History Has No Emotions

History Has No Emotions

I was thinking this morning...... about history and emotions. I returned from church last Sunday to the very heartbreaking news of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, on it's way from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. All 157 persons onboard were killed including 19 United Nations staff members and 2 Nigerians. A Slovakian lost his wife and children in the unfortunate incident. Sad!

 

As the world mourned, Nigerians, especially those from the literary community also mourned the loss of the Nigerian-born Canadian Professor, Pius Adesanmi. In the midst of the emotions, sorrow, tears and shock, people were still able to tell of how great a poet, writer, satirist, teacher, literary critic and father he was. Tributes flowed both on social and mainstream media. As I reflected on each tribute, it occurred to me that in spite of the emotions people felt, everyone spoke about what they knew about Pius Adesanmi and how he had impacted their lives. At this point, it dawned on me that everyone will be judged by the impact they make, good or bad, reminding me of a statement by Reno Omokri, that 'History has no emotions. It will judge all, both men and women as they deserve.'

 

As I thought about what will be said about each of us at the fullness of time, I remembered Mike Igini, the Akwa Ibom INEC REC, who has been in the eye of the storm in this election season. While I was in the University of Benin (Uniben), he was the SUG president that fought the then VC, Prof. Onokerhoraye to a standstill and championed the June 12 protests. In 2015, a REC for Cross River State, he attacked the ruling party for a shambolic primary and in 2019, true to his character, he remained resolute in the face of attacks from the ruling party of the day. Many, having been freshly baked in the oven of partisan politics may have a contrary opinion of  him, but one thing I know is that 'History has no emotions. It will judge all, both men and women as they deserve.' And to all the political actors whose actions and inactions are causing pain and death, in a short time the emotions will peel off and you will be judged by your actions. History has no emotions.

 

Think about how crookedness has become the way of life for many Nigerians. You give your mechanic money for original spare parts, he buys a fake or a first-grade China (whatever that means) to make extra money. You apply for building permit from the government. The officer in-charge is expected to visit the site before approval, but he chooses to collect bribe and ignore the process. Then the builders or even the bricklayer, also chose to cut corners and use less cement than recommended so he could make extra bucks. Down the road, something goes awfully wrong like the Ita-Faji school building collapse. Souls are and everyone mourns. Just know, that history has no emotions. Everyone, whose crookedness contributed to this disaster will be judged as they deserve. In my reflection, Ecclesiastes 11:3 came to mind, 'If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.' Deep! In closing my thoughts, I say, be mindful of where you will fall because 'History has no emotions.'

 

Happy Sunday.

 

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