BY: Mr Daniel Ezeoha
A PHILOSOPHER’S STONE ? : WHAT IS INGRATITUDE ? WHO IS AN INGRATE ? WHAT IS BETRAYAL ? WHO IS A BETRAYER ? WHAT IS A LIE ? WHO IS A LIAR ?~ D. H ELUKE ( EZEOHA)
In every measure or yardstick used in categorising the attitudes or demeanours of humans, there is usually a manifestation of these traits: ingratitude ,betrayals ,and peddling of falsehood.
A human can decide to repay evil with good done unto him or her and vice versa. He or she may betray a tower of trust built unto him or her and he or she may continuously resolve to be a merchant of lies! All these bizarre attitudes of humans are brought to bare, mainly, in the naked glare of Nigerian politics.
Within the murky waters of Nigerian politics or its geopolitical space, characters or politicians are clad in the garbs of ingratitude , coats of betrayals and ” agbada” of falsehood or lies.
Over the years, we are inundated with stories of how a particular character or politician assisted another to rise to political stardom and the moment there is a clash of interest , the “praiser” turns against the ” praisee”and begins to twist narratives he had already dished out to the public for consumption.
Although I have Rivers State politics in mind, this incident has become a recurrent decimal in Nigerian geopolitical arena or space. Then, who is an ingrate? Who wears ingratitude as a clothe ? I do know know ,very well too, that before any typical Nigerian politician decides to elevate or assist you , there is truly a skill or product which he desires to benefit from.
And this has to be in sync with his political interest or nothing else could be achieved in this light ! The moment this clashes , conflict sets in and news of an ingrate or ingratitude begins to fly up and down . Who is, then, an ingrate ? The “praiser ” or “praisee “? Could it not be anyone who flouts the pact of an unwritten agreement ?
Who has betrayed who? Who has not betrayed ? Virtually, every politician in Nigeria , from 1999-2024 , has switched loyalty from one camp, faction, group or party to another. In the event of the build up to the 4th Republic, we had AD, APP, PDP and later AC, ACN, ANPP, APC and PDP, LP, NNPN among others. Within this deceptive assemblage of liars , who has maintained one camp or faction since then till now ? In politics , there is always one interest. There is no permanent friend or enemy but permanent interest. Besides, in politics , self first is not selfishness !
Every politician is elaborately costumed in falsehood or peddling of lies . One Sterling attribute of a quintessential Nigerian politician is that S/he savours in telling lies . What they say or believe in the morning , they would not say or believe at noon or in the night . Who is not a liar? This piece is informed by the stories of ingratitude ,betrayals and falsehood on the lips of Rivers politicians .
In all this , we must be cautioned that no virgin is found in a labour ward or room at a hospital . Was it not the Oracle of Delphi which proclaimed Socrates as the wisest of all men ? Even , Pythagoras ( 582-497 BC) preferred to be known and addressed as a philosopher or a lover of wisdom ? It is ,indeed , time for all to begin to philosophise before talking ,especially, in the public domain . ” Physicians heal thyselves “. Whose legitimate right is it to express ingratitude ? Betray ? Or tell lies always ?Anytime a master does it, there is no problem but when a servant does same , it becomes a problem!
Peoplesmind
