OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND CONSPIRACISTS

I first came across the phrase “Conspiracy Theory” at the popular Yikpata NYCS camp in Kwara State. Every evening we play Scrabble at the camp’s mammy market; one of the players once asked if I really hailed from Northern Nigeria. I told him I was born and bred in Gombe (which was then a local government area under Bauchi State). He was amazed, having thought no person from the north could play Scrabble or even speak good English. After an extensive discussion, Yinka, I can still remember his name after 31 years, admitted that what he was told about the north and its people was a mere conspiracy theory. 

 

Conspiracy theories are explanations for situations that assert the existence of a conspiracy. The term generally has a negative connotation and can often be based on apparent prejudice or inclination. 

 

There have been numerous conspiracy theories. The ones that come to mind include the assertion that the CIA colluded with FIFA to oust England from the 1970 World Cup. Another one came in 1997 following the death of Princess Diana; the conspiracists alleged her death wasn’t caused by the car crash. It was claimed the English monarchy couldn’t stand the thought of Diana, the divorced wife of the then Prince Charles, marrying Dodi al-Fayed, an Egyptian. 

 

In the English Premier League last season, conspiracists claimed that Arsenal were favoured to win the trophy; their argument: the Gunners hadn’t conceded a single penalty. That was just preposterous. Arsenal won the league because they were determined, and other contenders messed up. 

 

I detest conspiracy theories, especially those constructed by armchair football pundits. Conspiracy theories dominate recent World Cup finals, largely because virtually everyone has access to live matches due to a technological boost. As it happened this year, there were allegations that Lionel Messi and the Argentinian team were favoured. I wonder if Messi scored his goals via contentious circumstances, or whether the officiating officials were bribed, as they do in the Nigerian League, into favouring one team. 

 

My advice to the conspiracists: be positive and look at things with an objective mind. Do not allege a gang-up against an African team because you are African. I call that blind patriotism. 

 

In the words of Brian Stelter, “you can convince yourself of just about anything when you want to believe a conspiracy theory”