WHEN IS ONE WITHOUT SENTIMENTS IN POLITICAL ANALYSIS?

As I sit back to reflect over the last few months, it occurred to me that from January to May of 2015 the frequent word spoken that have captured my ear-time and my reading time through discussions and interactions with friends, colleagues, commentators and other wish wishers  have been the word “sentiments”. From the sunrise of the political struggle on the journey to Asso rock characterized by campaign, accusations and counter accusations from different factions to the mid-day of queuing at the polling units and resting with the sunset of the inauguration of Nigeria’s current president, most discussions have the statement “let us keep sentiments aside” when an individual is about to drum support for his candidate. This prompted me to ask when an individual is objective in a political analysis.

An attribute common among some Nigerians that constitute the “so-called minorities” in northern Nigeria moments preceding the presidential election based on my observation was that when an individual drums support for President Buhari, he is termed objective, patriotic and has the love of country at heart while if another does same for former President Goodluck Jonathan he is term as sentimental, biased and subjective. Despite being among the Nigerian population that contributed to the present government coming into power with a mindset that as it was in 2011 so shall it not be in 2015, I do not consider myself more objective, more patriotic and less subjective than other Nigerians that wanted continuity with the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan. I feel Nigerians were protecting their interest and they all have right to do so as my preference for “pate” over rice does not necessarily means the later is better than the former but has more to do with personal choice.  

As a social scientist I was taught that objectivity indicates the attempt to observe things as they are, without falsifying observations to accord with some preconceived world view. It is the ability to perceive or describe something without being influenced by personal emotions or prejudices and the fact or quality of being accurate, unbiased, and independent of individual perceptions. However, Karl Gunnar Myrdal a Swedish Nobel Laureate economist, sociologist and politician opined that total objectivity is an illusion which can never be achieved because view points are guided by subjectivity. The Spanish painter and sculptor Pablo Picasso using his profession to define objectivity said “Painting is a blind man's profession; He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen”

In the natural science where inanimate objects are primary targets, objectivity can be achieved while in the social science where animate objects are used complete objectivity is not guaranteed. We may align ourselves with any of the above school of thoughts but in my opinion, telling an individual not to use sentiments is a calculated attempt to guide that individual towards an expected pattern of analysis or response. Hence as the saying goes that refusing to take a decision among a range of options available to an individual is a decision itself, I would say telling an individual not to involve sentiments is sentiments itself.

Bijimi Daniel Meindous

@Dmeindous

MY HUGE WEEKEND PLANS

The night was hot and dark, the noon and stars were on vacation and NEPA (PHCN) were asleep leaving the ability to use our sight at the mercy of the security lights from houses that could afford a generator and fuel to make it work. As we walked down the streets to where we could rest our heads for the night, arguments on which player was at his best or worst and how the officiating went clouded our discussions. Among us were three groups, those jubilating that Juventus are through to the finals and those visibly disappointed that Real Madrid could not progress to the next level and people like us that were indifferent on the result and only enjoyed a good football match.      

The group became smaller and smaller as the journey progressed when individuals reached the junction leading to their destination and bid the group farewell, soon I was left alone with my thoughts as I walked into my compound and opened the door heading straight to the kitchen to satisfy a slight hunger harassing my system before getting down to continue writing the report of an activity we just had in the office. At least I enjoyed watching the champions league semi final second leg match between Real Madrid and Juventus so I did not feel I wasted my time or energy.

As the plan to satisfy my hunger progressed arithmetically, my plans for the remaining days of the week and the weekend ran through my mind; I had a tailor to see to prepare my uniform which we are to launch in church on Sunday, I had promised visiting some friends whom I have not seen since we all traveled for the election break in March, I planned cooking “pate” on Saturday, I needed to do a little sanitation as dust and cobwebs covered my room, I needed to do some laundry and I had three societal meetings to attend at the weekend.

My thoughts was suddenly interrupted, my phone was ringing. Who was calling I wonder? It is 10:02 pm who could this be and what does he/she wants? I reluctantly moved to the phone but with the speed of light my reluctance was transformed to anxiety as I saw the caller; it was my employer. Did I do something wrong? Is there any emergency? Why is my boss calling me at this hour? To satisfy my curiosity I picked the call and the following conversation took place

Me: Hello, good evening sir               

My employer: Bijimi, how are you? Hope I did not wake you up

Me: no sir am still awake

My employer: can you join us tomorrow by 7 am to go to Abuja to conduct some interviews? We will be gone for six days? We can pick you up at the office.

Me: yes sir, I will be in the office by 7am

My employer: ok thank you, see you tomorrow

Me: thank you sir, good night     

The news swallowed my hunger and my appetite suddenly travelled, I thought of the plans I made and I had to immediately place a call to everyone we had an arrangement with and tell them I cannot make it or will not be available.  From some, the response was “okay safe journey” while others was “anyhow sha, you are always traveling” and the third group were “you will miss our activity on Sunday”. I had a few hours to prepare, I had laundry to do and taking it to Abuja is not necessarily a good idea but I knew I would find a way out.

