One very critical point in proving murder, l am told, or have seen in so many movies, is motive: the intention to bring harm upon a person. Motives vary – and usually may include vengeance, greed and taking over what belongs to the victim.
Motives by themselves, l am not sure, without corresponding actions may not necessarily constitute crimes. Of course, l am mindful of the doctrine propounded by the late military dictator, General Sani Abacha, that even thoughts, fleeting thoughts of coups constitute crimes – punishable by capital punishment.
If thoughts constitute crimes – treason – for that matter, can good intentions without corresponding actions bring to fruition any good? This question is important in our nation, nay the whole of Africa because our leaders from the very beginning, the immediate post-colonial rulers, the nationalists who fought for on battle fields or negotiated with portfolio suitcases, our independence were good men with noble intentions.
They fired up our nationalism – and in some cases even instilled in us hatred for our colonizers. They made lofty promises, made the population look forward to enjoying the stuff that our colonizers who lived in Government Reservation Areas kept to themselves. Without fail in most, if not all African countries, these hopes and promises turned out to huge mirages. In many instances, these post-colonial rulers outdid themselves destroying the hopes and flames of independence. Even those who succeeded them including the “military saviors” did not do any better.
The hospitals they described as “mere consulting clinics” became derelict, and in some cases not fit for human habitation. Indeed, so bad has the situation become that Sub Saharan Africa, by the last account of multilateral agencies account for over 70% of the world’s poverty, hunger and malnutrition. And if the colonizer we chased out of Africa 60-70 years ago return to our shores with slave ships, many Africans would sell their goats, children, brothers, sisters and parents to get money to bribe the sailors to get seats on the slave ships.
The post-colonial rulers – and tragically, even the present ones – as Frantz Fenon prophesied are bereft of ideas on how to move their societies forward. There are still leftists in Africa who blame slave raiders from the Arabia or Europe and the Berlin Conference for the state of Africa today. The inferiority complex and racism in them has blinded them from recognizing that, Chiefs, Kings, fathers and brothers were complicit in the slave business between the Arabians and Africans, as well as the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Surely the white slave traders in the main created the demand but they did embark on the devastating slave raids!!
If asked, the Chiefs, Kings, fathers and brothers who sold their kin and kith, they would give you lectures about their good intentions and how well they meant for the people they sent into slavery.
Of course, the fact is that intentions are like prospects or potentials. If you do not take informed actions about them, you will not get any good result. People who speak of good intentions behave like Ostriches – they do very well know that without actions, thoughts, good or bad remain just thoughts. General Sani Abacha is no longer alive to read thoughts of people and send them to the gallows or firing squad.
Friendly bullets or fire kill. No one is immune from harm if the weapon is fired at him or her by a friend or relation. Refusing to take informed actions does nothing to change a situation or story to a good one. For Christians, Apostle Paul said, show me your faith without your works – and I will show you my fault by my works. Faith without works, the Holy Scriptures declare is dead. The only proof of good intention is the action that follows. Without corresponding actions, intentions cannot be genuine and truth.
Take the story of the Jewish Patriarch Isaac in Genesis 27:36-38. Birthright was usually reserved for the most senior son – in this case Esau. That was Jacob’s intention and declaration. But the blessing went to Jacob – the supplanter!
Why, you may ask: Esau was late. The actual pronouncement and declarations were made for Jacob. Isaacs intention only did not give Esau the blessing. The needed action was done for Jacob. Of course, I do not understand all and was distressed when I read the story. Of truth, earlier before this time, Esau had publicly sold and given up his birthright for a plate of soup because he was famished!
This is why Karl Max or Lenin, did say that until men begin to read between the lines and come to terms with the true intentions of their leaders (my paraphrase), they will remain slaves! What good have the good intentions of leaders done for Nigeria or Africa? The good intentions of the Patriarch, Isaac, did not stop the supplanter, Jacob, from taking the blessing that was meant for Esau.
Good intentions not followed up with diligent actions can be as deadly and catastrophic as deliberate harm! Soldiers in battle fields know very well that friendly fire kills. This is why soldiers are trained and retrained regularly to ensure that in aiming at the enemy they do not kill fellow soldiers. Death is death, whether by friendly fire ore enemy fire. Just recently the USA military has had to explain the downing of a fighter jet: notwithstanding whether the fire was from the Houthis or not the fact is that the deed has been done., irredeemably. Even here on our shores, yet again, the military is still trying to explain the deaths of alleged noncombatants in Sokoto. The good intention of the military would not change the fate of those who died…. good intentions don’t stop weapons from being lethal. When war casualties are being compiled usually no distinction is made between those who killed by friendly fire and those killed by enemy fire.
Therefore, the refrain by our leaders to their good intentions does nothing to mitigate the pains and tragedies wroth on people by their actions and non-actions. In any case, non-action, by definition, is choice and decision. Non diligent action taken in pursuit of intentions is also a choice and decision.
The world has left Nigeria and Africa behind, and the people need to wake up! The good intentions of leaders are not good enough. They will not lead us anywhere.
By Rimamnde Shawulu Kwewum
Kwewum, a former member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives lives in Abuja
