfied, and who then go to bed soundly upstairs in their iron towers, indifferent to their neighbours are candidates for suicide. They sleep while most of their neighbors stay awake from churning stomach dry with hunger, and who because they cannot sleep clear their throats meaningfully.
Professor Ilemobade is a victim of something hat has happened to Nigerian society, but it is not a reflection of the state of Nigerian consciousness or reality. Nigerians are not unfeeling, nor is this kind of murderous cruelty widespread to the point where no one now truly cares. To say, "this is Nigeria for you, largely dehumanized..." is not discontent, it is incontinence. We must stop all these clichéd forms of generalization; it does not do much; it only reflects an unhelpful, cynical, quite empty "I'm-better-than-Nigeria" mindset. I think we must confront this problem. How? I'm not quite sure; but I have a few ideas; and it is a matter of doing what intellectuals in other societies have done to salvage their societies in moments of catastrophe: organize, take charge of the political process by all means necessary, and pursue nation building as a historical imperative. Self-satisfied, "I-told-you-so", or the lachrymal "how-for-do-now?," no longer work, nor do they mean anything, really. Nor do all the theories we spout in this mutual admiration society called the academy about our worlds that have failed of any consequence when we come right down to it. We must do something, or stay mute.
Obi Nwakanma
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2015 11:04:35 -0700
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Prof Ilemobade's killers must face full wrath of law —Mimiko
From: dayagboyaju@gmail.com
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
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We also need to rethink our notions of "private security" and the problematic "big man syndrome." Many of those we employ to man our gates have criminal pasts, or at least questionable pasts. We have no crime database for background check. We are often left alone in crucial moments with them. When we discard collective, communal security, for the current garrison existence of the Nigerian "big man," the true victim in the end is eventually the "big man." Finally, the level of mass poverty - specifically, its most dangerous form - the poverty of the mind, has driven many people round the bend, to use a cliché. Everybody in Nigeria who sleeps behind a gated house must have real cause to worry, because Okafor's law is clear on this matter: those who hide their wealth behind fences give fangs to envy and discontent. Those who have eaten, and are satisfied, and who then go to bed soundly upstairs in their iron towers, indifferent to their neighbours are candidates for suicide. They sleep while most of their neighbors stay awake from churning stomach dry with hunger, and who because they cannot sleep clear their throats meaningfully.
Professor Ilemobade is a victim of something hat has happened to Nigerian society, but it is not a reflection of the state of Nigerian consciousness or reality. Nigerians are not unfeeling, nor is this kind of murderous cruelty widespread to the point where no one now truly cares. To say, "this is Nigeria for you, largely dehumanized..." is not discontent, it is incontinence. We must stop all these clichéd forms of generalization; it does not do much; it only reflects an unhelpful, cynical, quite empty "I'm-better-than-Nigeria" mindset. I think we must confront this problem. How? I'm not quite sure; but I have a few ideas; and it is a matter of doing what intellectuals in other societies have done to salvage their societies in moments of catastrophe: organize, take charge of the political process by all means necessary, and pursue nation building as a historical imperative. Self-satisfied, "I-told-you-so", or the lachrymal "how-for-do-now?," no longer work, nor do they mean anything, really. Nor do all the theories we spout in this mutual admiration society called the academy about our worlds that have failed of any consequence when we come right down to it. We must do something, or stay mute.
Obi Nwakanma
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2015 11:04:35 -0700
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Prof Ilemobade's killers must face full wrath of law —Mimiko
From: dayagboyaju@gmail.com
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
This is Nigeria for you.Largely dehumanized.Human life worths next to nothing.
On 1 Jul 2015 19:02, "Segun Ogungbemi" <seguno2013@gmail.com> wrote:
The abduction and the strangulation of the former VC of Federal University of Technology Akure came as a rude shock. The killers did not even show any sense of remorse which was expected of a normal human being. They are hardened criminals.A thorough investigation should be made to unearth the perpetrators of this heinous and criminal act.A great lesson to the rest of us. May the Almighty grant his family and friends the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss of this great mind and personality.
Prof. Segun Ogungbemi
On Jul 1, 2015, at 2:51 AM, "'Funmi Tofowomo Okelola' via USA Africa Dialogue Series" <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:http://tribuneonlineng.com/node/9663Prof Ilemobade's killers must face full wrath of law —Mimiko
Written by:Hakeem Gbadamosi - AkureTHE Ondo state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, on Tuesday, assured family of former vice chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure ( FUTA), Professor Albert Ilemobade that the perpetrators of the gruesome murder would not go unpunished.Mimiko, who stated this during his visit to the house of the deceased in Ijapo Estate in Akure, Ondo state capital, described the late don as a man who devoted his entire life to the service of humanity.The governor, who was accompanied by member of the Ondo State Executive, Director of State Security Services, Christian Ojobor, representative of the state Commissioner of Police, among others, said the deceased lived a life worthy of celebration.He frowned on the manner the former vice chancellor was killed, even as he commended the efforts of the security agents in the state, for getting to the root of the incident.The governor, who later visited the store where the corpse of the deceased was kept by the culprits, enjoined people to always look into the profile and details of whoever they employed as their domestic workers.Responding on behalf of the family, the deceased first son, Adesola Ilemobade appreciated the governor and his team for the visit and called for justice, describing the death of his father as a great lossHe described his father as a great man who left a great impact and heritage that would be followed by his children.
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