By IFECHI OKOH

Honestly, it is quite disturbing to behold some top comedians showcasing outright lack of creativity, insight, maturity and insensitivity when they make people laugh over persons with one form of disability or another, their idiosyncrasies, focusing their jokes on them maliciously.

This is the contending situation we have found ourselves today with top music comedian, Julius “De-Genius” Agwu who has been running foul of the stigmatization offence under focus. There was this particular case when he cracked a joke of some Warri boys who abducted as an albino, thinking that he was a white, asking for a ransom. As a result, they called on all expatriates for negotiation. Each of them according to Agwu, maintained that none of them on their staff list was missing. After several days of anxiety and concern, the kidnappers released the rattled albino. No doubt that such expensive joke would go down well with an albino around. Oh yeah!

Agwu has, no doubt, made people to laugh at their colour, ridiculing some unfortunate albino ladies and gentlemen around. Would Agwu find it funny if his brother or sister who is an albino was around? Never, ever, never. We all know this!

His colleague Basketmouth is also guilty of such demeaning social blunder. It is high time these comedians started to think about the instant psychological effect of their ungodly jokes on the people living with disabilities who may be around during these malicious and insensitive swipes which rubbishes the innocent and concerned persons. Mostly affected are cripples, stammers, deaf and dumb victims who should be sympathized with, rather than mocking their misfortunes. These comedians who take joy in mocking these unfortunate persons have forgotten completely that unforeseen misfortunes are not set aside for anybody. This simply means that anybody, including any of the mischievous comedians, could fall victim of such misfortune at any time. You may see somebody today looking physically fit as fiddle. But the same person could be transformed into a cripple the following day as a result of accident. Incredible? Oh yeah! But it is true because instances abound. There is no doubt that the mimicking and demonstration of the misfortunes of the victims are capable of moving their friends and relatives to tears. How can comedians be doing such heart-rending disservice to these already traumatized persons for God’s sake?

Imagine a joke being told at an event about persons who limp while walking as a result of wrongly administered drugs and injections often done by poorly trained doctors and nurses. The comedians, who, by their socially offending act, may have done that foolishly because they care more of their financial gains than how those they laugh at would feel.

These comedians ultimate which is financial is ungodly and wrong because discerning and sensitive minds know that not every joke is actually worth its salt.

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