A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them was aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: "We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable". So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. In the case of the first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said "This being is like a thick snake". For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said, "elephant is a wall". Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.
What a wonderfully didactic story! The story is enough to let an individual understand how people analyse ideas and realities from the particular way they perceive them. As in the case of the blind men, nothing and nobody could convince them that the elephant is not what each one of them touched and sensed unless if opportune to touch other parts.
Connecting the parable of the elephant and the blind men to the present situation in Nigeria will reflect a very large absence of toleration of various perceptions Nigerians hold in regard to issues, particularly in the political realm. It will also reflect the nadir of political insults, abuses and confusion that the polity is shrouded in.
The expression of opinion(s) on political issues nowadays is generating more foes than friends, not only on this platform but also extending to the practical realm of social existence. I have been expressing my opinions on issues of politics and governance, especially the latter. I have read from Jafar Jafar's wall that opinions are like food: if you find one's own not interesting, then cook your own. But it always surprises me how a SIMPLE opinion can make a person your foe merely because it contradicts his/hers. If 99% of Nigerians will support a political party based on its impact to them, and the remaining 1% criticise the party, it would be illogical for me to call the latter enemies of the party because they must surely have a ground for their criticisms. In such a situation, it behoves anyone to critically look and understand the reasons upon which they build their criticisms before anything comes out from the tongue.
Finally, we must learn to live and let others live. We must understand that people give their impressions and interpretations based on what they are able to perceive, based on the impact of an idea or reality towards them and based on the benefits and detriments it subject them to. We must extract the message from the above-narrated parable and apply it to our social and political interactions. It is not that I am a proponent of a society free from disagreements, insults and and whatnot; no, I am crying out loud for a society where people excuse and tolerate others' opinions and perceptions because every person is like the blind men; what one touches is what one would tell about the elephant. To utter is to alter. I pray my utterance will bring alteration in our social and political interactions. So help me God.
Abdul Mutallib Muktar
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