In peacetime Nigeria, the deadly Kwashiorkor sickness that was so strongly linked to the Biafra war has returned.

During that terrible conflict, it was not a pleasant sight to witness undernourished youngsters with bloated bellies, skins like nylon, and silly eyes.

It was thought that Kwashiorkor had permanently left Biafra.

When I learnt that Kwashiorkor was returning to the city in the Nigerian Tribune on Saturday, October 26, 2024, my horror was uncontrollable.

Dr. Foluso Balogun, a paediatrician at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said that “children with kwashiorkor are seen in this part of the country for the first time in many years.”

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“Kwashiorkor is a severe form of protein malnutrition,” the paper states. Kwashiorkor is more common in kids who consume diets low in calories and protein. Usually, this affects infants and children between the ages of five and weaning. The disease is common in regions of the world with extreme poverty and high rates of malnutrition.

I was complaining about Kwashiorkor’s reappearance when I heard that scores of undernourished children who had been incarcerated for three months for opposing the government’s starvation regime were being arraigned in public court.

To the surprise of the entire world, four of the juvenile detainees passed out in court.

The current government’s Hallelujah Chorus screamed that the fainting children were merely pretending!

Nigeria’s detention and accusation of treason against starving children tarnished its reputation globally. Social media and the internet went into overdrive to bring Nigeria to the attention and disgrace of the world.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was forced to order the arrested children’ immediate release and the suspension of their trial.

However, the damage was already done, and the Nigerian government must unavoidably bear the negative effects of it.

Detained malnourished minors who are accused of treason are linked to youngsters who suffer from kwashiorkor.

When dictatorial control is imposed in the name of democracy, it all comes down to how monstrous man is.

Instead than addressing problems like hunger and malnutrition, the ruling class is entirely focused on maintaining their position of authority.

The only way for the starving people to get the government’s indifferent attention is to protest.

Any demonstration is considered high treason because the unpopular dictatorship is constantly on edge.

Seeing government agents give the impression that everything is well in a nation that is in chaos and utterly broken is incredibly debilitating.

While politicians talk about winning elections and reelections, families are so impoverished that they are no longer able to feed themselves.

In order to get away with murder, the politicians have utterly split Nigerians along religious and ethnic lines.

Additionally, the reappearance of Kwashiorkor portends murder, which is a fitting metaphor for contemporary Nigeria.

The cancer maliciously spreads its vicious onslaught throughout all geopolitical zones, showing no regard for ethnicity.

Kwashiorkor is retaliating with its own accusation that “it’s my turn,” just like the local lawmakers are doing.

Poor people who suffer from kwashiorkor and malnutrition are destined to die a terrible, agonising death in front of greedy politicians.

The emergence of Kwashiorkor may be briefly traced back to the public protests by opposition lawmakers against then-President Goodluck Jonathan for eliminating the petrol subsidy.

After General Muhammadu Buhari led the opposition to power, the country’s situation actually took a turn for the worst.

Even Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the sidekick opposition leader who succeeded Buhari, dared to emphasise that the Katsina man from Daura left him a bankrupt nation.

“The petroleum subsidy is gone,” was Tinubu’s first declaration as president.

I think it’s cool that Tinubu objected when former President Jonathan set the price of gas at N140, but now that he’s in charge, it’s a magnificent N1400!

Nevertheless, the Bulaba Hallelujah Chorus is unable to resist congratulating their president for having the courage to take such a risk!

It’s similar to Washington Irving’s short story’s title character, Rip Van Winkle, who woke up after 20 years of slumber!

A president who claimed to have inherited his predecessor’s insolvency should be thrifty in his business activities.

When the idea of purchasing a presidential boat emerged and a brand-new presidential jet touched down on the presidential tarmac, it was captivating.

The vice president’s accommodations cost N21 billion, and he is now demanding a new vice presidential jet as well.

Nigeria dispatched a delegation of about 500 dignitaries to a climate change summit in super-duper Dubai.

A tear for a native land in financial ruin!

It was necessary to quickly award a massive coastal road contract to a friend without following any bidding procedures or even doing environmental assessments.

The legislative is ruled by the executive branch, while the judiciary has been given the “go to court” coat.

While the former activists are speaking in the common dialect of power worship, the clannish press is dancing to Ajasco music.

A substantial N96 billion Hajj subsidy was provided to address the religious aspect.

As the former party chairman once said, “Join the ruling party and all your sins will be forgiven,” corruption is now the norm rather than the exception.

Unfortunately, the kwashiorkor that is currently tearing through Nigerian streets is the one sin that cannot be pardoned.

Let’s salute to Kwashiorkor’s arrival back in Nigeria!