Minority Report

I have come to the realization that there are certain things that are ALMOST impossible to change. And that's because those with the capacity to effect the change are in the minority.

Not to be confused with the concept of minority and majorty in relation to numerical strength of each side. Looking beyond numbers, majorities and minorities exist because of the age old quest for the control of resources.

In recent classes with Dr. Ehon this second semester (that just will not end!!) and last semester's course with Dr. Akinfala and Dr. 'Foluso Ayodeji, all lecturers of the department of Psychology, of the University of Lagos, we discussed ( to some great extent) the concepts of minorities, majorities and what makes them so. Among these factors, population size, geographical location size were mentioned. But the major determining factor the control of resources - political, economic, and social. All of this in the context of ethnicities and ethnic groups.

I started thinking about this when I started taking a peculiar interest in conflict - sources, causes and resolutions. It prompted the viewing of certain scenarios with a totally different eye.

The majority is not those with the larger number, in fact it could be a single person, but the power (which is the ability to make others do a task which they would normally not do), which they possess is what makes them the majority. Hence, when there is a single person with the ability to see through his choices, and get it done is therefore seen as the majority.

Majority is then defined as those with the ability to influence events in their favor, either by the usage of sheer numerical strength, control of resources, use of power etc. The minority hence becomes those who do not have all these wonderful possessions that their opposing numbers have.

This is about us the minority. As an individual, you are compelled by the structure of societal institutions and the organizations which exist within them to remain a "minority" until it is decided upon by the "majority" to ascend into the realm of the majority. But in the interim, whatever happens to you as a minority, you have to accept it as such. Take a look at a few scenarios:

You are a student, and you happen to possess information that contradicts your lecturer's knowledge, and you introduce it to your lecturer, and he refuses your point of view. He does this because you are the minority. Even if the whole class agrees with your point of view, and forms a numerical definition of a majority, the sad lot is, we still all are a minority compared to his awe-inspiring founatin of knowledge, which only he seems to possess, and know that only he possesses, and with which he forms a majority. Annoying isn't it.

The above illustration is just an everyday scenario, "you are the little guy because we say so". Simple. And that is because we do not possess the same kind of power that they do, and the ability to use it.

This can be taken as a view of our basic societal ills, bad leadership, tyranny, autocratic democracy (in truth that is what we practice).

I have come to the conclusion that I am a minority, with the power of a majority ( all within the context of this insane argument).

Let's put this in perspective with a few current national issues.

ASUU and the FG are showing their majority power. They influence policies which affect every single public university attending student. But a comparison based on numbers shows we are more than they are,not just a majority.

Now this is how we become a majority. I remember a particular day in my final year in secondary school, the whole senior year were flogged for standing our ground and saying that we were not extorionists and "taxers". After fatigue duty aka grass cutting, and flogging, by very experienced hands, the teachers had the audacity to say that they wanted to come teach. On that fateful day, at around 11:30 am, when Ms Uche Nwoko (English Language) came in and wrote on the board her subject name, Chinonso (fat Chinonso, SS 3L) calmly walked up to the board and wiped it down, and told her that, I do not think we will be having lectures today. We could have gotten our asses kicked again, but the message struck home, the majority had been unfair, and by their actions instigated a rebellion. And rebellion is permissible when the majority effs things up amazingly well - see John Locke and his work.

Think of how much we could change with just a calm protest - not MASSOB and Biafra, OPC and Arewa, MEND style o. Just standing firm, and wait for the "majority" to hang themselves with the rope of their dumb actions. Think about it.

Before you crucify this, I know that the minority is still the minority because of fear, fear of losing that little which they have, have it taken away by the powers that be.

But it could be a different world. Just imagine,touts wouldn'tbe able to extort all the bus drivers, police men wouldn't be comfortable asking for 'weekend kola", because we know we can say no to unfair treatment and get away with it. And most importantly, ASUU and the FG can't play chicken with millions of students lives because we could flip both of them the bird and tell them to take a flying leap of Zuma rock.

If only we could give up that little that we have (subsidized education) for that which we really want ( good and qualitative education).

This train of thought costs a fair bit, some might an arm and a leg. But the benefits will live forever, as long the minority know that they are the true majority.

I am Adesina Ademola P., a member of the minority. This is my Minority Report