Criticism and Nation-Building

THE ROLE OF CRITICISM IN NATION-BUILDING

       

Criticism can be defined as the expression of disapproval of someone or something. In the same vein, a critic of a person or system disapproves of them and expresses such view publicly; one who writes reviews and expresses opinions about books, films, music or any art work having considered it carefully can also be referred to as ‘a critic’.

Criticism is simply a matter of flushing out a certain thought or attitude and trying to change it. It is to show that things are not as self-evident as one believes. Thus, criticism ensures that what is accepted as self-evident will no longer be accepted as such. Suffice it to say; observance criticism in any society is a matter of making facile gestures or remarks difficult.

Criticisms are veritable recipes in any area of human endeavour. For instance; in Steward-Client relationship, if the client has a criticism to tender, it means he/she wants to give feedback on the services being rendered to him/her, thereby creating an opportunity for the steward to learn more about the person he is working for and how to convert them into a satisfied client member. Same measure is applicable in a Trader-Customer relationship.

Similarly, in business venture, working or partnering with someone who is patient and able to receive as well as act on criticism signifies that both parties involved can work towards a better or greater outcome. Furthermore; in movie production, criticism enables the producer to know what his audience actually want.

If one always thinks he is right but doesn’t get feedback from anyone else, he wouldn’t know if he is really doing well. Whether you are selling, servicing, performing, or leading, listening and acting on those honest views or reactions will tell you precisely what is good and what could be done better. Perhaps, you can use the information to change your performance, exhibition or product, as the case may be.

In public service, criticism has the tendency of guiding the public servants away from bad practices, and towards good and acceptable ones. It would enable the said workers to take a step back or have a rethink with a view to making amends or adjustment where necessary.

The socio-political arena is not left out while discussing the inevitable role of criticism in nation-building. Undoubtedly, a little constructive criticism from the members of the public such as the civil society groups, the electorate, the religious organizations or what have you, channelled towards the political office holders can yield the anticipated change in the country or society in question.

Considering the positive impact of constructive criticism, there is no gain reiterating the fact that it is indeed a welcome gesture or required factor toward the socio-economic development of any nation; hence, ought to be sustained. To this end, there is need for us to acknowledge that the language we use in response to criticism is vitally important.

Whenever criticism is tendered by any concerned individual or group, the recipient is expected to try at all cost to avoid getting into an argument. Instead, they should turn the exchange into a discussion on how to resolve the predicament; such approach would keep the door open for the required change.

Most importantly, criticisms are not meant to be taken personally. Even if one feels he/she is being criticized unfairly, he shouldn’t retaliate with an extreme knee-jerk reaction; such response will worsen the situation and can even harm the person’s reputation as well. Therefore, it is essential to always remember to not be offended by someone’s remarks even if you think it is a personal attack.

On the other hand; having noted the enormous significance of constructive criticism in nation-building, there is also a compelling need for the critics to be mindful at all times when tendering their criticisms. They should know when they are supposed to tender the criticism as well as how it ought to be presented. It is worthy to note that, some critics lack the orientation on when and how to present their criticism; this set of persons invariably tender their contrary opinions as a form of antagonism thereby making the supposed recipient misunderstand the gesture.

More so, critics are meant to comprehend that criticism is expected to be accompanied by the presumed remedy to the anomaly that is being criticized. Most so called critics usually end up raising a cloud of dust in the name of criticism. Unequivocally, a criticism that is not tendered with a presumed solution to the problem being criticized is simply a mere noise that is intended to cause a pandemonium or controversy rather than addressing the situation at hand.

In view of the aforementioned facts, everyone at all levels including political leaders, followers, craftsmen, traders, businessmen, teachers and public servants, as the case may be, is expected to take criticism seriously regardless of the circumstance in order not to abuse the tool, which has proven beyond any reasonable doubt to be the engine room of any nation-building. Think about it!

 

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)
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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056
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Extrajudicial Killings

STEMMING THE ALARMING RATE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLINGS

An extrajudicial killing is the murder of a person for an alleged crime or offence carried out either by an individual or a group of persons without any official backing, directive or supervision from a court of law of competent jurisdiction through a legal proceeding.

