CALLING NAMES: ARE YOU INVOLVED?   

CALLING NAMES: ARE YOU INVOLVED?   

By: Balami Lazarus     

Lately I had a minor brush with someone. For me it is nothing to raise a thick eye- brow seeing it as something that I am humbly sorry should have set the process of amicably settlement as a healing balm by all measurement of maturity and responsibility to bring the matter to an end. But to my surprise the individual concern take the situation and began to shout at the top of his voice using languages that are not palatable nor digestible, and the annoying thing was the calling of names of some respectable public figures whom will never allow themselves to be involved, nor their names to be drag in the mire of such thing.     

This automatically dawn on me what I have been hearing of other people’s experience in calling names. I flared up and told him to his face that I am a scallywag and middle name trouble and these names he is calling are no match for me for who and what I am in my own right. I asked him how the bearers of these good names are to him? His answer was a minute dead silence and that got him busted.     

It is then clear that when some people are entangled in a difficult situation or in an attempt to solve or get something done on a personal ground they result in calling and/ or mentioning names or identifying with these names claiming all sorts of relationship with the personality whose name has been mentioned. How true is this? Is just a way to intimidate and frighten you to totally submission accepting guilt of mirage. And this will create a safety valve for the individual to freely breath and shine on you.     

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Name and reputation are like conjoined twins you hardly can separate the two for they depend on each other to make or mar an individual character and personality. For instance in the days of Lady Maryam Ibrahim Babangida of blessed memories, what comes to mind about her are: elegance, natural beauty, simplicity, kind heart, motherly love and confidence. While the moment you mentioned the the name of Sergeant Barnabas Rogers it symbolises and connote death, torture and wickedness.

In fact, the name can scare away the pride of hungry lions. Some names are like venom of a Taipan snake. Others are sweet like the aroma of the Queen of the Night. And this is also applicable even to the family unit.     The strength of our personality is solely latched to our names by mentioning your name one or two persons will tie it to a particular thing about you. Therefore, People should not slur one’s name, rather it should be reverence. I have seen people who are carefree with their names because they do not attach any value to it.

While others guard their jealousy, a good reputation has been built on it over a long period of time in the course of toiling and sweating. Names should be protected for they are a brand of inestimable value.     It has come the fore that some persons have allow their names to be rubbished and made nonsense of especially in the present political dispensation were names of politicians, political office holders, military and police officers, traditional title holders are not spared in this act of calling names and foolishly some of them cord to these brawls when their names are mentioned.     

It is on record that even with government Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDA’s) including Public Corporations names are used to threaten civil servants and public officers, Management and Board Members.     Calling names most times are done for personal interest and the fear of taking responsibility, proof of social contacts. But what the individual forgot to know is that he is just painting pictures with names to his foe in the rising dust.

These names could be that of your brother, sister, uncle, close friend, neighbour, old school mate, colleague, business partner/ associate, your former student, club/ society or association member and when they appear or get involved  your foe will be taken aback.   

Balami, a Publisher/ Columnist.    08036779290