I was thinking this morning ........ about Shame

SHAME

I was thinking this morning....... about shame and Jonathan Swift, who said 'I never wonder to see men wicked but often wonder to see them not ashamed.' I was literally dragged by the ear to this thought after I read an article in the Vanguard newspaper written by one Ugoji Egbujo about how in the face of massive accusations made by one Senator Missau against the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Force, Nigerians had remained unconcerned. He had written, 'Where on earth does a law enforcement agent accused of corruption begin an investigation into his accuser's past even before the dust raised by his accuser's allegation has settled? Only in Nigeria.' To me the article, though intriguing, could have been neatly laid to rest in my subconscious, but then I read the concluding sentence where he asked, 'Shame, why have you departed?' Hmm!!! A million bulbs were switched on in my head by that statement.

It really got me thinking about how shame had departed from our shores to a land far away. The other day that I visited Abuja, I was admiring how well planned the city is, with well groomed walkways. Suddenly, the apple juice in my mouth had changed to Alomo bitters, when I observed an FRSC officer deployed to this picturesque neighborhood, stand by the road, zip down and started to pee without giving a hoot about who was driving or walking by. Oh shame, why have you departed?

As I bowed my head in humility, I recalled the news item midweek of the marital infidelity of a certain Ghanaian TV personality and media sensation Afia Schwarzenegger to her husband, South African based Ghanaian businessman and professional instrumentalist Lawrence Abrokwa. Instead of her to hide her face in shame, she went on Instagram and wrote 'I am single.....ready to date your father.' It is heart breaking how people caught in infidelity these days easily brush it off like a dry dust on a brown shirt. Oh shame, why have you departed?

In my dejection, my mind flashed back to the news of the possible take over of Arik Air by Ethiopian Airline. I understand that poor management of anything Nigerian or owned by a Nigerian is pervasive, but can't understand why if we must handover, it will be to Ethiopia. Haba Jamaha!!! Are we so bad as a people that we want to shamelessly hand over our institutions to Ethiopia to help us manage? Oh shame, why have you departed?

I believe it is time to go bring back 'shame,' not because 'shame' by itself is good, but it helps to buffet the deviants and drive them towards dignity. 'Shame,' please return so that Nigerians can behave. But as for you that is upright, my word for you is 'Fear not, for you will not be put to shame' (Isaiah 54:4).

Happy Sunday.

.....Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.