by
Obododimma Oha
The claim in this essay is that an organization can create its own insecurity in the process of ensuring that there is security. It is an irony indeed. Recently, South-east governors in Nigeria came under serious attack for using teleconference in discussing security issues in the region. They were mainly criticized for using teleconference, thinking it was safe. In a communique, Igbo Renaissance Forum stated:
We know for a fact that teleconferences are not completely safe from prying eyes and ears of those who are adept at modern subversive technology in the world we live in today.
More worrying is the fact that you confirmed that other Igbo leaders participated in the meeting from wherever they were, leaving room for a third-party infiltration of the meeting.
It is unfortunately factual that peradventure Your Excellencies deliberated on far reaching security issues in the meeting, there is a 50/50 chance of your deliberations being monitored and that is obviously a dangerous situation, considering the current security issues that are facing the South of Nigeria....
On the other hand, we are scared that if Your Excellencies considered the obvious security loopholes in the technology used for the conference, you would be very circumspect in discussing certain detailed security issues during the meeting....
Obviously, the teleconference is not the best way to hold a meeting at this time with the level of threats facing us as a people, and we are shocked that you took this dangerous path.
(Cited from Afro-European Community WhatsApp share)
We could see clearly from the communique that the governors believed that they were conveniently solving a problem, but they intensified it without knowing that they had done so. It was not entirely their fault; the fault was mainly that thinking that whatever came as "technology" was safe for use, even when this use was uncritical and wrongly done.
But this is a period of infections; so, why can't we think of infection in the process of effecting a cure? The physician may be infected by the patient or may infect the patient. The last is a strange case and sounds like what one hears in conspiracy theory. In fact, we need to pity the patients in such a situation.
That is the world on its head or rather the upturning of the Hippocratic Oath. Why can't some butchers also show up in the surgical operation room? Didn't we say that it is the era of the world on its head?
Teleconferencing is a new thing and could get the governors excited as they were fixing their mouthpieces and earphones. In fact, those helping them to fix these might be smiling from ear to ear and would wish that the government photographers were busy recording the activity. Teleconference! Sounds wonderful. It must have performed the same type of magic that the ancestors of these governors saw also in "iku waya" (telegramme) in which what one wished or said was miraculously sent without the aid of a town-crier to a recipient who was far away, far far away! It was marvellous and teleconference was that kind of magic, too.
But we are mainly interested in the "infection" of the security apparatus and have named the physicians as possible vectors. That is surpising. This "security" has turned out to be "insecurity." Didn't the communique mention it? It also describes that irony as "shocking." OK, "shocking." But is it not to be expected in a world of absurdity? COVID-19 has even amplified it. Oh, is it a "pandemic" avoiding the frying pan or what?
Anyway, some governors may turn out to know the nature of this "pandemic" very intimately so that their positive results could be reported as "negative." That is in keeping with a world of ironies. But what is the name of that scientist who is prolonging the matter by saying that some vectors may be "asymptomatic"? Doesn't he know that state governors have "immunity? That asyntomatic" grammar means that a positive result is still tentative, in fact, inconclusive!
Anyway, dear governors, continue with your masks and teleconferencing. When you want to take your breakfast coffee, use teleconferencing. When you want to enter "the other room," please, use teleconferencing. It is my sincere piece of advice.
But come to think of it. Didn't you people say that technology would help democracy and have been citing Facebook and WhatsApp as possible tools? And if it is possible that we are stepping into a new world, shouldn't African ruler start rehearsing and rehearsing? Do you want them to be left behind in the old world and to remain analogue?
Teleconferencing is just the beginning of the beginning. Call it a scene in the drama. After all, we are all in the cast and our director is mean, very mean.
The communique is also worried that the details of that security meeting would leak into other ears. I am surprised that its authors are surprised. Is leaking into another ear or eye not even intended, not deliberate? And could that leakage not be linked to the grand performance? It is like what you see in an open lettter: it is meant for the attention of somebody but it is also for other eyes, other witnesses.
Could the governors not be seen as people showing off, demonstrating to the world that they are rulers ahead or abreast with new information technology? Go on with your teleconferencing, governors. Your place in the cast in this absurd drama is assured. Go on, not with one Nigeria, but with herdsmen militia and almajri and teleconference until Rapture. You are heads ahead and pioneers in rulership.
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