One of the most gripping narratives by the Chinua Achebe is a short story set in South Eastern Nigeria, about a mad man and a chief. In Igboland, age is respected but achievements are revered. In line with this cultural profile, a very prominent man was to be accorded the highest title in the land. Few days to the ceremony, on the village market day, the chief went to the village stream to bathe. While relishing the soothing effect of the water, a mad man approached the stream. The chief feeling offended that a lunatic would contemplate bathing with him, a hot exchange ensued between them. Threatening fire and brimstone, the chief ordered the mad man to get out of the scene. The lunatic responded by carting away the prominent man’s clothing. Enraged, the chief gave the villain a hot chase, forgetting he was naked. As the duo ran past the crowded market, the abominable sight of a naked chief in hot pursuit of a lunatic was immediately interpreted to mean that the chief had lost his head.
Without asking any question, the prominent citizen was overpowered by concerned kinsmen, who bundled him to his home, while the entire community was thrown into deep mourning. The relatives engaged the best native doctors in the land to cure the chief of supposed insanity. The numerous medicine men who administered treatment without interviewing the patient recorded no success as he maintained a stoic silence. After all no one had actually sought his own account of the ugly incident. In exasperation, the relations, obliged the request of the village quack who broke the jinx with a simple question, “What happened sir?”
The quack became a hero for “curing “the man. The chief’s sanity was restored, but the losses were unimaginable. He lost his ambition, his reputation and social status, among others.
Back to the basics, this tragic story takes its root from the poor handling of the source of the crisis or the lack of etiquette. The chief was bathing in the village stream, a collective resource of the entire community, the mad man had as much entitlement to the stream as the eminent citizen. Did the chief have every reason to be apprehensive? The answer is in the affirmative.
Etiquette deals with how the apprehension was conveyed. How the differences in opinion
are articulated. Tolerance, respect and consideration for the sensibilities of others is paramount. This becomes imperative in this season of divergent views across Nigeria with the gladiators dancing to the drum beats from the tower of babel. Across the nation are discordant tunes for self-determination, referendum, quit notice, which are all expressions of differences of opinion. Unfortunately the manner in which these views are expressed is not only deficient of decorum but downright condemnable. Fanning the embers of national discord and gyrating along our fault lines in an unprecedented level of disunity. These are interesting times indeed.
Etiquette demands that these regional duelists explore a more decent approach in their propositions. Such language must be devoid of derogatory words capable of damaging the fabric of national unity. One way to go is by being diplomatic, which former British Prime Minister, Winston S. Churchill defined cleverly: “Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for direction.”
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has played a commendable role in this regard. In the various consultations with the leaders of different regions, Osinbajo has been able to communicate government position unequivocally. Encapsulated in his charismatic approach is a no go zone-Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable. Without mincing words, this hard line position is well packaged without drawing the ire or offending the sensibilities of divergent views. His mastery of social graces is grossly on display as he engages different pressure groups, patiently listens to the grievances of perceived marginalization.
Etiquette demands a cleansing of the stifling verbal pollution assaulting the sensibilities of the apolitical populace. The regional pugilists must shun offensive and disparaging comments deliberately manifesting a disrespectful attitude to others in their discussion of sensitive issues that bother on the sovereignty of the land. Special appeal must be made to the social media combatants who have made decent exchange of views impossible. Some of these invisible warriors hide behind pseudo-identities to vent unprintable expletives.
Etiquette presents humongous opportunity in the midst of this chaos for the occupants in the corridor of sanity. Like the supposed village quack who was shot to fame by simply asking the fundamental question, such patriots must rise to the occasion by steering the discourse of pressing national issues along the line of decorum. Such bridge builders must save our beloved country from the precipice. Nigeria belongs to us all.
God bless Nigeria, Good people, great nation.