“Criticism” is described as the expression of disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived fault or mistakes. In other words, it is seen as “the analysis and judgment of the merits and the fault of a literary or artistic work”.
Criticism in the academic realm is not a new thing. For, several scholars criticized the works of their predecessors or their contemporary scholars. None of the present or past scholars were immune from being criticised. And it makes no sense to assume that one is free from any form of criticism.
Adam Smith is described as the “Father of Economics”. But his works were not immune from being criticised by scholars that came after him, just as he fished out faults of some scholars too. Karl Marx, criticised the ideas of Smith on the concept of private ownership, which he (Marx) viewed as a means where the capitalist is enriched. Therefore, criticism is an intellectual tool that opens up new frontiers for human development.
In the realm of politics, criticism is the pillar that keeps democracy flourishing, giving the governed the right to express a contrary opinion, ask for accountability and respect for the rule of law. This can be done through lectures, writings, peaceful protest, or other means that are not in conflict with the law of that particular society with civility.
But, how do we criticized the works of others?
Today, criticism is not far from abuses, insult, and slander in politics. It is also part of criticism in politics to be insulted by someone old enough to be a son/daughter to the person he/she is criticizing. This is something obvious. That’s why some people described politics as a dirty adventure that needs to be distanced by people of integrity.
During the recent medical trip of Nigerian President, Nigerians who are residing in London, in their quest to express their dissatisfaction over the medical trip by the president, who left dilapidated hospitals in his country for the poor masses to attend and took himself for a checkup in a first-class medical facility abroad. In a viral video, one young lady was caught on camera spewing abuses and insults on the visiting president outside the gate of his London home. Alas, it takes a morally bankrupt upbringing for one to repeat her words due to its toxicity!
Although, I may be in total support of the protesters demand good governance and provision of qualitative health centres in the country, and that, he should act on the question he once asked in Chartam House, during his 2014 foreign trips to solicit the support of the major powers, where he said, “what is the difference between me and those who elected us to represent them, absolutely nothing. Why should a Nigerian President not only fly with other Nigerians? Why do I need to embark on a foreign trip as a president with a huge crowd with public funds? Why do I need to go on a foreign medical trip while we cannot make our hospitals functional? Why do we need to send our children to school abroad if we cannot develop our university to compete with the foreign one’s?”
Are our Hospitals Functional? Probably no. Had it been the hospitals were functional, he wouldn’t have visited UK with public funds for his “ROTTEN MEDICAL CHECK-UPS”. And also, if the “PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES” are functional, students wouldn’t have spent about a year at home due to ASUU strike. Therefore, the demands of the protesters are genuine, but their method of conveying the message is quite disheartening.
Every action is viewed from different perceptions by different people. So, the action of these protesters is viewed from many angles, some see it from the political, moral, religious, and ethnic angle. To the president’s political associates, the protest was an insult to their party hero. While to his opponents, it was an avenue of expressing their anger/frustration due to the president’s incompetency!
To his die-hard supporters, they believed that the actions of the protesters emanated from their deep hatred and enmity for the North and the Northerners! All three perspectives have one or two reasons (s) to back their position. But to the patriotic citizens that viewed things beyond political or religious point of view, they find it unacceptable to applaud the words of the protesters due to its vulgar and lack of morality.
They also viewed the act as an insult to Nigeria as a Nation, where some certain individuals that flew from their family and loved one’s to reside in the UK are over there insulting their number one citizen. Even though, their residing in the UK may not be unconnected with the rate of unemployment bedeviling the nation.
But the point here is that they couldn’t endure what their brothers and sisters are today enduring in the country.
As such, criticism in its entirety is not a bad thing, but the critiques choice of words is what gives the action a tainted black and white colour. So, in whatever we do in the name of politics or religion, it should not cross the line of morality, for if it does, the beauty of the action might be overlooked, leaving only the ugly side of the action.
We wish the president a sound health condition, to return to the country and act on the good demands of the protesters and allow them to go with their insults.
Long live Nigeria.
Sagir Ibrahim writes from Bauchi and can be reached via [email protected]
