2012 Crisis and Other Stories

"Suddenly the world has run amok and left you alone and sane behind." Wole Soyinka, Writer.

Many have wondered what 2012 would be like. I did not. But they did not have to wait far too long to see remnants of the turmoil-filled 2011 smuggle in its questionable character, stretched long like the map of Africa. In the United States, the once praised President Obama signed into law that would allow the military and the president to kill or detain US citizens without trial, for an unknown duration. The president, who's growing infamous minute by minute, added a note saying that he did not support this erosion of common civil rights/liberties of Americans, but he signed it so that the US military (the troops) would have the needed funds to carry out the spread of 'democracy' worldwide--of course, as they spread freedom abroad, Americans at home can face arbitrary arrest, could qualify as terrorists if a finger is missing or they have food stored lasting more than 7 days, and be killed without due process. Ironically, all this is very sane. That is how the year 2012 began, or that is how Obama wished Americans New Year: Enslavement.

Contrarily, 2012 stands to be a most difficult year. I mean the so-called revolutions--which I had better it remain as Arab Spring or North Africa Spring--have managed to remain in their basics, violated. Don't get me wrong, I respected the brothers and sisters in the North of Africa, their bravery and willingness to effect change. I cannot refer to these varieties of people 'awakening' as revolutions. This is what dominated North Africa for months while Israel was attempting to sabotage Iranian nuclear programmes. But this is 2012, so let me stick to that for a moment.
During the last week of December 2011, fuel price increases were announced in Ghana. A friend retorted saying those who increase the prices in the country do not buy fuel with their own cash. It is true. Their usual rigmarole between bus conductors and passengers occurred--Ghanaians settled in and allowed political/social commentators to take on the government. In fact, Hon. K.T. Hammong (MP), called the government "wicked" in a radio interview.

My people in Nigeria have found their inspiration from within themselves. Their anger. I for one think that anger without action is just a mere energy burnt. On the second day of 2012, the county announced removal of fuel subsidy. The people responded. A parody account of President Goodluck Jonathan was created on Twitter. The next day the hashtag #occupyNigeria appeared after people started mobilising to protest against the gross injustice. The protests went countrywide. A saw a tweet saying that some 300 police officers have joined the protests chanting anti-government slogans. I came by this website, occupy9ja, asking people to join up. No local television covered the protests. The BBC tried getting in there. I thought the BBC should cover its home protests, or give coverage to those in the USA and leave Nigeria alone. But that is an aside. Blogger Tolu Ogunlesi was on his game about How Not to Run a Country. I have never understood the nonsense in subsidies. A government uses the people's money to ameliorate their suffering and the government pretends they are doing the same people a favour? But this is all besides the point.

Listen to this: I want all Africans to know that great things will happen. If you refuse to give your time to aid its occurrence, it will still happen without you. I understand that this continent cannot remain segregated. That is what it is: SEGREGATED. While we cannot wipe now the imposition of maps and borderlines, we can begin by wiping those artificialities from our minds. We can connect, network and share to create a new society. If we around the continent, in other places, the sub-regions, don't assist our brothers and sisters fighting oppression, our time will come. Those who in their small mindedness cling to ethnicity as their core identity do not see the collective vision in the African identity. You will lose, and it is not worth living your life as a hermit--for yourself! Triumphing in your solo peace is discordant with continental peace.

It is important that those who write our stories take centre stage. They are our memories. They are the memory of history. The writers must pick up their pens, laptops, and write! Write for the children because they are our only hope. It was Ben Okri who said "Politics is the art of the possible; creativity is the art of the impossible." 

Let's not forget, Ghana was a politically radical space. Our maturity has been there long, and we can feed on it. So can others.The pseudo peace we enjoy in this space sits on a time bomb, ticking and waiting to explode us away. Pretending the artificial space we inhabit is what we are is a self betrayal, a betrayal of our collective intelligence. For as long us we think within these boundaries, the backwardness thereof shall inure to the benefit of Others.

2012 will bring the crisis. That is not the challenge at all. The challenge is realising that the quasi institutions we operate with are old, not meant for African and they need re-structuring and re-engineering. Our academic institutions, from the very basic level must begin to teach our origins to children. This is the only way to go: Slow but sure.

Meanwhile, we must be willing to support and aid those fighting oppression--we must resist the lure of half revolutions, while remembering that a revolution without the desired change is not a revolution.