“War has begun,” says Sokpleso, “and we must ourselves adorn”

                                                           – Isidore Okpewho

Fashion is cyclical.  What is fashionable, becomes passé then once again, fashionable.  Take the case of the mini skirt.  In my lifetime alone, it’s come and gone a couple of times.  Unfortunately, so does racism.  From Libya, to Israel, to Europe, and the United States, we are experiencing a virulent re-emergence of racism.

So, how do we respond to those who call us out of our names, abuse, enslave, and slaughter us in broad daylight?

Do we wring our hands, respond with posts and diatribe and boycotts and petitions, and diatribe?  And diatribe?…

Beyond knee-jerk reactions, there are fundamental changes we each must make to our sociopolitical psyche.  We must build relevance.  We must be engaged in governance wherever we are.

1. Get to know the movers and shakers in your neighborhood. Who are the kingmakers?  And who are the politicians that un/make policies that make our lives worth less than a cow’s?  If you live in the country, who is your local government chair? How long has s/he been in office?  What has s/he accomplished since attaining office?  Are these accomplishments progressive or regressive?  What about your commissioners, state representatives, governors, and federal representatives, etc.?  If you don’t know who they are, you can’t hold them accountable.  Find who they are then stalk them to give an account of their in/actions.  For those in the Nigerian diaspora and have the power to vote, do you know your mayor, representatives, police chiefs, etc?  Are they pro-Africa?  Do they know you exist?  Do you contribute to their campaigns in cash or kind?  Have you ever spoken favorably to them about Africa?
2. Know the Constitution and the laws: Who’s responsible for the road that passes in front of your house, your water supply, and electricity?  Where do you go and to whom do you complain when marauders invade your neighborhood?  If the office does not exist, who should create it?  If the office does not function as it should, where do you register a complaint?  If you don’t know who should do what, you cannot ask for an accounting.  When the Constitution is changed to benefit those is power, do you know?  Are you paying attention?
3. VOTE! Before election, check if the candidate aligns with your views.  While they’re promising the kitchen sink, ask for amenities that will benefit your community; verify their views on Africa.
4. Quit the learned helplessness. We keep depending on fallible leaders who predictably fail us time and again.  Call them out.  Name names.  Shame them.  If they’ll not do right because they promised, then we must shame them into doing the right thing.  Take the repatriation of Nigerians from Libya.  Until we shamed them on social media, they did nothing.  We cannot continue to be afraid of them.  Rather than share gory photos of senseless massacres; call, picket, and hound the officials who should have stopped the wickedness until they carry out justice.  No one is safe as long as we let these thoughtless individuals squander public trust.
5. Don’t leave the progressives out there by themselves. When you find someone speaking truth to power, back them.  Don’t leave them out there; easy targets of the nefarious mob.  Participate in the movement for justice.
6. For those running for office, don’t over-promise. Also, tell your people you’re not there so they can loot the country; you’re called to serve ALL THE PEOPLE.  Then, serve!

Be engaged in governance wherever you are.  Indeed, war has begun, and we must ourselves adorn.