In life, human beings find themselves in situations they care and do not care about regularly. These situations bring about different reactions in different individuals. As different as these reactions are, they could be seen as right or wrong depending on the individual; I would use myself as an example.
In public transport, whenever there is an argument with the driver or conductor, I hardly say anything depending on the situation. For example, in a situation where the driver is over speeding and most of the passengers are shouting at the driver at the same time, I say nothing. I like to sit in the front seat, so, if the passengers keep shouting, sometimes I just look at the driver and in a low tone tell him to please reduce the speed (it works 70% of the time). Other times, I either ignore the situation based on my definition of what I think over speeding is or get down at the next busstop.
I realized shouting can be an impediment to communication and a bit irritating to the receiver. The passengers want to pass across a point they think is valid (the drivers do not agree), but their approach can be wrong at times. When many people are trying to solve an issue at the same time, without paying attention to their fellow passengers' opinion, they, do not pass any information across. They need to learn to listen as they speak and while they speak in a way that they can hear and be heard effectively. In this scenario, everyone in the bus is trying to say the driver overspeeding, but if we talk at the same time, it becomes noise.
Another scenario, where the passengers are shouting about an issue I am not interested in or does not affect me, I listen to their arguments and say nothing. Why? As I said earlier, it does not concern me. I respect their concerns and opinions regarding the issue, but because I can not relate to it, so, I keep quiet. I have learnt to listen to things that do not concern me, and through their discussion, I discover more reason why it does not concern me, sometimes I learn about reasons why it could concern me; and reason it concerns the speaker. Since, I can not help solve it, support it or create a valid solution, I will rather keep quiet than insult them by belittling their concerns as unimportant.
Let me use this #ENDSARS protest as an example. I am Nigerian, I am a youth, I have siblings, I have parents, I have family, I have friends, I have foes and colleagues; and none of this people, to the best of my knowledge have superpowers. The summary of this long list means SARS is my problem directly or indirectly. I support the #ENDSARS protest for a zillion and one reasons (like I could be killed or anybody on my list could be killed, as we lack superpowers like immortality), but that is not why I am here today.
Today is for the people I tag as my DARLINGS, that is the Pro SARS individuals, for those who do not care about the #ENDSARS protests, and finally, to those who do not care about the #ENDSARS protest and have an opinion about why the protest is useless. I need to tell you something, and I will use scenarios to tell you this, please listen.
Scenario 1: Let us say a SARS official caught a random youth for a crime they think he committed, and he gets a chance to run into a crowd of random individuals. Do you know there is a 1% (let's pick a small number) chance they could shoot at him, they miss, YOU die. I know you have started with the God forbid bad thing prayer, well, the people who died too, never expected it.
Scenario 2: My DARLINGS, you seem to think there is a dress code for the people SARS allegedly arrest, there isn't (apart from looking good that we know about). They mostly work on instinct, their instinct tells them that you look like a criminal, so voila, YOU could be next. Another God forbid abi, let's see how long you will last.
Scenario 3: My cute babies, I know you know about stray bullets, well I do not think I have to explain that to you, but let me explain it anyways. DARLINGS, you do know that one of the definitions of the word, STRAY is "To wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way", meaning a STRAY bullet can deviate and find its way to YOU while you are at home minding your business. I just thought you should know.
Scenario 4: To my DARLINGS, who do not have children in the country and you obviously believe the #ENDSARS does not concern you. It is true, it is actually none of your business, as long as your children NEVER visit the country. You see those fresh out the States kids, looking fly with their designer clothes, iPhones, airpods, looking all delicious and sweet, well, they fit the perfect description of a criminal, because according to some rules, SARS have a right to arrest you if they believe you can not afford what you are wearing, driving or using. So your fresh kids are their best friends (you get what I mean, do not say I told you this). Well, they could even be killed before they get home from the airport, at least you might get their bodies. Well, what do I know, it is just a scenario.
Scenario 5: Do you know that you do not know all your children's friends? You are looking for the point in this right? Let us use the KANIPE (meaning assuming) scenerio, so, KANIPE the SARS officials are to arrest an alleged criminal, and the said criminal is your precious child's friend, and they do not find this criminal, but luckily, your child went visiting that day, well, there is a 99% possiblity, your precious child will be arrested instead. But, it still can not be your child abi, I thought so too.
Scenario 6: Do you know about mistaken identity? Well, if you do not know about it, at least you know the meaning of a mistake. So, YOU or YOU PRECIOUS CHILD, could look like the alleged criminal, and that is all they need. This can never be your portion abi, I know you do not look like anybody.
Scenario 7: You know the adage, "Omo eni ku, o san ju Omo eni sonu lo" (meaning it is better for ones child to die than to be missing). Well DARLINGS, if per chance YOU or your precious children are fortunate enough to encounter SARS, based on your cooperation or lack of cooperation, you could become missing. Nobody would know where you are, that is, if you are even still alive.
These are some scenarios, and do you know why I like scenarios, it is because they are endless. Anything can happen at anytime. So, hang in there and wait.
It is important to note that this is not a plea for you to support the #ENDSARS cause; we just want you to please be quiet if you have nothing useful to say that will benefit our cause. We appreciate, want, and in a polite manner beg you to SHUT UP, also known as, KEEP QUIET.
My DARLINGS, I forgot to add, do you know that if we, the #ENDSARS fighters lose our lives or lose this cause, you are next because the SARS do not know who were for or against them. So lets see how it goes. Finally DARLINGS, I hope you have a blessed SARS-full month.
To the people and organisations supporting and fighting for the #ENDSARS, may you be strengthened and may our voices be heard and right results gotten.
Stay safe.
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Beautiful piece. God bless you darling
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