Extrajudicial killing or punishment also known as ‘Jungle justice’, which is usually carried out either by a government agency or an angry mob or sometimes by an individual, has been on the rampage in recent times in such a manner that it requires a severe and drastic approach by the apt authority.

Extrajudicial punishment used to be a feature of politically repressive regimes, but lately even self-proclaimed or internationally recognized democracies have been known to use the measure under certain circumstances. But the truth of the matter is that, it is illegal and barbaric; hence, unacceptable.

Such actions typically happen quickly with security forces acting on a covert basis, performed in such a way as to avoid a massive public outcry and/or international criticism that would reflect badly on the state or country. Sometimes, the killers are agents outside the government; some criminal organizations have reportedly been employed for such a purpose.

In most cases, it is carried out by uniformed security forces in order to punish a victim, but under circumstances that would make it appear as self-defence or suicide. The former can be accomplished by planting recently fired weapons near the dead body, while the latter is observed via fabrication of evidence suggesting suicide. In such cases, it could be difficult to prove that the perpetrators acted wrongly.

Because of the dangers inherent in armed confrontation, even police or soldiers as the case may be, who might strongly prefer to take an enemy or a suspect alive may still be tempted to kill under a certain circumstance to protect themselves or the affected civilians, and potentially cross the line into extrajudicial murder.

In some cases, someone may be declared missing having been murdered by a certain group. A disappearance occurs where someone who is believed to have been targeted for extrajudicial execution is nowhere to be found. Their ultimate fate is thereafter unknown or never fully confirmed.  

Extrajudicial punishment may be planned and carried out by a particular branch of a state without informing other branches, or even without having been ordered to commit such atrocity. Other branches sometimes tacitly approve of the punishment in retrospect; they can also genuinely disagree with it depending on the circumstances, especially when complex intra-government or internal policy struggles exist within a state’s policymaking apparatus.

In times of war, natural disaster, societal collapse, anarchy, or in the absence of an established system of criminal justice, as the case may be, there may be increased incidences of extrajudicial punishment. In such circumstance, the Police or military personnel may be unofficially authorized to punish severely individuals involved in looting, riot as well as other violent acts such as massacre, especially if caught red-handed. This measure is sometimes itself corrupted resulting in the death of innocent persons who probably were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

More so, someone whose case is in court may be brutally murdered in cold blood by the aggrieved party or the plaintiff owing to inconsequential and unbearable delay of the court proceeding/hearing. This is why the various judicial custodians must be more proactive in discharging their official duties come rain come shine.

Currently, the most alarming aspect of extrajudicial killing or punishment is the one being carried out by a group of civilians referred to as ‘Angry mob.’ It is usually observed on the street, inside a motor park, or in a market arena when one is accused of stealing, pick-pocketing, or any form of jungle crime.

The mob often accomplish their mission by setting the suspect ablaze at the scene of the incident using fuel and condemned tyre, prior to the arrival of security personnel. The most painful part of the illogical act is that, an innocent person is mostly mistaken for the person who actually committed the crime.

It is worth noting that constitutionally if a suspect is allegedly guilty of a certain crime, he or she shall remain innocent until otherwise proven by any court of competent jurisdiction. Prior to the pronouncement of the final judgement by the concerned judicial custodian, the accused person/group is meant to be free in respect to civil cases or to be kept under the care of the appropriate security agency regarding a severe criminal case. Another fact we must note is that, sparing the life of a culprit would help the relevant security agency to apprehend his/her partners in crime.

Against this backdrop, and considering the enormous negative implication of extrajudicial punishments, there is a pressing need for the appropriate authorities to look inwards toward eradicating the anomaly, which has caused an unquantifiable damage to countries where it is harboured, particularly Nigeria.

Thus, special court especially mobile courts ought to be instituted to try anyone accused of any form of extrajudicial act without any fear or favour irrespective of his/her status or age. On their part, the various security agents must be fast enough while attending to any security call/invitation and should endeavour to live up to the expectation at all cost.

