By Donu Kogbara

WHY do so many Nigerians take suspicions of murder so lightly? People will tell you, very matter-of-factly, that X or Y politician is a psycho who sends thugs after his opponents. If you say that X or Y seems too civilized or sane to indulge in such maniacal savagery, his accusers will assure you that you are being naive.

I hear these alarming stories about people who live all over Nigeria; and I really don’t understand why such terrible tales are told in such a casual and breezy way – as if homicide is a normal part of life and no big deal.

On one occasion, a guy I know warned me to be extremely careful of a woman he saw me chatting to at a function. When I asked him why he felt I should be wary of her, he said that she was a fetishist who had once been caught with  two headless bodies in her car boot! When I asked him how she got away with such a heinous crime, he shrugged and said “such people know how to escape justice”.

Then he yawned, looked at his watch, told me he had to go home and politely greeted the woman when he bumped into her on his way out. When I called him later to ask why he had greeted someone he regarded as a ritual killer, he said:

“Actually, I get on well with her. But I thought I should advise you to  be careful of her because I know that she can be dangerous sometimes.”

This guy is normally very straightforward and not given to slandering ladies or making statements he knows to be false.

The point I am making is that even if the woman was innocent, he appeared to honestly believe that she was guilty of human slaughter and decapitation. And I was absolutely staggered by the nonchalant tone of voice in which he uttered these serious allegations against her and admitted that he nevertheless had a cordial relationship with her.

I’ve had similar experiences with those who accuse politicians of assassinations. They will swear that X or Y did away with some poor victim last week, last month or whenever…and then voluntarily socialise or campaign with X or Y. When you confront them about this contradictory behaviour, they will look at you as if you are weird or daft for being confused and tell you that X or Y only bothers to harm foolhardy folks who compete with him or threaten his interests.

Obviously, many Nigerians have emotionally healthy instincts. But too many of us are almost cheerfully philosophical about such matters; and I don’t know how to explain this widespread reluctance to be traumatised by shocking incidents that supposedly took place on your doorstep and widespread failure to at least doggedly avoid individuals who have supposedly done awful things – if you don’t have enough evidence to report them to the police or are afraid of reprisals.

Thanks a million!

LAST week in this column, I told you that even though I had been entitled to a British passport since childhood, I had never bothered to apply for one…but had recently decided to seek UK citizenship after all because I have gradually become utterly disillusioned with Nigeria and its multiple dysfunctions.

I was immensely touched by the response. Lots and lots of complete strangers, casual acquaintances, media colleagues and friends who hadn’t been in touch for a while – and didn’t realise how chronically depressed I’ve been since for the past couple of years – took the trouble to phone, text, email or visit me.

All of the above sympathised with my complaints, but while some shared my view that I’ll be happier abroad, others urged me not to give up on this country.

This outpouring of support moved me to tears and gave me much food for thought. On reflection, even though there are several levels on which it would make  sense for me to flee back to Europe after 11 years of being frustrated by the Nigerian system, there are also some good reasons for staying firmly put… not least the fact that some miscreants in high places will be thrilled if I wearily accept defeat, limp away wounded and disappear to a distant place from which it will be harder to monitor and highlight their dubious activities!

Because I am naturally indecisive and prone to agonising over every dilemma at great length, I am finding it pretty difficult to decide which direction to go in.

There are so many personal and professional complexities to consider. But whatever path I eventually choose, I thank, from the very bottom of my heart, every Vanguard reader who has displayed concern for my welfare and my future.

Congratulations!

BELATED congratulations to Dimeji Bankole, the Speaker of the House of Representatives who ran as a PDP senatorial candidate in Ogun State.

When he lost his election, he immediately conceded defeat, conducted himself with dignity, behaved like someone who was well brought up and ruefully admitted that the will of the people had, on the whole, been respected.

His exact words when he was graciously acknowledging his rival’s victory were: “For me, the race was not a life and death duel…Of more importance is building, maintaining and developing our democratic institutions and processes…”.

Bravo to Bankole for leaving the arena in style.  Because he often came across as a strutting saucy young man in the past, I was initially glad when I was told that he had been trounced at the polls. But his reaction has made me regret my earlier opinion and I now hold him in high esteem and wish that he had won!

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