By Gabriel Airewele
I enjoyed reading this essay. The article provides further support for the dominant theory in Stephen Ellis’s book, “This Present Darkness: A History of Nigeria’s Organized Crime.”
While the essay primarily focuses on successive governments’ ( both under the British and Nigerian rule ) use of reckless force against civilians, it should have also considered the historical worthlessness of life within the Nigerian space.
Also read: https://lawandsocietymagazine.com/118-years-after-satiru/
My view, which I do not consider unique to me, is that there are several vestiges of cultural influences across all the people of Nigeria that predispose them to violence and death. Otherwise, how do you explain the near-total absence of outrage, even if minimal, at the mindless killings and kidnappings—now more of women and children—that occur daily in our country? Everyone, including you and I, does not think this is a matter for which we can fight to end, even at the risk to our lives. Although I am quick to admit that some people like Prof. Odinkalu have done more than most in this regard.
Gabriel Airewele is a partner at Union Attorneys based in Lagos.
