My most interesting fictional character in George Orwell’s Animal Farm is Squealer. I recall that I had first read the 1945 novel as a solicitous student of Literature in English in my secondary school days.
Though a satirical allegory, George Orwell presents Squealer– the clever, slippery, witty, and cunning pig who always had his way with words in defending the actions and inactions of his principal and hard-fist leader, Napoleon.
As Napoleon’s propaganda machine, Squealer relied on his oratorical prowess and rhetoric to manipulate the other animals. As convincing as he was, he carried a subtlety of skill that could make him paint black as white.
The novel is replete with examples: He rewrote the 7 Commandants and convinced the animals to accept the changes. He wittingly told the animals that Napoleon was a hero. Hear him: “Be loyal and trust Napoleon. He is the best leader for us.”
In typical fashion, Squealer tells the other animals that Snowball is the cause of their misfortune. When questioned about Napoleon’s stealing the milk and windfallen apples, he explains that Napoleon and his fellow pigs must take the milk and apples because they “contain substances necessary to the well-being of a pig.” Such a propaganda wizard!
In many ways, Squealer reminds one of the present-day mouthpieces and spokespersons of President Tinubu as his administration matures in age. They are the modern-day analysts and public affairs commentators draped in agbada and suits on national television.
If you don’t see them on Seun Okinbaloye’s Politics Today, be sure to catch them speaking with the 3-Man Panel of the AriseTV Morning Show, urging Nigerians to trust the process. With a grasp of maneuvering techniques, they tell us to bear the brunt. The Igalas never interpreted it better: The mother rat tells her baby that what is causing its severe itching is not eczema but a mild rash. Mẹ wọla ukọlọ!
But who wouldn’t give it to Tinubu though? He made very bold decisions on day one. “Subsidy is gone” was the game changer. He floated the naira in what has been described as a daring economic reform. He suspended erring ministers and heads of parastatals. The list of economic reforms is endless.
However, in the last year, the average Nigerian has borne the burden of these decisions. There was a shocking wave of policy reforms. But we’re there enough shock absorbers: prices of foodstuff have hit the ceilings. The cost of living has held Nigerians by a chokehold. Regrettably, when his ministers unveiled their scorecards over the last few months, most of them dwelt on mundane issues. Like Squealer and his unending rhetorics.
The Squealers around Tinubu should be seen leading from the front. It should go beyond mere eye service and the usual “notice me” mannerisms. The efforts towards rebuilding the country from the throes of ruin should begin with them. Those who advise him to levy Nigerians to their deaths only to revert due to widespread protestations must resort to some soul-searching.
They should stop telling us to wear rags and trust the process, while they regale themselves in glittering garments and jewellery. Cutting the cost of governance must not be lopsided but a collective venture. Squealer proclaimed “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” That should not be our case because Nigeria is no Animal Farm!
For what it is worth, the President Tinubu’s administration has proven to be riding on an independent progressive ideology. The signs are obvious. But those who help to steer the ship across the board must be deliberate in charting its course. The days of Emilokan are gone. The time is ticking for Tinubu. One year on, how well are the poor breathing?