By Eberekpe Ogho
It was a busy last week. The internet, social media and netizen were all busy, as everywhere and persons tried to reach a verdict as to who was right and wrong between Ms. Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious, the University of Azikiwe University undergraduate, and Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye, a lecturer of the same institution. While Chimamaka has since been expelled from the institution for assault on Oloye, The latter continues to enjoy his freedom in that same environment.
Of course, as was expected, the Nigerian idiosyncrasies took the front burner. Many of us began to remind ourselves of the Nigerian culture and value system that were immediately abused and toyed with by Chimamaka for having the audacity to confront a lecturer, and one with such reputation of a ‘gentleman’, as described by many of the students who know him and in his department. The hypocrisies and pretences in trying to upheld a culture and values were highlighted by many of us during the social media melee, especially by many who would not want their daughters to be treated otherwise.
Now, who really was the true offender between Ms. Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious and Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye? For me while Ms. Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious lost her self-control and threw all caution to the wind to state her point, which she should be punished for, because, as an undergraduate of a university, and already on her three hundred level, she would have studied to the point of having some mastery over her emotions instead of letting all hell loose; the real offender was Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye. He was a brute, and his brutishness masterly displayed as he would as a master dramatist.
Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye, from the video we saw, represents the typical Nigerian power drunk and Oga-of-Power mentality with all the arrogance in the world who think because they are in some position of power and authority they can eat their cake and have it-the Nigerian classical examples of Power Bullies.
I know the Nigerian thing would definitely come to play here, as it has dominated the entire incident that saw Chimamaka thrown into the space of public opinion and judgement which eventually saw her being rusticated, where the young/youth challenging the elders of our society instead of following the traditional and known pattern of remaining docile by ‘Yes Sir[ing]’ to every word and accusation of the older folk, should never be challenged; but the truth remains that Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye should equally be questioned by the same public opinion and judgement as regards his conduct and attitude.
I have stayed in some Lagos local communities were breasts and buttocks of the opposite sex were slapped left, right and in the middle, and everyone laughed as if it was the right thing to do and no one raised eyebrows, but not in the twenty first century, with a university undergraduate, and expect her not to react, albeit, overreactedly.
Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye is a man of great and extensive learning; a brief about him: A renowned lecturer at the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. His research expertise spans Applied Theatre, Drama Therapy, and Management, with a particular focus on utilizing drama to rehabilitate challenged children and adolescents in Nigeria.
Okoye’s ground-breaking concept, “Rehab Dramatics,” harnesses the power of dramatic performances and techniques to foster rehabilitation and development. This innovative approach has far-reaching implications for the therapeutic application of drama in Nigeria.
As a prolific scholar, Okoye has authored numerous publications, including a book titled “Pebble in the Brook: Rehab Dramatics and the Engagement of Drama Therapy in Nigeria”. His work has been cited extensively, with over 30 citations to his name.
Okoye’s academic leadership and contributions to the university and society are noteworthy. He has served as the Faculty Career Officer, Associate Festival Director, and Secretary of the Grants Committee, among other roles. His commitment to the development of theatre and film studies in Nigeria is evident through his participation in various conferences, workshops, and seminars.
With all these beauties about this Doctor of Arts, yet he failed in all areas of the Arts, Drama, Film Recording and all its appendages, which Chimamaka represented in trying to showcase in what TikTok has come to represent as an art form and as a medium of expression, which Okoye would have been able to manage very well if he had not allowed himself to be drawn into the arrogance of the mentality of power play of being the Nigerian boss, or the disoriented lecturer/student relationship.
About TikTok as an art form, which Okoye failed to recognise, which Chimamaka tried to propagate, which Okoye should upgrade himself in study about, has its massive user base and endless content. TikTok has become a platform where creativity knows no bounds. It has become a space where users can express themselves, showcase their talents, and connect with others who share similar passions.
TikTok’s short-form video format has democratized the art, allowing anyone to become a creator. The platform’s algorithm favours contents that are authentic, engaging, and visually appealing, making it an ideal space for artists to showcase their work.
From dance and music to visual art and poetry, TikTok has become a hub for various forms of artistic expression where users can create and share: Dance videos that showcase their choreography skills, Music performances that highlight their vocal or instrumental talents, Visual art that showcases their painting, drawing, or digital art skills, and, Poetry readings that highlight their spoken word talents.
Besides the individual benefits, TikTok continues to impact the world of art in no small way by causing a disruption in the traditional art world by providing a platform for emerging artists to gain recognition. The app has also enabled artists to connect with a global audience, transcending geographical boundaries.
Overall, TikTok has become a significant player in the art world, offering a unique space for creators to express themselves, showcase their talents, and connect with like-minded individuals.
All these Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye killed and snuffed out of a lady who was trying to contribute to a form of modern art in an evolving art world and connect to the world by taking her to the jurisdiction of public opinion that is already tired of the Gen Z freedom and flare and would do anything to sacrifice it, a treatment Chimamaka eventually got to the glory of the millennia generation, where she is not expected to question or act, instead must choose the path of docility.
Or how else do we respond to the nasty attitude of a Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye, supposedly with his extensive learning in the arts who represents the Nigerian arrogant class, miffed in culture garbs and value system escapades, that you do not ask to be excused and go about at the same time bullying your way through by either tapping or touching, coming back to demand the phone of the subject, the pivot of her art, and asked that the content of that pivot be deleted with alacrity like the forceful might we have been used to, and not expect even the most peaceful and docile dove not to react?
Some would say, a floodgate of netizen and hypocritical custodian of our cultural values, have aired their views on this, but let us say, if Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye had been learned and exposed enough without being haunted down by that Nigerian arrogant pillage, that he recognised that Chimamaka was in her beautiful world of art, and that walk way was her studio at that particular moment, since TikTok[ing] does not have a particular location or studio for its exhibition or performance, that the artist is always at liberty to choose whatever and wherever studio, and Okoye had noticed this and opted to be sweet with Chimamaka and her art by pausing with; ‘Hi dear, let me know when you are done with your art so that I can walk through?’
I am very sure if Dr. Okoye had used those sweet words, none of us would be around now calling Chimamaka either ‘mannerless’ or ‘ill-behaved’ or one who has desecrated the pulpit of our hallowed cultural values. I bet, with those sweet words, if they had been used, and if Dr. Okoye had not been the typical Nigerian man-in-authority bully, Ms. Chimamaka would have immediately acted in accordance with, as the expectation of the beauty of our cultural value, either by pausing her work of art to give room for Dr. Okoye, or chorus the; ‘Sorry, Sir, Sorry Sir…,’ expected of her when an elder speaks or acts.
But no, Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye endorsed the tactics of a bully, arrogance and uninformed persona about the wide expanse of the art, which TikTok has been intertwined, and he, together with all of us who are the protectors of cultures and values, expected a Chimamaka not to respond the way she did, despite abnormally.
Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye, a millennia generation, had behaved the way he did because of the anger and frustration he harbours for some of the Gen Z, and a great number of us toed the line and treated Ms. Chimamaka that harshly with expulsion while the supposed master and tactical bully was praised, all in the name to endorse a culture which in truth creates a platform of finesse treatment to all.
Because every culture and the values it represents work by teaching us love, understanding, tolerance, space for freedom, respect for everyone and their engagement and occupation, and does not become bullish where only the bully is heard and the bullied sentenced.
Ms. Goddy-Mbakwe Chimamaka Precious ought not to have been expelled, whereas Dr. Chukwudi Michael Okoye would have been granted a sabbatical study leave to really understand the length and breadth of the art he lectures, and the actors, especially in the area of “Rehab Dramatics”, an area of expertise for him.
