MusingsOfEnigma

I think it’s important to clarify a few things, because this goes beyond the exchanges people are seeing here. One thing I absolutely detest is people who cannot tolerate the very treatment they routinely dish out to others. If you feel comfortable making sweeping judgments about people’s lives, choices, and motivations, you should be equally prepared to have your own views and conduct scrutinized. For context, I met Afam here on Twitter. We didn’t know each other personally. I casually invited him to my wedding, he enthusiastically accepted, and I genuinely appreciated his presence. However, attending my wedding does not mean we suddenly became close friends, nor does it create an obligation for our opinions to align. We’ve had serious disagreements outside this particular exchange, and I’ve long been aware that our political perspectives and values differ significantly. That, in itself, has never been my problem. What I find particularly disturbing is the habit of talking down to fellow Nigerians and reducing their political preferences to nothing more than a desperate quest for American visas. This is especially ironic coming from someone who has personally navigated the American immigration system and pursued opportunities to establish himself here. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking better opportunities abroad. What I object to is the double standard of treating one’s own immigration journey as legitimate while ridiculing others for supposedly wanting the same thing. My criticism is not about his right to hold different political opinions. It is about the condescension, sweeping generalizations, and apparent inability to accept the kind of scrutiny he freely directs at others. And for those attempting to turn a political disagreement into some story of personal betrayal, let me be clear: I appreciated his attendance at my wedding, but gratitude for a social gesture does not translate into lifelong political loyalty or immunity from criticism. We should be able to disagree politically without inventing motives for others or expecting personal associations to silence legitimate criticism. This might well be the last time I address this matter or engage in any further back and forth about it. I’ve made my position clear, and I have no interest in endlessly explaining the same point to people determined to misunderstand it.

I think it’s important to clarify a few things, because this goes beyond the exchanges people are seeing here. One thing I absolutely detest is people who cannot tolerate the very treatment they routinely dish out to others. If you feel comfortable making sweeping judgments about people’s lives, choices, and motivations, you should be equally prepared to have your own views and conduct scrutinized. For context, I met Afam here on Twitter. We didn’t know each other personally. I casually invited him to my wedding, he enthusiastically accepted, and I genuinely appreciated his presence. However, attending my wedding does not mean we suddenly became close friends, nor does it create an obligation for our opinions to align. We’ve had serious disagreements outside this particular exchange, and I’ve long been aware that our political perspectives and values differ significantly. That, in itself, has never been my problem. What I find particularly disturbing is the habit of talking down to fellow Nigerians and reducing their political preferences to nothing more than a desperate quest for American visas. This is especially ironic coming from someone who has personally navigated the American immigration system and pursued opportunities to establish himself here. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking better opportunities abroad. What I object to is the double standard of treating one’s own immigration journey as legitimate while ridiculing others for supposedly wanting the same thing. My criticism is not about his right to hold different political opinions. It is about the condescension, sweeping generalizations, and apparent inability to accept the kind of scrutiny he freely directs at others. And for those attempting to turn a political disagreement into some story of personal betrayal, let me be clear: I appreciated his attendance at my wedding, but gratitude for a social gesture does not translate into lifelong political loyalty or immunity from criticism. We should be able to disagree politically without inventing motives for others or expecting personal associations to silence legitimate criticism. This might well be the last time I address this matter or engage in any further back and forth about it. I’ve made my position clear, and I have no interest in endlessly explaining the same point to people determined to misunderstand it.

“ I walk freely on the streets of Edo State, and people are giving me the sweet name ‘Okphes Baby’.”👀👀 — Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, embraces the nickname “Okphes Baby.”