CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: FANATICISM

CHARLES ANYASI ...VINTAGE ARCHIVES: FANATICISM: "“In our country are evangelists and zealots of many different political, economic and religious persuasions whose fanatical conviction ..."

FANATICISM

“In our country are evangelists and zealots of many different political, economic and religious persuasions whose fanatical conviction is that all thought is divinely classified into two kinds -that which is their own and that which is false and dangerous.”

Of course, renowned US attorney, Robert H. Jackson was referring to his country at a time. But nothing suits my own country, Nigeria, today better than this expression. We have been taken over by all manner of dangerous zealotry in religion, politics, power and just anything that catches the fancy.

Only yesterday, yet another band of fanatics disrupted the peace of Niger State by eliminating the lives of innocent Nigerians who had gathered for the PDP rally.

This is even as the phantom called Boko Haram refuses to succumb to the Law. This was the situation in 1982 with the likes of Maitatsine unleashing hell on Nigerians. That situation prompted a series (The Prize of Fanaticism) in my Concord Laff column. The first in that series is served here today.

CARTOON CORNER

With the political unrest in Libya heightening every minute, I present to you an old cartoon on the stupendous wealth of Mobutu Sese Sekou who was once reported to be richer than the Queen of England at a time when his citizens were living from hand to mouth.

As we get set to select our leaders in April, please let your vote count. Africa must be redeemed. And the place to start is Nigeria.

Lest we forget…CHANGE IS HERE