By Isaac Uzaan
The advent of social media, and indeed, the influx of android phones might have robbed the youth of basic ethics, but politics has exerted a major force that pushed many of our youth completely out of the moral circle. Many have lost grip of rudimentary morals and have refused to recognize the concept of shared humanity.
The freedom of individuals to express their opinions, convictions, and beliefs is central to human existence. However, perfunctory politeness should be a guide to all that we say especially when the referent is human and elderly. Deliberate discourtesy on grounds of partisan politics has done us more harm than any good we could possibly think of.
A cursory look at the activities of our youth on social media will reveal the extent to which the Benue society is parting way with morality. As citizens, we have the prerogative to talk about the inadequacies of our political leaders. However, profanity and disrespectfulness will not bequeath a peaceful society for us. We may have political parties to support, but we also have a community to build and a future to protect.
We are left in a confined space of partisan politics and we talk irreverently about our elders. It is not by saying someone has a snout on their anus that people will know you for supporting a political party. It is not by bullying, hounding, and becoming vulgar that people will know you as Member of the Ruling Party (MRP) or Member of the Opposition Party (MOP).
Politics, over the years, had birthed for us the twin concepts of “Vawulence” and “Wotowoto” which were creating trouble for us every other day. Our youth did not even know when and where to apply either of these concepts. They could give one to an elder, a grandmother, a pastor, a father, and etcetera. It is so sad that even our traditional rulers got their share of ‘wotowoto’. Benue was gradually turning into a lawless society.
Android carriers were selected, trained, and placed on monthly subscription to talk down on perceived opponents. Elders, traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and even stakeholders whose views were contrary to what was going on during the regime were collecting insults in both active and passive voices.
The public domain in the state was flooded with expressions that were politically more acrimonious than ever before. Morally offensive language with no regard to gender, social decency, and personal dignity became the order of the day. The Benue political scene was frosty with vituperation and condemnations.
Thank goodness! We now have a priest in the lead, an epitome of true moral wisdom and knowledge. His vision is to build an economy based on functional education, employment generation, agricultural development and growth with a focus on food production and processing in a secured environment that ensures food security, wealth creation and poverty reduction.
His administration will uphold the prevailing standards of behavior that will enable Benue people live cooperatively.
The governor has already set out his administration on a sound footing. He is laying a very good foundation to fix what was completely broken. He is matching words with actions. If he says he is going to do something, he takes action to make that happen. His government is unlocked and opened to criticisms, but social decency and dignity of human persons must be upheld.
Fr. Alia understands the importance of togetherness. He knows that unity has great value in all walks of life. Through unity, his administration can surmount any challenge and accomplish any goal. Those seeking to create disunity in certain corners should better flip over and stay on the same page with him
Let us learn how to be decent in our criticisms. For instance, expressions such as ‘Ortom’s administration was a colossal waste of time and resources’ and ‘Bemgba Iortyom makes unsubstantiated claims’ are not socially indecent compared to saying 'John Honks is a womanizer' and 'Isaac Uzaan is an idiot'.
Friday, August 18, 2023
Comments