The chaos before and after

What we have and are witnessing in Nigeria cannot have been a surprise to many people who have examined with introspect the issues that have challenged this nation state since independence. Unfortunately, in the month the country marked her 60th birthday, things have finally come to a boil. The external chaos that has led to deaths and looting in some parts of the country speak to a greater danger.

Our leaders' indifference - tone deaf to the hellish situation that has built up, speaks to the anarchy that has fermented over time on the collective psyche of the Nigerian citizen by politicians and the military. The chaos before has been caused by politicians who thought [foolishly] we would never reach this point.

The chaos after is what we have at the moment. Now there has been an outburst and the suppressed anger is now in the open. It will be safe and unfortunate to say it will never again be status quo in the country.

This chaos was institutionalised by the continuous gang rape, thus can our supposed leaders be surprised at the exploding anger?

Their derision has been catalysed by the economic anarchy wreaked by COVID-19 and unfortunately, there will be no going back. While it is possible to arrest the anger with empathy and action, the Nigerian leader is already cast as the eternal villain who has to be sent to hell. To repair that rapacious image will literally take a walk from hell to heaven.