I recently saw a post by one of my Facebook friends saying the Ooni of Ife should “off his mic” and I was alarmed. My alarm arose from the fact that the individual making this disrespectful statement is a Yoruba man who is fully versed about the revered office of the Ooni. The volume of my alarm was increased when I started seeing similar posts from other friends and on other social media platforms subtly or crudely attacking the Ooni for condemning the immoral showcase showcasing on DSTV’s Big Brother Naija Season 5. These posts reminded me of the moral, social, and cultural decadence we have experienced in the last few decades. We are in an era where disrespecting and disregarding traditional institutions and values seems to be hip. Where rape is so rampant even among clergymen. Where illegitimate wealth is now seen as legitimate by many. Where stealing from government coffers now happens without any fear of being handcuffed. Our traditional values of yesteryears are now traded for the worst values from the Western world. Whenever I visit most homes, I am always amazed at the disobedience of children when given simple instructions. Soon, we might start hearing kids telling their parents, “Mum, that is silly!”. The erosion of the African cultural value where parents and Monarchs are highly regarded and respected is a value worth sustaining because one day you will be old or occupy an office where respect for your age or wisdom or office helps to ensure law and order.

An actress, Lilian Afegbai, recently noted the fact that Bambam and TeddyA who had sex in a recent edition of BBNaija are now married as a justification for the debauchery often happening at night in the Big Brother House. With this kind of justification, one would not be surprised if other celebrities site another example of a prostitute who is now happily married as the way to be happily married. These are perilous times and public figures and institutions should do all to safeguard our cultural values. The federal government quickly reversed itself irresponsibly when Lai Mohammed realized the distractive potentials of BBNaija to keep Nigerians from addressing the failures of this administration the way Lebanese citizens protested and forced their government to resign. Respected Monarchs like the Ooni of Ife and the Orodje of Okpe hosted Bambam and TeddyA, and Efemoney respectively like sons and daughters who have performed unimaginable feats not too long ago. It is this kind of celebration by the society that continues to diminish our standard of living and cultural values.

The Ooni of Ife is majestically right about his analysis of the fraction of Nigerians who voted during the last presidential election and the huge numbers who voted for BBNaija contestants in Season 4. A clear case of our misplaced priorities. When other citizens of the world are sacking their governments, who are less incompetent with protests and other peaceful processes, Nigerians are spending their time and money watching the sleeping activities of BBNaija housemates. They are voting repeatedly and forming teams like team #Nengi. This is nothing short or far from lunacy. These abnormalities also show our inability to fully appraise our damning situation very well. Virtually every gain recorded during Obasanjo, Yar’ Adua, and Goodluck’s administration have been extinguished. The civil societies are in long-term hibernation. Ironically, we had to be reminded by Diezani that Hishpupi is now a role model for many. The question that is repeatedly begging for answer is how did we get here? Among other paths, we got here by tolerating, celebrating, and deifying the likes of Tinubu, Ibori, El Rufai, Nnamdi Kanu who are all national zeros and local heroes. This is the phenomenon that is at the heart of most of the irresponsible leadership we have experienced in Africa. African leaders have the confidence that their kinsmen will always celebrate and accommodate them after throwing peanuts to them. The average Lagosian, Central Deltan, Islamic Northerner, and average South-Easterner see the above-named individuals through a selfish and short-sighted prism that is one of the fundamental factors of our retrogression. These men do not care about anyone but themselves, their family, and their empire.

Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com