The title of this article reminds me of a TV sitcom in the Eighties where a Spanish guy, in a UK class of multinationals, was asked to give an example of a “metaphor”.

He leapt up and said: ” I went to this Club, saw this girl and met-her-for a drink!”

It is not such linguistic challenges that this article refers to however.

It is the careless public use of inappropriate verbal communication that enhances conflict rather than address the actual subject of communication.

I had a patient in my London clinic recently.

“Where is your pain?” I asked.

He began a soliloquy of disgruntled complaints about doctors and the healthcare system.

I sat back and listened, looking at the clock hanging behind him.

Consultation

Nine out of his 35 minutes consultation had drifted away; still I knew nothing about his condition.

Eventually, he directed his anger and abuse at me in a generalized sort of non-specific way.

I folded both hands behind my neck and slid my chair backwards.

Calmly, I interrupted: “Sir, I am sorry you feel that way about ‘us lot’. I think you will be better served by a second opinion elsewhere.”

My English rolled out as if I was Prince Charles’s cousin.

The man stared – what’s that cliche? – “like a deer in headlights”.

Here was a patient with many years of severe incapacitating pain, bounced around the system for years, whom after many months of waiting, now sat in front of the one individual that he has been told would help solve his problems.

What does he do?

He launches into a tirade of anger and abuse.

I seized on his blinded-deer silence. “The consultation is over, sir. Pleasure to meet you.”

My Nurse stood up to escort him out.

The UK National Health Service does not tolerate abuse of any member of its staff, irrespective of cadre. Such aggressive behaviour is common in frontline specialties like A/E, Xray but we sometimes see it in the Pain Clinic also, because of pain and pain medications.

Later that evening, while browsing Nigerian newspapers online, I observed, sadly, a similar verbal attitude amongst many in our public arena.

From those out of office to those in office, to those seeking office; from has-beens to have-nows and want-to-haves; between knowns and unknowns, famous and infamous…the dialogue sometimes turns sour. In front of a global public audience, aggressive, abusive and acrimonious words flow like an undiscovered burst oil pipe.

Flamboyant colourful accusations exacerbated by angry disdainful responses.

In the political field there should be more address of policies and less denigration, or aggrandizement of personalities.

People first

Nigerians want to see a dignified discourse that puts THE PEOPLE first, and not the person speaking; a verbal tone that respects an individual’s earned or elected position, whether the individual is liked or not.

As for my rude patient…if prostration was permitted in European culture, as we in Nigeria

show to our elders and Royalty, this gentleman would have dived to the Clinic floor and burst into push-ups!

Such was his profuse apology.

Of course, my threat was only a means of halting his monologue, and redirect him on the issue at hand…his chronic pain.

The consultation proceeded well and ended amicably. On the last day of a highly charged political campaign for Scottish Independence, a prominent TV news reporter said, referring to the Scottish National Party, the Conservative and Labour parties, all of whom had different agendas:

” The discourse was excellent, the argument coherent and the attitude of all sides, impressive.”

This is the language we want in Nigeria’s political airspace.

Dr. Femi Ogunyemi