Commentary: Is It Fair To All Concerned? A Courageous Question In A World Of Injustices

Written By: Chief Ben Ndi Obi

One of the major issues that have inspired total trust and confidence in Rotary International is the Club’s ‘4 Way Test’ of the things we think, say or do’’, which are deep-rooted in these impeccable fundamental questions: Is it the Truth?; Is it Fair to all concerned?; Will it build Goodwill and better Friendships?; Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

These piercing questions have always stood in judgment of men and women in their daily activities and interactions with their fellows. Of these questions, one is particularly touched by the one which asks, Is it Fair to all Concerned? This question is more germane as the world, especially, Nigeria, is nose-diving into the dilemma of injustices in which the poor and disadvantaged are at the mercy of the elite and leaders of the state and their agents.

In his classical work in 2012, Arthur Dobrin presented what he called the three different ideas of fairness to include Sameness, Deservedness and Need. According to him, Sameness is the fairness where everything is equal and no one has more than another; Deservedness  is the fairness one gets which is deserved, keeping what you deserved and deserving nothing if it is not earned. This is a rational calculation that also serves as individual freedom. Finally, Need has to do with the fairness in which those who have more to give should give greater percentage of what they have to help others who are unable to contribute much, if anything at all. Justice on the other hand means equitability and fairness in protection of rights and punishment of wrongs.

A critical look at these elements of fairness and injustices shows that today, the world is fragmented along the lines of unfairness and injustices in which no one seems to care for the other. This is a world in which wickedness and man’s inhumanity to fellow man have assumed an alarming rate, to the extent that killing is  no longer a taboo but handsomely rewarded; a world in which hatred, persecutions, scarcity, aggressions, victimizations,  bad governance, bribery and corruption, etcetera have taken away all the remaining elements of cogent reasoning in the society.

This is an era of lawlessness and leadership irresponsibility; a conspiracy that has forced the Nigerian nation into a double-quick-march into what Professor Claude Ake described as ‘perpetual movement without progress’. This scenario perfectly fits into the narratives of one of the greatest African Inspirational Speakers, the Kenyan-born Prof Patrick Lumumba, who philosophically postulated that people get to the dinner table for three reasons: 1. To eat the food served as diners (2) to serve the food as waiters (3) To be eaten as the food served.

Obviously, these self-created hydra-headed problems have placed most Nigerians the category of being eaten as the food served to the extent that even in the midst of plenty, many people are still slaves and unworthy of human beings.

Yet, in the midst of this common deplorable dilemma stands out some people that believe that, in spite of what the world has chosen to turn itself to, it shall never stand hand-akimbo as creatures of this ugly man’s inhumanity to man wallow in isolated disadvantages. Those people have demonstrated to the world the difference between love and hate, charity and selfishness. This is exemplary. Love must be shown even in the midst of scarcity, hence, its idea of ‘a helping hand’. Mother Theresa of Calcutta did not err when she admonished all to continue giving until it hurts. 

In the light of these, therefore, Nigerians should embrace and take seriously, this responsibility of living daily by living for others. The deprivations and unquantifiable parade of material scarcity should not be a barrier to the business of doing good. 

Thus, to remain a great hope to millions of Nigerians and the world over, we should deal fairly with others, no matter the pressure to the contrary. Thus, Nigerians must act with integrity and high ethical standards; deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect; use our professional skills to mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in our community and in the world.