In addition, the civil society is required to sensitize the general public on the dangers of taking the law into their hands; they ought to be made to understand that no individual or group is above the law. By so doing, justice would be given its due regard thereby ushering in a country we have longed awaited. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED D.N NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

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frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056  
Follow: @fdnnwaozor / @fred_nwaozor  

Matrimonial Battering

MATRIMONIAL BATTERING ON THE RAMPAGE

      

Battering is a pattern of bahaviour used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, which usually include the use of violence. In the same vein, Matrimonial Battering is a situation whereby a woman is battered by her legitimate husband.

Battering, which is indeed a criminal act, takes place when a person believes he/she is entitled to control another. In recent times, the most worrisome form of battering is the one that happens between married couples, which has degenerated into an alarming state.

Battering of a family member can take many forms. It may include emotional, economic and sexual abuses as well as isolation, use of male privilege, employment of threats and a variety of other behaviours used to maintain fear, intimidation and power. In all cultures, the perpetrators are most commonly the men of the family; suffice it to say that, women are mostly the victims of matrimonial battering or violence.

Among all forms of battering, it could be classified into two major types namely, physical battering and psychological battering. Physical battering is a situation where the abuser employs physical attacks or aggression, while psychological battering involves verbal abuse/harassment, excessive possessiveness, segregation of the woman from friends and family, deprivation of physical and economic resources, and destruction of the woman’s personal property. It is worth noting that physical battering, which is prevalent in most African particularly Nigerian homes, can also lead to psychological trauma.

Battering, which has taken a different dimension in several families in Nigeria, can be attributed to immaturity, alcoholism, hot temperament, infidelity or lack of love. Other causes include lack of male child, alleged barrenness, selfishness, influence and ignorance. Among these, the most prevalent factor that leads to battering is lack of love because if one truly loves his wife/partner, he can never make any attempt to hurt her even when he is under the influence of alcohol.

Survey shows that battering remains the major cause of the ongoing high rate of divorce or estrangement among married persons in Nigeria. Needless to say that if an adequate and drastic measure/approach is not taken towards curbing the anomaly, it is likely to render millions of our children vulnerable in near future thereby affecting their upbringing.

Acknowledging that marriage is the most intimate relationship two human beings can experience, second only to a relationship with God and that it is the only intimacy that brings out the best in someone, there is no gain saying that everyone has a responsibility towards preventing or eradicating battering or any form of domestic violence against women.

We can individually or collectively join in the crusade aimed at ending domestic violence or abuses against women, which has brought a colossal upheaval in various homes, by challenging any thought or attitude that allows such act to prevail in our respective societies.  

Let’s be conscious of the fact that, a woman who is suffering from matrimonial battering can do anything to protect herself with a view that such aberration would continue to repeat itself. In one of her books titled ‘Trauma and Recovery’, Judith Lewis Herman – an author and psychiatrist stated that, “The guarantee of safety in a battering relationship can never be based upon a promise from the perpetrator no matter how heartfelt. Rather, it must be based upon the self-protective capability of the victim…” She went further to state that, “Until the victim has developed a detailed and realistic contingency plan and has demonstrated her ability to carry it out, she will remain in fear and danger of repeated abuse.”

Considering the aforementioned primary attributes of marriage battering, it is obvious that anyone irrespective of status or age is liable to patronize the monster. To this end; first and foremost, parents or guardians must ensure that their children or wards as the case may be have attained a reasonable maturity stage before they would be encouraged to settle down or get married. In view of this, we ought to acknowledge that maturity is not only based on the age of the parties involved but including their level of exposure or experience.

As regards child bearing, acknowledging the tradition or desire of most men from this part of the world that a marriage that is yet to boast of a male child or a child at all is useless, our men must be meant to understand that a child is a gift from God and not by the making of their wives as they presume. In other words, anyone who is yet to have a male child should remain steadfast in his faith in God, and must note at all times that a woman cannot be confirmed or proven to be barren unless it is stated by her creator.

Inter alia, we ought to always have it at the back of our minds that marriage is “For better, for worse” as written in the Holy books. The religious organizations have a very vital role to play in this regard.

Above all, there is an urgent need for the law makers to enact a law that would assign a capital punishment to anyone found guilty of matrimonial battering or any form of violence/abuse against a woman. A stitch in time, they say, saves nine. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(The Media Ambassador)

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056
Follow: @fdnnwaozor or @fred_nwaozor