It's not So Black and White

if you've ever judged someone or been judged? please open today's meal

Mar 23, 2024

We live in a world full of good and bad people
At least, that was what I was taught, but not what I stuck to.

I think the good have their bad, and the bad have their good side. It's a yin-yang phenomenon but not so black and white.

a representation of good (white) and evil (black) — Image By KoolShooters

What would we say of the robber who was caught in Ikorodu two nights ago?

To the victim, he was a criminal.

A man who deserved the wrath of the law

Si áwọn árá àdúgbo nkọ́? (What about those in the neighbourhood? Who was he to them?)
He was just another lout
Another excuse for jungle justice to play out
Another reason to get faulty tyres and kegs of kerosene

Another reason to start a fire,
A good enough justification for murder.

To his pregnant wife, Ọ́mọ́labákẹ́
He was a responsible husband, doing the best he could to provide owó ọ́bẹ̀ (money for soup)

And maintain the leaky roof over their heads
He was going against all that he was taught
in Sunday school, as a little boy
To send his children to school
so they don't end up like the "robber" that was caught 2 nights ago in Ikorodu

What would we say of the young girl wasting away in Kirikiri (jail)?

Apparently, she messed with the wrong family.
She murdered Madam (female boss) in cold blood and attempted to escape with some jewellery

And you will blame it on greed, on the devil, or penury
Until you see the marks Madam left on her body
And the bruises ọgá (madam’s husband) left IN her body.

Ada was her mother's only hope
Quit school so her younger ones could go
Sending half of her salary to her home
in the village
So Chizi and Chidi didn't have to be her when they were her age.

Sheriff might be the most hated
With his menacing scowl and his gun loaded
Dressed in all black like one sent from the dead
He either takes your phone, seizes your vehicle, or puts a bullet to your head. Because of uniform, authority and a weapon

But have you ever wondered about his working conditions?
You hear the "Abeg, find us small something, bros" (please, give us money)
And not that daily target he's been given by his boss
You see the hatred in his eyes but not the state of the barracks.

And he sees you at his checkpoint; how hard did you work for that car?
Did you stand under the sun all day like he does or sit underneath an air conditioner? How many children do you have to feed? Is the lady in the front seat even your wife? How can he be your friend when you're living his dream life?

Rekiyah is that girl you admire but don't want to be
And this one is a little tricky
She tells you it's transactional under the guise of being liberal
But not that each time she arches her back
She is plagued by the flashbacks of her 7-year-old body under the weight of Brodá Mubarak (her uncle)
One time, six times
And then it became a lifestyle
You look at her with disdain, but back home, she is worshipped

Because how many of her mates have bought their parents’ houses?

Now let's flip the switch to where the grass is greener: Odogwu, the philanthropist, the generous humanitarian.

The man who never withholds a favour
Based on the instructions of his dibia (native doctor).

He seems a bit too benevolent
for someone who recently lost his mother to an "accident"
But who dares question the sponsor of all the hometown events?

A trustee and a stakeholder in a few state governments?

He's going back home to feed his people this December

Like he does every year, so what does it matter?

What does it matter that Oluremi, The epitome of "boss lady"
Organized her father's death to take over his company

When she runs an NGO, gives to charity
And foots the bills of more than a few families?

Don't you attend her empowerment programs? You don’t see her on TV?

You know what she's done to help the women in her community
But you don't know about her cartel, the brothels, and her baby factory

Because she runs an NGO and gives to charities.

So, you see
It's a yin-yang kind of phenomenon, but it's not that straightforward
The seemingly bad people are just victims of this world
As for the "good people"? One day, monkey go go market, e no go return. (you might get away with a bad thing repeatedly, but one day you’ll be caught)