Iffy Iwuoha
One of the infamous quote by Benjamin Franklin states that “Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us, because It’s appetite grows keener by indulgence and all we can gratify it with at present serves but the more to inflame its insatiable desires.”
In the world we live in multitudes are faced with overwhelming and neck-twisting challenges. For some they patiently strive, with little care for going down and dirty, yet keeping faith for the silver lining at the end of the dark tunnel, on the other hand, some become impatient, after countless failed attempts, lose focus, opt for short cuts and “easy” alternative means to achieve their get rich quick scheme, which often times are on the negative.
Since long the bane referred to as “Money Ritual” has plagued the Nigerian society and as always received stiff opposition especially from the masses who are directly hit as innocent victims of the dastard act. It is believed that it was a practice mostly orchestrated by traditional cult groups and rulers in order to sustain their flow of wealth and seat of power. This perverse act involved series of human sacrifices, believed to appease and release the spirits responsible for wealth and prosperity, and involved killing of countless number of people, especially female virgins as offering to some deity.
However, the most shocking reality is the present day revelation of a greater evil silently ravaging the country now than the prevailing case of insecurity – the killing of innocent people, including family members, for money rituals by random youths, who with impunity, have taken on this profane act as a profession. They engage in mutilation of human body parts, to collection of intimate wears and personal belongings in order to carry out the rituals, with sky-high confidence the act in turn will materialise in an endless stream of wealth. More disturbing is the supporting role played by mothers, fathers of these youth in accomplishing the act, not to mention the so called religious leaders whose hands and conscience are soaked deep in blood of the victims.
The question at this point is, Who is responsible for this fast rising evil trend which deals a blow so hard on a fragile society such as ours? Why are cases of this scourge rising every day? How did we get here, Who should be blamed, and What are the possible solutions?
A deep insight into the lives of these youths can only reveal so much about the state of our society and country Nigeria. A country ravaged by an alarming rate of unemployment, illiteracy, poverty, insecurity and what have you, offering little or no succour to ameliorate the deplorable state of the masses, thereby leaving these youths no choice but to fulfill their ambitions by hook or crook. Without a doubt, one can safely say it is our society which harbours the superstitious belief, that human lives, blood or human organs used in money making charms or rituals bring unlimited wealth, and has successfully communicated it to these ignorant youths, leaving them no choice but to go haywire in their pursuit of ambition. They say, the most difficult ailments in the world are those lodged in the human minds and with this absurdity deeply entrenched in the heart of our youths, we are being plunged into a deeper mess in this country than we realise. Nothing can be more absurd and misleading!
Unfortunately, this is what happens to societies where people’s sources of wealth are not questioned. Where “Godfatherism” and Despotism is the order of the day, where just one word and a few thousand naira notes is enough to end a life, where lust for money becomes a drive stronger than the after effects of Cannabis. This is the fate of people who put money above all other values and applaud affluent people with no verifiable means of wealth, ironically they are always discontent, and in their shallow minds can only conjure quick means to become like their superiors. The bitter truth of the matter is, this is a psychological monster ravaging the naive minds of both literate and illiterate individuals in our society and the earlier we clamp down and hard on it, the better for us all.
A step in the right direction would be a nation wide public enlightenment and sensitisation campaign, starting from the grassroot level, advocating against the evils and dangers of associating individual success with diabolic influences and practices, followed by a detailed assessment of the challenges faced by people in different parts of the country, with focus on peculiarities in their socio-economic lifestyle and carefully crafting possible remedies on how to tackle the imminent challenges therein, then and only then can we begin this fight of cleansing our society of this raging storm.
