Everyone has their right…

Being born and raised in a continent like Africa must have had a significant impact on our mentality and beliefs. And you can't blame us for that. We were not the ones who intentionally chose Africa as a place of birth.

If most people were given a chance to swap their countries then I can assure you that just a few people would be left in Africa as their citizens and also just several people would want to have their place of residence in Africa from other countries.

I know Africans are really strong and this must have shaped us to who are among all other continents in the world. Africa is so strong that we can adapt to almost any way of life or culture around the globe. But not all other continents can equally do the same.

When it comes to beliefs, traditions, and cultures, we all have that variation. Even within the same nationality, we all have variations in our cultures, ethics, beliefs, and traditions.

Let's take Nigeria as a case study. Here in Nigeria, we have different tribes and all of these tribes have their specific differences when it comes to almost everything in their way of life. As for the Yourbas, when we greet we have to prostrate to greet the elders. But for the Igbos and Hausa, it's not a big deal at all. They can hug and handshake the elders. But when done that way among the Yourbas then you might have just trespassed your boundaries of respect.

So comparing this kind of lifestyle in Nigeria where respect is cherished and valued, where obedience and discipline have been a part of us, to that of the westerners might not be a joke matter.

The Westerners see freedom as something everyone is entitled to, right from childbirth you have your rights and so do your parents. You have your freedom to speech and when you attain some certain age you will be licensed to some other rights too. So suing one's parents in court in the western part of the world might not be a big deal to them since it's a part of their culture and way of life.

Here in Nigeria where Respect is key, discipline is an order, and religious belief oversees all. You can’t expect a child to even look into their parents in the eyes and express their thoughts not to talk of suing them to court. If you are right, you have to give them that honor and accept their wrongs then later you might get to express yourself to them.

What if that's the case in Nigeria?

It will be okay to some extent because being blind by all of these traditional beliefs in our nation is one thing some brutal humans under the umbrella of parenthood will use as an excuse to mistreat and abuse their kids out of discipline. Most times it's always common when the child is under the care of a guardian or stepparent, there is always a lower chance of not being mistreated.

So if that should be the case where a child can sue their parents for their misconduct, then I think it will eradicate or reduce the rate of parent-to-child abuse in the country.

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This is my response to the HIVE LEARNERS weekly prompt in hive learners community for the Week 143 Edition 2 and the topic to be discussed is TO SUE YOUR PARENT

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