By Professor Usman Umar, Keffi
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Socrates was one of the greatest thinkers of his time. Yet, he was not beyond correction. His student, Plato, saw flaws in his ideas and corrected them.
Plato was a great philosopher. Yet, Aristotle, his own student, challenged him. Aristotle went further, reshaping ideas that had stood unchallenged for years. Then came Aristotle’s students. They questioned him. They debunked many of his theories. And the cycle continued. Truth advanced. Knowledge grew.
This is how progress happens. Ideas must be tested. Great men must be challenged. Even the wisest can be wrong. But in our society, things are different. In Africa, to correct a leader is to invite a curse. To question an elder is to be labelled rebellious. In Nigeria, men—not truth—are the final authority.
Culture has put truth in chains. Lies now sit on the throne. Do you wonder why religion keeps dragging us backwards? This is why. When men become untouchable, their errors become untouchable too. When leaders cannot be questioned, falsehood is never dethroned. Honour is good. But truth must be honoured more.
Galileo was mocked for saying the earth moves around the sun. The Church called him a heretic. His books were burnt, and he was subject to mockery, persecution, ridicule and house arrest. Galileo remained steadfast. Today, no one doubts him.
Martin Luther challenged the religious leaders of his day. He nailed 95 Theses to a church door. He refused to bow to falsehood. Today, his courage is called the Reformation. When he was asked by the Church authority to choose between truth and death, Martin Luther replied to them: “…Here I stand; I can do no other. God help me.”
Even Jesus challenged religious leaders. He exposed their hypocrisy. He broke their traditions. He told them: “You have nullified the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” (Matthew 15:6). Yet today, many who claim to follow Him do not do the same thing. They exalt tradition above truth. They protect men, not principles.
Ask yourself: Is your loyalty to men or to truth? Isaac Newton once said: “Plato is my friend, Aristotle is my friend, but my greatest friend is truth”. Can you say the same? Or are you afraid of offending men?
If truth must bow before men, then ignorance will reign. If leaders cannot be questioned, then progress will die. If tradition is never examined, then the future is already lost. Nigeria does not lack intelligence, Nigeria lacks the courage to challenge falsehood. Until that changes, we will keep moving in circles. Honour men. But honour truth more.
