Salute to the elephants

By Bayo Fasunwon
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The first interaction I had with an Elephant was in the English class, where at a tender age, one was told that E is for Elephant. Elephants are distinctive large animals, of the Elephantidae family. Their progenitors were Proboscides and unfortunately, the Elephantidae family is the only known survivor of this great proboscides clan. Elephants are natural natives of Africa and Asia, where they are used as work animals in the agricultural, transport, construction, and entertainment industries.

When the show of fearless strength was also needed in the battles for territories, Elephants have also complemented the efforts of horses in wars. As big as these mammals are, they are gentle, (until sexually aroused or threatened), obedient, calm and faithful in service. On reaching puberty, the male Elephant leaves the flock and seeks to labour and start a family. Given the necessities of life: water, food (are herbivores) and security. Despite their huge frames, they could be controlled by a skinny lad. Their hoofs have effects on the earth for agriculture, and their faeces are manures for the hungry plants.  With a high level of intelligence and emotions, they show empathy for the dying and or dead individuals of their kind. Despite their gentle nature, men exploit their strengths and kill them for their tusks, which are highly valued in the market. The Elephants gives strength and makes the weak man a giant.

In Nigeria, and the world over, the life of an Elephant typifies that of the worker. They are the energy of any given society. Their experiences and gift of remembrance guarantees the survival of any political system. Just like the elephant, the Nigeria worker contributes a great deal to the Gross Domestic Product of the nation, the profits of the private sector entrepreneur and the wealth of the Lions that rule the jungle. Nevertheless, they are fed of the remnant plants that grow by the way. It is therefore of no wonder when the Nigerian worker is described as the one that works like an Elephant and eats like ‘Eliri’. The Nigerian worker in the last few years had remained faithful, loyal and honest, generating resources for their respective states even when salaries were not being paid. Just like the Elephant, they kept on working, not for once giving excuses of no pay no work. This gentleness has emboldened governors to conveniently owe their workers for thirty-eight good months.

Just a few days ago, I read a pathetic story of an elephant, which escaped from captivity. It was tired of the slavery, the maltreatment, the hunger and the severe conditions under which it was made to serve. It revolted, went berserk, and took to the streets. Government gunned it down. Such is the reward system for the labour force. Government and employers of labour are very quick to punish but reluctant in rewarding extra service. Now footballers laugh whenever government promises a reward for ‘doing the nation proud’. Those promises made to their grandfathers are still awaiting implementation. There are many dedicated, loyal, faithful, and excellent workers in the civil service, institutions, military, police, and other public services, that have never been rewarded for their meritorious service to the nation. Often times, services of devotion are wished away with the toga of ‘that worker is just doing his job’. The reward system is limited to salaries, which do not come on time. Promotion to a next level or higher step is an anathema, and giving the wards of such dedicated staff a scholarship must be unheard of. However, when workers are caught in the web of a misdemeanor, fast is the judgment pronouncement and execution. Dismissal without benefit, suspension until further notice, compulsory retirement, forfeiture of assets, demotion by two levels, delay of promotion for two years and relocation to rural areas are declared and enforced with glee. There is nothing to encourage a worker to do more, but a million ways to deter a worker from misbehaving. Caution has been elevated above loyalty; hence, the strength and initiatives of the Elephant are undermined.

While I salute the Nigerian workers who work under the most terrible conditions to make lemonades from lemons, my greatest salute goes to the workers, who now regrets giving their all to a government that has refused to ‘remember their Joseph’, the retirees.

These categories of workers are those who labored for the government and nation with their productive blood, body, and brains. For many, who did not falsify their age, retirement came in the late fifty’s or early sixty’s of their years on earth. Some still had children in schools, buildings uncompleted, and many projects abandoned. Given the Nigeria system, these retirees have become sponges. Once they were asked to go and rest, they burst into uncontrollable tears. Tears of being sentenced to death. Pensions become prayer requests, while gratuities become mirage in the desert. However, they gape in awe as the Leopards in the legislative houses, and the Lions who ruled for a paltry sum of eight years award to themselves severance allowances and pensions that can build cities on water. Nevertheless, the elephants that bent their backs to bear the weight of the nation’s success for thirty-five good years go home with a pail, towel, and at most standing fans and certified lack with wants. I salute the great elephants who are condemned to await death, but who brace up and stoop to conquer the insincerity of the devourers of their labours.

I salute these elephants of men who travel long distances for verification exercises for peanuts that may never come. I salute these men and women whom the nation wants dead, but who dug in their heels to demand for their rights, even if it will never come. I salute these retired workers who truthfully served to the best of their ability, whose experiences are guiding lights to generations that follow them, and whose tears, wailings and sweat bring tears from the eyes of God, against the nation and devourers that deserted them.

My greatest salute goes to the Elephants of war. Men and women decked in the Khaki colours of struggle against those Lions and Leopards that seek to devour them. As far back as 1896, agitations against the taskmaster had begun in Nigeria. 1916 to 1918 were periods of struggles for bonus and Pa Imoudu led the 1921 strike, while in 1931; the Nigerian Union of Teachers was birthed against oppression. Time and space would not permit the histories of the ASUU, NMA, NLC, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN and the likes of them. Within them were great Elephants like Pa Imoudu, Festus Iyayi, Frank Kokori, Abubakar Momoh, Adams Oshiomole, Dipo Fasina, and many more living legends.

These and many more great Elephants are the true architects of progressive Nigeria. They fought for a better life for Nigerian workers; stemmed the tide of brain drain; mauled the colonialists and tyrannical military juntas. Democracy was birthed on the foundations of their relentless struggle. Whatever gains workers have today, are the resilient struggles of those who operated the offices of labour leaders. These labour leaders and their unions did not just fight for fellow labourers but for generations yet unborn. However, for ASUU’s struggles that led to the establishment of TETFUND, much government owned Universities in Nigeria today would have been glorified secondary schools. Nevertheless, for the struggles of workers, many of the jobs people are dying to get in Nigeria today would have been a curse to those who seek it.

I salute the Elephants, who have been, those who are, and those that will be. Let the trunks keep the trumpets alive; unite in stampedes against the devouring Tigers, Lions and Leopards. Elephants do not leave a wounded colleague behind; an injury to one is an injury to all. The minimum wage is not the end but the beginning of battles. I salute the Nigeria workers, the Elephants, the true giants of Africa. Aluta continua, Victoria acerta.

To those in power, I leave you with a Yoruba proverb: When the Elephants eat and are still hungry, the bush will be put to shame.