WATCH YOUR CIRCLE: Personal Lessons Drawn From The Past Presidential Election Campaign

There was a point in my life, last year precisely, when I couldn't stand supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari.

I disdained him and his supporters with the same amount of passion with which I rooted for him in 2015.

Whenever anyone spoke in favour of Buhari last year, the person immediately would begin to take the shape of a wild goat in my subconscious. 

"Freaking Buharist" was my alias for them. 

Fast forward to December 2019 upon reconnecting with my family, you have no idea how surprised I was to realize that I was surrounded by Freaking Buharists. Down to my grandfather, and even to my favorite uncle! 

I don't particularly care about the opposition candidate. I don't like him any more than I like Buhari. And so when my family come up with three reasons why the incumbent president should be allowed to go for another term, I don't have any strong argument against him. 

An argument against him is as good as an argument FOR the opposition. And by opposition, I'm not referring to any other party that is not PDP. Because unless we're in denial, we know that they don't stand a chance next year (we don't need to argue this at this point, right?) 

I didn't think I could ever reach this point but, in spite of myself, I find that I am more tolerant of Buharists these days. They seem to make more sense to me than when I was far away from home.

One can only be exposed to eulogies of the president all day from loved ones, and for so long, without the bile dissipating.

Now here's what I've gleaned from this experience:

We can only stay in the midst of people with zero standards and sense of morality for so long before our own anti-delinquency security system gets eroded.

First, our mind and body learns to tolerate them. We are able to cohabit seamlessly without any challenge on our conscience. Lies, greed, savageness, extremism thrives around us, and we can't be bothered. 

Then before long, the propagators begin to make sense. And soon they'll be winning a new convert. 

Here's something to really think about as we begin the weekend. When things that clearly go against the standards of the one to whom we will give account of our lives begin to look permissible, it might be time to change our circle.

Not out of pharisaical piety, but wisdom and circumspection. Because evil communication corrupts good manners.

This is not me subtly declaring that I'm a closet Buharist, #NeverAgain, and I LOVE my family beyond words. No political party can divide us. I only hope that you were able to get the message I tried to pass across using my family as background story. 😉😉

Have an awesome weekend!

25.01.19