I think it was thomas Hobbes that propounded the theory of the state of nature where he said the mighty is always right.He postulated that in the state of nature, life is shortish, brutish, and nasty. I wished Thomas Hobbes was in Nigeria and see the practical realities of state of nature.
In a state of nature, the rule of law does not have any role to play. It is the rule of men.In such a state, Thomas Hobbes argued that the sovereign must control civil, military, military, judiciary , ecclesiastical powers, and even the words. Men in power do what they like, and nobody can question them.They men hold the citizens and society to ransom because the citizens have surrendered their powers to the government.
Thomas Hobbes is right. The systems we see today in government bear eloquent testimonies. There appears to be totalitarianism of governance. Many things are not far from Hobbisian propositions. Investments can not and are not encouraged in the state of nature. Everyone is law unto himself.
Looking at what our society has turned to, one may be tempted to ask whether we are not in a state of nature.Today, they mighty is right. Those who are connected are always right even when they are wrong.
While we as Nigerians condemned successive governments as lacking in focus and direction, it appears that most Nigerian citizens are worse than the government we condemned.
There is wickedness everywhere in the DNA of almost everyone. Go to market as see what market men and women do. Most of the adultrated goods and sells expired goods.
There are ritual killings within the youths for no reason other than for money. There is wickedness in destroying government properties. The other day, the rail tracks were removed by vandals. Not too long ago, some persons removed manholes on the major roads in Abuja. The other time, someone was electrocuted in Ajaokuta because he climbed to the top high tension wires to cut it.
Just last week, my callmate lost a younger sister because of medical negligence. Most drivers are reckless on the wheels. Human lives mean nothing to many people in Nigeria. What kind of wickedness do we allow in Nigeria. We accused government, but some people are worse than those in government. The same people who accused the government of corruption are themselves corrupt in most cases. Nigeria is in a mess.
There is lawlessness everywhere. There is corruption everywhere. Everyone appears to be law unto himself. No emparty for one another. We seem to be in the jungle. State of nature in the extreme. Too bad.
Hussaini Babila 