What If . . .

By Abubakar D. Sani, Esq.

Roles were reversed;
Or, perhaps, re-ordered;
And women did the heavy-lifting;
Not necessarily literally -

Beyond that – in everything;
If they did most of the fighting –
In combat, and in tackling crime;
And sat less at home, bidding time.

Why is their demographic superiority –
Inversely proportional to their reality?
Why does the myth of their inferiority –
Still persist, defying every logic?

What more do they need to do –
To prove that they are equal to men –
If not better – or is that far-fetched?
Will the situation change anytime soon?

Why have legal and pseudo-legal prescriptions –
Failed to address gender and other imbalances?
Who do men – all of whom were of women born –
Grow up to become so gender-insensitive?

Why do we all pay collective lip-service –
To fairness, equity and gender equality?
Are we all guilty of insincerity?
If blame must be apportioned, who is most guilty?

Is it the United Nations, Sovereign countries –
Regional or sub-regional bodies?
Are women their own worst enemies?
How can that be, when they are victims?

Why are these questions still being asked –
After the UN adopted the Sustainable Development Goals –
The Fifth of which was for just such a purpose?
Questions, and more questions – what are the answers?

It is becoming ever harder and harder;
As even the usual suspects – religion and tradition –
Have since changed tack and come on board;
Yes, like the Taliban and the Vatican.
To be perceived as misogynistic or chauvinistic –
Has seldom been so politically incorrect;
Women have now become every man’s ‘darling’
At least on paper – why then the disconnect –

With their lived experience?
Is this the greatest hypocrisy of all?
If we cannot reverse this trend –
How can we hope to tackle other causes –

Like malaria, global warming & Covid-19?
If attitudinal change is so hard to achieve –
How can we summon the will –
To confront health emergencies?

Why are we ever-so long on platitudes and precepts –
But always come up short on effective action?
What does that reveal about us?
Does it reflect our “collective common sense”?

Do we need a magic wand –
To tackle our problems and challenges?
Or would that be an admission of incompetence –
And impotence in the face of hard facts?
Where do we go from here?
How many times will we keep setting targets –
Only to end up missing them?
As the Americans did, in Afghanistan, to their regret

Of what use is the existing world order –
If it does not work for the majority;
If leading powers like America, China and Russia –
Opt out of critical global treaties?

Is it fair that the likes of North Korea –
Israel, India and Pakistan, amongst others;
Are allowed to possess nuclear weapons –
Whilst others with supposedly equal rights are stopped?

How can it be right that certain members –
Of the UN Security Council –
The UK, US, France, Russia and China –
Are untouchable – while others merely sit at the table?

You might well be forgiven for wondering;
What is the point of it all?
As there any justice in the world?;
Justice! Much sought-after, but oh-so elusive.

But, why? Why has it proved so slippery?
For all of humanity’s civilization and enlightenment –
Why are we still very much at the rudimentary stages –
When, by now, utopia ought to be our ken?

Enough said; so much for observation;
In terms of action, what is the way forward?
Time to think out of the box;
Yeah, right – you mean out of this world!

True – in more ways than one;
Since it is apparent that all else has failed –
Perhaps, we should resign ourselves to our fate;
And wait – and pray – for deliverance from God.

Abubakar D. Sani, Esq.,
3rd September, 2021
08034533892 xl4sure@gmail.com
Kano – Nigeria.