By 12:37 am I was set, all pack and ready to sleep, as I laid on my back staring at the dark ceiling enduring the hot environment and dusty breeze dancing around my neighborhood, I thought of how a few hours ago I had different plans with what I have now and how I will be in a different environment than what I earlier planned for. Then it occurred to me and I asked myself, what if it was God that called me? What if it was death that knocked on my door? What if it was the saying that man proposes and God disposes? The thoughts returned my hunger as it came back jumping and making its presence felt.      

I said to myself that is how death comes; it takes you by surprise without warning or prior notice and one will never have the time to bid friends and family farewell. Surely then, death should be a major plan in our activities as Gods plans and the laws of nature will always prevail.

  

May we be ready when God calls and death comes knocking. Amen.

By

Bijimi Daniel Meindous  

AS IT WAS IN 2011 SO SHALL IT NOT BE IN 2015

As the political drama is unfolding and the struggle for vote continues to gather momentum, I remember with “mix feelings” how we mounted our tents and supported our candidate four years ago.  On the cold Saturday morning of 16^th April 2011, I joyfully joined the queue in my polling unit to perform my civic responsibility and give my mandate to a man I believed had the potential and will-power to lead our great country.

In him I saw a man with experience in contemporary government and Nigerian politics that within a decade he has been a deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president. Surely he was the best man for the job; he knows the problems of our country (I thought) and had gathered relevant knowledge, experience and skills needed.    

Using sentiments, I saw him as one like us. A man bless by God from a humble background enjoying the benefits his name connotes. I thought of him as the Moses of our time who will lead us through the red sea away from the domination and dehumanizing treatment we suffered under the so called Pharaohs. 

Base on his educational attainment, I was over-joy that we will have an academicians piloting the affairs of our country. I shared in the sentiment that a better educated person with a PhD can salvage Nigeria and elevate us from the economic quagmire we were into.

Four years have come and gone and I will be queuing again to exercise my civic responsibility.  I keep looking for reasons to place my thumb print the same way I did four years ago but the more I search for propelling factors, the more I discover inhibiting factors. After four years I cannot look at myself in the mirror and say my expectations for a better Nigeria under the man I voted for has been met.    

What happened to the experience? What happened to the academic qualification? What happened to the man with a humble background? What happened to the man with a burning desire to change our country? What happened to the slogan if I can do it then you too can do it? What happened to the Moses of our time? I had hoped that after four years we should be seeing development and not listening to promises.

As been said “the devil you know is better than the angle you do not know” I have decided to place my hope in the angle I do not know as the devil I know seem unable to captain the Nigerian ship. I have decided to let go of my bird at hand in search of two in the bush, I will follow this part covered with uncertainties but having a ray of hope to ensure that AS IT WAS IN 2011 SO SHALL IT NOT BE IN 2015

Bijimi Daniel Meindous

Twitter handle @Dmeindous

Blog site www.dmeindous@blogspot.com

Tribute to Mr. Christopher Bognet

Tribute to Mr. Christopher Bognet

It would have been a good day

But the sun refused to shine

The cold hand of death was at work

And my hero traveled! Never to return

Wish the news was a joke

I was looking forward to seeing you at our annual reunion

To listen to your elderly works

Oh no! Mr. Christopher Bognet

Being your student was an honor

Having you as a mentor was a privilege

Confiding in you as a friend was a golden opportunity

Our tomorrow is shining because you were a father

From your wealth of experience I learn

That the hen comes from the egg

So also the egg comes from the hen

You never hesitated to teach me  

That the shape of the nose matters not

As long as one can breathe through it

And the size of the head has no significance

Provided it can think and reason

Rest on my motivated motivator

Sleep well my disciplined disciplinarian

Farewell my formative formator

Safe journey my teachable teacher, till we meet again

Adieu Mr. Christopher Bognet

By

Bijimi Daniel Meindous

THE DISAPPOINTED HOPE.

With three eggs in her nest

Awaiting hatching in three days

She savor the sweetness of three offspring

With joy of being a mother of three

Then comes the storm

That blew away her dreams

Denied her the joy of motherhood

Leaving her with three wasted efforts

So many things runs through her mind

 What if I had a stronger nest?

What if I put my eggs in three different nests?

What if I used a friendlier three?

What if, just what if?

She ponders and wonders

 At the turn of events

Oh her disappointed hope

Oh no, not from you she cried

Experience now, her bitter lesson

But she wipes her eyes to move on

Looking at the sun for clarity

By

Bijimi Daniel Meindous.