do not support Obaseki’s wife insulting Oshiomhole or Oshiomhole’s associate or indeed anyone; so, I unequivocally condemn her alleged conduct if she had ever insulted Senator Oshiomhole or anyone. However, in reportedly mocking Mrs Obaseki for being childless, Senator Oshiomhole has in my view, acted shamelessly and irresponsibly. In my humble opinion, no amount of grammar or excuse can justify such a brazen display of unscrupulousness by an otherwise distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic and Governor of a State.
Mocking anyone, under any circumstances, for being childless is the height of inhumanity and indiscretion. With due respect, trying to justify such incautious conduct by reference to America or to Trump makes the whole situation more laughable and messy because neither Donald Trump nor Joe Biden nor Kamala Harris had ever gone this far in exhibiting insensitivity and inconsideration towards the plight of fellow humans.
Finally, trying to juxtapose this scenario with an alleged earlier insulting remark (although I condemn such) from Obaseki’s wife in relation to Oshiomhole’s associate’s marriage, is a horrible mismatching comparison.
Read also: Betsy, Oshiomhole and swine fight
As for Obaseki’s wife, the object of Senator Oshiomhole’s present unreasoned tirade, I exhort you to please take solace in Luke 23:29, “”For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed'”; and “Shout for joy…you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud…. For the sons of the desolate one will be…numerous” (Isaiah 54:1). He makes the barren woman abide in the house. As a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord, Mrs Obaseki; the Lord will do it for you! (See Psalm 113:9). Now that Senator Oshiomhole has mocked Obaseki’s wife because she bore no child, the lord shall open her womb as He did for Leah (as in Genesis 29:31). And as in Judges 13:3, dear Mrs Obaseki, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. Let your heart be troubled no more!
Post Scriptum:
In public discourse, it is healthy to disagree without being disagreeable. Don Lemon put it this way: “If I have my opinion about something, you have your opinion about something, we don’t have to fight over it. And we can have a conversation. We can also disagree without being disagreeable, and we can just disagree, which is fine. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like you, or you don’t like me. We just disagree.” In political as in any other form of discourse, comments, contributions ought to be presented in a manner that is mature and civil. Personality attacks or use of foul or insulting languages against anyone is crude. As Robert G. Ingersoll wrote in his book, Some Mistakes of Moses: “arguments cannot be answered by personal abuse; there is no logic in slander, because falsehood, in the long run, defeats itself.” On his part, Jean-Jacques Rousseau said, “Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong.” One can conveniently make one’s point without resorting to insulting remarks. Nigerian politicians are therefore encouraged to adopt the counsel from RUMI, an ancient poet: “Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”
Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (udems),
Proctor,
The Reality Ministry (TRM)
08109024556.
therealityministry@gmail.com
(01 September 2024)