I am Dr. Charles Apoki, and today I want to delve into some sociological issues within Nigeria’s political landscape. This platform is dedicated to education, enlightenment, and empowerment, so while this discussion may be longer than usual, I assure you there is much to learn.
Throughout history, the elites have often used the poor to oppress their fellow poor people. During the era of colonial masters and the transatlantic slave trade, black people were agents of their own oppression—capturing, selling, and policing their own. From warrant chiefs to tax collectors, this pattern has persisted. Even during apartheid in South Africa, we saw blacks used as tools to oppress other blacks.
This phenomenon continues today. I recently saw a video of a bulldozer driver attempting to demolish a late husband’s property in Abuja. When people mobilized to stop him, he fled. That bulldozer driver is not a powerful person; he is disposable, just another tool in the hands of the elite. Similarly, the poor are often the ones who man roadblocks, arrest people, and enforce unjust laws. When these same agents face injustice, they cry out for help, revealing the cycle of oppression they’ve been complicit in.
Lessons from the Animal Kingdom
The relationship between the elite and their enablers can be likened to certain dynamics in the animal kingdom. Take the Egyptian Plover, often called the crocodile bird. This bird is said to enter the crocodile’s mouth to clean out protein remnants stuck between its teeth. While some consider this relationship symbiotic, it is instructive of a more sinister dynamic.
Another example is the oxpecker bird. The oxpecker feeds on ticks and pests from animals like hippos, buffalos, and rhinoceroses. At first glance, this appears mutually beneficial—the bird gets food, and the animal gets relief from pests. However, the oxpecker also feeds on blood. When the animal is wounded, the bird’s sharp beak keeps the wound open to suck fresh blood, potentially leading to infection and death. What starts as a harmless relationship can turn parasitic and deadly.
The Political Oxpecker
In Nigeria, political oxpeckers abound. These are individuals and groups who appear to support the system but, in reality, thrive on its dysfunction. They are the ones who collect tickets and mount roadblocks, the motor park touts who enforce political will, and even those in religious and social institutions who resist reform.
These oxpeckers are opportunistic. Today, they support a leader; tomorrow, they switch sides when it suits them. They are quick to betray and expose the weaknesses of those they once served, as we’ve seen with political decampments and scandals. Their loyalty is not to principles but to personal gain.
Beware of Oxpeckers in Your Life
This phenomenon is not limited to politics. Even in personal relationships, you must be wary of oxpeckers. These are people who thrive on your vulnerabilities and wounds, only to exploit them for their benefit. They may seem helpful at first, but their true nature eventually emerges. Betrayal, gossip, and backstabbing are their tools.
Even Jesus had an oxpecker in Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him despite being entrusted with the group’s finances. In our lives, we must be cautious about whom we trust and expose our vulnerabilities to. Whether in business, marriage, or friendships, the danger of oxpeckers is real.
Building Independence
To counter the influence of oxpeckers, we must strive for independence. Build businesses and services that do not rely on government patronage or corrupt systems. Offer value that the general populace demands and can pay for without needing to compromise your principles.
Those who chase government contracts or depend on the goodwill of powerful individuals often end up defending evil and becoming tools for oppression. True freedom comes from creating a life that is not tied to the whims of the elite or the dysfunction of the system.
A Call to Action
Nigeria’s political and social landscape is rife with oxpeckers, but their lifespan is usually short. Ultimately, those who live independent, principled lives outlast and outshine them. Let us remain vigilant, build systems of integrity, and align ourselves with God and the good of society.
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God bless you.
Dr. Charles Apoki.
