Parable of the ‘Rejected Cow’

BY OFONIME HONESTY

Brethren, we are living in iNteresting times. These days are really special. The polity is saturated with weird but true goings-on. It has really been an episode of absurdities. 

These days, we don’t recover from the after-shock of an occurrence when another one hits us with the ferocity of a Muhammed Ali upper-cut. Our shock absorbers have been put to full use, our emotions stirred yet this floodgate of weighty incidences are refusing to cease. 

When we voice our grievances and proffer solutions, we are ignored and even misunderstood. When we choose to remain silent, they fail to see the wisdom in our silence. Truth is, the elasticity of our patience has been stretched, now it has reached breaking point.  Pretence is a vice, not a virtue. To ensure that the grindstone of iniquity continues grinding, rebuttals have seemingly become a governmental policy. 

Things have fallen so much apart that in Akwa Ibom State to an extent that when pensioners and civil servants protest over non-payment of their entitlements, government will say that it has paid them up-to-date and the governor’s media aides will jump into facebook to issue statements describing the protesters as ‘some miscreants sponsored  by the opposition.’

Brethren, we are not called citizens for nothing. Our collective rights and integrity are sacrosanct. And we must say no to undemocratic antics and tactics. 

The Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been agitating for better treatment by government. Several letters and petitions have been penned and sent to relevant authorities, several peaceful protest marches organized but the state government remains obstinate like the Biblical Pharaoh.

And it came to pass that as 2017 arrived, Governor Udom Emmanuel sent a cow plus 60 bags of rice as new year’s gift to NLC. Brethren, the union led by Comrade Etim Ukpong unanimously rejected the gifts.

Part of the statement issued by the union reads: “workers condemn in strong terms the lack of concern by the state government towards the issues concerning Nigeria Labour Congress.” 

The union also accused the governor of “creating division in the NLC by using certain greedy members of the union to achieve his aim and boycott workers’ rights and agitation.”

Perhaps the ‘greedy members’ are those who reportedly killed the cow in the presence of seemingly pro-government photographers cum online reporters. The NLC has since distanced themselves from the action of these persons who are under suspension in the union.

Verily, the NLC’s action is absolutely marvelous in the eyes of the masses. It has become a culture for political office holders to starve the masses of goodies only to dole out few items during electioneering period, Christmas and new year celebration.

The masses have been grossly xploited with reckless abandon. And according to the NLC, this must stop. Enough is enough. Anyone who snubs our yearnings should not insult our sensibilities with gift items during yuletide.
Brethren, now that NLC has rejected a cow, what shall you reject? Some gifts are tools of mockery. 

Truth is, in this 2017, the masses will reject unwholesome attitudes from those entrusted with the privilege to serve us. In fact, if they don’t repent, we shall reject them during elections. During election, we shall reject their usual enticement of salt, rice and few Naira notes, youths shall reject being used as tools of electoral violence, Journalists shall reject being used in mudslinging, ghost writing and propaganda churning, electoral officials shall reject conniving with the powers that-be to rig polls.  

Brethren, something tells me that God is using the rejected cow to send a message to Governor Udom Emmanuel. The rejected cow may represent many things including his (Udom) political survival. How I wish the cacophonous cheers of sycophants will not drown the tranquil voice of the Almighty.
Brethren, deduce what you wish from this parable.