Freedom and Human Rights
Ibadan is a “mega-village” of nearly five million inhabitants. All are Yoruba people. They are wonderful people, without a doubt. If you haven't yet heard the name Ibadan, this colossal village is the capital of Oyo State in Nigeria.
Recreation Club at Onireke is a well-known gathering spot, known throughout and across Ibadan and very popular among the so-called “who's who” of this mega-village and also popular with the Oyinbo (the peeled people), which is obviously odd, because not even one “who's who” is known around this mega-village — at least not until that evening, I'm telling you about.
Chief Balogun Ajanlakoko and I arrive at the Recreation Club, and the owner, Johnny "Extra Large,” greeting us with a typical oversized Lebanese smile. Chief Ajanlakoko, without hesitation, ordered his usual: a generous glass of Black Label whiskey, loaded with ice. I order a Chapman with green cucumber garnish when some VIP-style “who’s who” fellow saunters to our table and asks if he can join us.
He drags up a chair and settles himself down before anyone manages to formulate a reasonable response like, “No.” Mister “who's who” immediately leads the discussion. There is no time for embarrassment for a man like this as he is one of those people who has no objection to hearing themselves talking. In fact, you can see that he immensely enjoys listening to what he has to say.
He tells Chief Ajanlakoko that his "black label" is his treat and orders another for himself. He looks at me. I have Chapman with green cucumber. I hate whiskey. The gentleman introduced himself as Mr. Vincentius Bonaccorso, “Call me Din,” he said. He calls himself Din because Din is shorter and because he likes the sound of it. He tells us he does various businesses including construction and he is originally from Sicily.
Din's grandfather started the family business in Sicily about eighty years ago, and it became one of the biggest contractors on the island. “But,” he said, “I have different and diverse businesses around the world, and in particular, Din is always on the lookout for good illegal businesses.”
Because of the smoke, I wasn't sure if I had heard right, so I asked him exactly what kind of business he is referring to. I have never met a gentleman looking for a “good illegal business.” However, I am well aware, mainly from American movies, that wise and intelligent guys are very successful, sometimes, by running good illegal businesses. Providing, of course, that there is public demand for those illegal products and services. If there is public demand, then it is a good business. Legal or illegal.
He has a house here, in Ibadan, near Ring Road. He also has houses in Sicily and New York, with a strong emphasis on the New York home. It's very important for Din to mention New York, just to make sure we understand and maybe even willing to provide him with the level of respect he is entitled to. Of course these are his expectations.
Clearly, every time Din hits a successful transaction, his social ranking increases, and more friends seek his company and this is very important to him. The Lebanese community knows all about the businesses that Din is involved in. Some of his businesses are the lottery games at Mokola and Dugbe Market (the G is not pronounced). If you look around, you’ll see many items around the market imported by Din. He even sells some items in Okitipupa because many items are prohibited for importation into Nigeria.
It is important to know that the Nigerian government banned the importation of many items to protect local industries, just as the British do to protect British industries. Of course, there was almost no local industry in Nigeria then. The importation of various items is prohibited mainly to provide the customs officers with enough leverage and authority at the port to negotiate with the importers.
Such authority in the hands of customs officials is easily and quickly translated into Naira, and the Naira is translated into Dollars and everyone is very happy with this arrangement, especially the customs officers and, of course, Din.
Some of the banned items are European foodstuffs. Of course, Oyinbo's (the peeled people) favorite foods. The young Yoruba, especially the ladies, believe that if they eat Oyinbo's food, they will slowly look like the Oyinbo, too, and if not, they will use body cream to look like the Oyinbo.
Chief Ajanlakoko interjects, pointing out that although most Nigerians like alcoholic beverages, such as beer or cognac, they do not like to smoke cigarettes and do not like to use Oyinbo's weeds. He says, “We have our own herbs for our rituals and traditions, and no Oyinbo will tell us, Nigerians, what, when, or why to use our herbs.” He speaks commandingly, “This is our tradition. We, Nigerians, are free in our free land, the Land of freedom,” he says. “Plus, Nigerians are anyway afraid of needles or sniffing.”
Din takes a loud “schlook,” from his Black Label. He thinks for a moment, holds his glass firmly, and then speaks, “You know, around 1920, a good, decent, and honest American couldn't legally drink black label. The US Congress preferred that good and honest Americans only drink alcohol illegally. By law! Imagine! In the land of the Free!
They called it ‘Prohibition Law.’ Such prohibition laws, which prohibit good and decent people from enjoying life, are very important for the success of intelligent businessmen. These gentlemen are simply people with a good understanding of the reality, and they provide a product and a service to decent American citizens who enjoy what the American Congress defines as 'immoral' pleasures or unhealthy pleasures.
Prohibition laws, such as those prohibiting the use of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or gambling, are very important laws for the businesses of these intelligent gentlemen because these laws provide a handsome income. Where there is demand, there is profit to be made. Of course, running such big industries is a big responsibility. But there is no choice because the American Congress has decided that it does not want the government to manage or supervise these industries, and it prefers that intelligent and prudent people will manage them independently."
