We Are Not All Jonathanians: The Right to Wail

It is a dangerous trend, one that seeks to summarily discount the opinion of others as irrelevant, or even untrue just because the opinion holder is perceived to be a PDP supporter or voted for Goodluck Jonathan. The term, I believe, that settles it all (particularly on the Twitterverse) when engaging in verbal fisticuffs, no matter how intellectually beneficial such an engagement might be, is referring to that person as a “wailing wailer” or “Jonathanian”. At the mention of that name, every perceived enemy of the current national government blows up in smoke puff. That in itself is not such a bad thing. Healthy banter should be encouraged as it strengthens democratic discourse.

However, the way in which the derogatory index of such terms is rising and the sacrosanctness it has gained is troubling. I have seen where calling someone a wailer has ended a debate on twitter much in the same light as one would think only God Almighty could end something. Much to the cheering admiration of the other half.

You see, I don’t know how many people actually know this but people have the right to wail. They have the right to be Jonathanians and to lend their voices to every and anything they see wrong with the current national government. You know what’s more beautiful about that? They need not have voted for any of the candidates to enjoy it. Hell, if they had voted for former president Goodluck Jonathan they’ll still enjoy that right regardless. Do you know why? President Muhammadu Buhari while taking his oath of office didn’t swear to uphold the constitution, territorial integrity, protect life and property of only those who voted him. He didn’t swear to be a President of the APC. He swore to be the president of Nigeria. Their president. So he answers to them because there are Nigeria citizens and that is the job he vied for. So you see we all have the express right to wail.? The fact that a few people think, only they can point out government shortcomings as rights ascribed to them for voting APC is wrong; silly funny even.

That been said, permit me to make my main point. I have reached the point of exasperation on this issue of people having to be GEJites, Jonathanians and wailing wailers. The thinking that one cannot seek nuance but must be constrained to the binary notions of PDP vs APC, PMB vs GEJ, Amaechi vs Wike is saddening cum insulting. The views of people are expressed based on the ambit of their thoughts, not of the interpreter. So when I oppose APC from presenting a corrupt candidate as a “change” candidate it is not because I am supporting PDP it is because I’m supporting Nigeria. Surely anyone with the mind of 5 year old with the ability to perform simple arithmetic functions knows that the rights of 180 million people to good governance supersede that of one individual to lead.

Not every voice that rises against the APC today is that of a Jonathanian. Certainly the mundanity of classifying everyone under those two groups is clear to anyone with a mind that reasons beyond binary. The trader in Wuse market just wants the economy to pick up so he can make money and send his daughter to school. He could care less about President Buhari or the PDP or even Biafra. The Fisherman in Otuoke just wants a new policy that helps him export his catch to Ghana or process and can it. The same thing with the Yam farmer in Shendam and the wheelbarrow pusher in Kafanchan and the school girl in Konduga and the millionaire in Argungu. They are neither for Jonathan nor Buhari. They are for themselves.

I have observed with benign sadness, sometimes smiling wryly, at the way these words are thrown around on social media. Denigrating and deprecating individuals with low self esteem, leaving a wake of scarred citizens who did nothing but express a counter view. Yet, some think social media should not be regulated, just so they can continue to bully others unabated. Yet even the the most advanced nations have laws against cyber bullying. Well, back to the matter.

Truth is, we need an opposite side of every view. It is the very essence of a democracy. It is as important as free and fair elections, if not more. A docile opposition breeds complacency in leadership. Without a potent opposition to previous governments, Nigeria would’ve lost “$20 billion” without any eyelid batting. That is plain dangerous, but not for the governing party or its loyalist. It is dangerous for Nigeria.

So for our country’s sake, let the wailers wail. Let the Jonathanians spew their irrelevance, let both sides of the argument be aired and let Nigeria win from the ensuing debate.

Originally published on ekekeee.com, November 15, 2015