Prima Facie or Res ipsa Loquitur?

Dr.Jarlath Uche Opara Jarlathuche@gmail.com

I find this picture very interesting. It may be a cartoon, its message very deep and instructive. Only a man that is high on something “tramadolic” would treat with laissez-faire, a bar joint drunks’ jabs thrown at them.

The truth is , it is in such areas and places that truth about ones generations is told. It takes the wise to take such jabs, think through them and advise themselves accordingly.

For clarity sake, not wanting to fall into the mould of Neologists/Lexicographer Patrick Obahiagbon I will clearly explain what prima Facie and Res ipsa Loquitur mean.

prima facie is a term meaning “there is enough evidence there to be a case to answer” , while res ipsa loquitur means that “the facts are so obvious a party does not need to explain any more”.

A cursory look at this cartoon, what comes to your mind? Prima facie( there is enough evidence) or Res ipsa Loquitur ( facts are too obvious no explanation is needed)

Both prima facie and res ipsa loquitur are applicable in this cartoon. It sounds comical but the truth of our present condition engraved in it.

He has caged them, with straps of perks around their necks, pulling and draging them wherever he wills. They have lost their official voices and duties, doing nothing but that which pleases the master “weh dey pamper”, “daddy weh dey give and papa weh no dey dull”.

Nigeria is captured. All the strategic institutions caged and gagged. Their voices lost, their Independence compromised and the integrity built around them broken, smeared and stained.

He needs not to run, leisurely he would walk into 2027 without anybody stopping him. Boldfaced brags! Who fit cough?

Nigeria! Who would stop him from leisurely walking majestically into it? Who would form that wall of resistance? None that I have seen. Beaten and flattened. Hungry and weakened . Disillusioned and hopeless. Nobody has the strength to talk anymore. No protest strong enough to get to their conscience. What they want to do they would do. Cough and cry, their ear drum seems blocked and their sight blurred, nothing is heard ,nothing is seen.

Nigerians you have been stretched to your elastic limits. Your voice muffled, your opinion rubbished and your feelings, pains and suffering a movie they watch, laugh and giggle over wine and food vintage and sumptuous enough for the King’s table.

Nigerians! Caged and gagged, sitting and looking become the only thing your fading strength can do.

With hunger and frustration, your strength is drained. With hardship and penury your protest is weakened. They are strategic. They are deliberate and their minds staled and singed, no feelings again for the dying masses.

Each day that breaks, the news for the increase of pump price scares. Same income but high cost of living; still Nigerians keep pulling themselves, pushing and draging their weakened body along just to keep afloat.

I celebrate your strength and your never say never. You are the real cat with nine lives. Your complacency is overwhelming and your “God dey” and “igo better” philosophy so legendary.

Though “God dey and igo better” one day, you need to wake and take your destiny in your hands.

Nigerians , the poor masses I mean. Not those who live fat and drip with oil , from the oil of our stolen money. Wake up! Reboot, the water flows ,why bath with the spittle of your frustration seated right at the middle of a river? Na juju be that?

Wake up Nigerians! Time ticks! Your life fades while they regale themselves with our collective patrimony, share it among their cronies, friends and well wishers while our lips caked in hunger, frustration and poverty😭😭