He continues, “Individual freedom and human rights also include the freedom of honest and good citizens to enjoy themselves, as long as they do not harm other good citizens. Capiche?”
The chief nods his head but then says, “Ah-Ah, I support the freedom to enjoy, but when the pleasure starts to control you, it's already an addiction, isn't it? Besides, the people who use drugs eventually kill themselves. No-be-so?! Both their health and their souls. Someone has to stop them from destroying themselves, right?
Din agrees that the drugs do hurt them, “But it's their life, their money, their decisions, their choices, their freedom and their rights.” Chief Ajanlakoko raised an eyebrow, “Na-Wow, we in Nigeria respect people's human rights and individual freedom more than the democracies of the Oyinbos, with their funny laws.” The chief asks Din, “So, what happened to this Wahala Law?”
Din sighs and continues, “Well, after Congress decided that the government would not regulate the alcohol industry because drinking alcohol was 'immoral' or unhealthy or both, the wise gentlemen had no choice. They took responsibility for the supply of alcohol and began to manufacturing, distribution and selling of alcoholic beverages to the good and decent citizens of America.
Consequently, the wise men accumulated money and power. With this wealth, they also occasionally persuaded some government officials to help run the alcohol industry from time to time.
Din described how his uncle arrived in New York in 1921 to help his family’s business. The workload was too much. On the one hand, the American Congress representatives left the management of the industry to the intelligent gentlemen. On the other hand, the officials hindered the management efforts at every opportunity. “You can't really understand them,” says Din.
The Chief says, “We, the Yoruba, have a proverb that says that even if the representatives in the Congress are right, it does not mean they are wise. Such prohibition laws do not prevent good citizens from using drugs; It just makes the use of the drugs illegal. That's all. Ah-Be? You understand?”
Chief Ajanlakoko paused, then grabbed a pen and quickly jotted down on a napkin some interesting implications of such laws, which prohibit the freedom of good people to enjoy unhealthy habits.
• Decent people still enjoy, but illegally.
• Products quality drop; health risk rise.
• No regulations and supervision from appropriate authorities.
• Cost is higher.
• Intelligent guys benefiting.
• Intelligent guys make the system work for them.
• Who are the winners?
• Who are the losers?
• More decent citizens get hurt for all kinds of reasons.
• Smart people don't pay taxes.
• Lost tax money could fund treatment centers
• Citizens lose faith in the Congress.
• What about freedom and human rights?!
I asked Din if the law prohibiting Euthanasia was included in the list of strange prohibition laws. I heard about Dr. Kevorkian, “the hero of humanity.” As a doctor, Dr. Kevorkian risked his doctor's license and his freedom, helping others end their terrible suffering and endless pain. Who determines what is unhealthy or immoral? The church? The media? Politicians? Corporate economic interests?”
The chief chimed in, “Do you mean that the elected representatives do not understand what you are telling us here? Na-Lie! E-No-Be-So!” “Some of the elected officials may understand,” replied Din, “But once they get power, their little hidden "Hitler" comes out, and they forget everything about individual freedom and human rights.” Din laughed, “There was even one lady minister who proposed to ban the use of salt in restaurants because salt raises blood pressure. This not a joke.”
“Ah-Ah ... what's up with these congressmen? What about respecting individual freedom?” asked the Chief. “It's like North Korea. When the government wants to, they simply lock good citizens in their homes and forbid them to leave.” Din says, “Don't worry. One day, even in America, they will find a reason to lock good citizens in their homes.
When this hidden little "Hitler" comes out, they forget all about individual freedom and human rights.”
Chief Ajanlakoko replies, “Na-Wow. In our beloved country, Nigeria, we allow good people to have fun. Of course, if they don't hurt others. This is our system here. We have freedom in Nigeria.” The Chief sounds very proud.
He continues, “It seems that most people, including those in Congress, succeed very well even without intelligence and reason, without the ability to understand reality and without data and knowledge. They manage well in their lives with emotion, belief, and intuition. You can understand them; after all, understanding is a very difficult process, and learning about data and facts takes too much time.” I thought, can't those governments manage unhealthy habits and still allow freedom and basic human rights? Since that evening, I have wondered to myself, apparently, the good guys lose, and the bad guys win.
Why, once they get to power, their hidden little " Hitler" wakes up, and they forget all about freedom and human rights.
And this is the end of the story.
Except that five months later, Chief Balogun Ajanlakoko tells me that Din contacted him for assistance. He asked the Chief if he knew someone in UTC, a large supermarket chain in Nigeria. Din imported eight shipping containers of Oyinbo chocolate chip cookie from Denmark.
Mainly because importing chocolate cookies is illegal in Nigeria. Din can't sell them. Nigerians hate sweets. Everything must be spicy.
There is no demand for sweets in Yoruba land. Especially if it is from Denmark. Chief Ajanlakoko told Din, “Na-Wow-You. Good business is only when there is public demand.” Illegal is not enough for a business to succeed. Anyway, at least, for now, we have the freedom to chomp excellent chocolate cookies from Denmark.