There is a growing trend with and of quick production of t-shirts and face caps bearing inscriptions or slogans of recent or current happenings which the society detests or embraces.
Interestingly, celebrities including high profile politicians make these trend, slogans, t-shirt and face caps more popular. They make it go viral.
In fact, as soon as the ordinary citizens see them put on the t-shirts or face caps it goes viral on social media and immediately becomes fashionable just like hashtag on a subject or issue.
Recently, Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe granted an interview wearing a t-shirt with the inscription "THE DOT NATION." which observers say reflected the controversial comment of President Muhammadu Buhari on the small dot in a larger circle during an interview he granted Arise TV.
That comment according to government spokespersons was not targeted at Ndigbo or South East hence it was wrongly and grossly misinterpreted by haters of the Buhari administration just to give the dog a bad name by hanging the bone on it's neck. They argued that the statement was actually targeted at persons fomenting trouble and stoking the fire of insecurity across the country.
Critics of government have refused to accept this explanation and they think it was a very unfortunate comment which on it's own is capable of overheating the polity.
They added that it was insensitive of Mr. President to use such choice of expression on the people he serves or presides over especially at a time like this when the nation is polarised by issues bothering on insecurity and fuelled by ethnicity.
Recall that Senator Dino Melaye once put on a t-shirt with the slogan "Government Sabi Steal Pass Robbers." A website Delano published his pose wearing a purple colour t-shirt on October 4, 2016 with the caption, "Check out what Senator Dino Melaye wrote on his t-shirt." He wore another in 2019 with the slogan "AJEKUN IYA."
Immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose stormed the office of the EFCC shortly after he left office as governor on invitation of the anti-graft body with a t-shirt bearing the slogan "EFCC, I'M HERE."
Obviously, he was fulfilling his promise of subjecting himself to probe once he leaves office. He had promised never to run away from the country once he was done with his job as governor. Recall there were insinuations that he was scared of EFCC hence he was planning to "elope."
We have seen BRING BACK OUR GIRLS t-shirts during the protest led by former Minister for Education, Dr. Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili.
We have equally seen celebrity musicians, comedians and actors put on the t-shirt with the #EndSARS slogan. Ace comedian Bovi paid Tribute to #EndSARS Protest victims with a blood-stained shirt at the 14th Headies Award in February.
We have seen OCCUPY NIGERIA t-shirts. We have seen LEKKI MASSACRE t-shirts. We have seen OFF THE MIC t-shirts. We have seen MY OGA AT THE TOP t-shirts. We have seen TRANSMISSION, TRANSITION, TRANSISTOR t-shirts. We have seen FAINTED and many others. They all meant different things to those putting them on as at the time of event.
It is a global trend. The world was spontaneously united during the BLACK LIVES MATTER protests across the United States of America. The t-shirts with that slogan became a global choice if not brand.
This is an obvious sign of an evolving world. Today's people speak in diverse ways...They speak through what they put on (that is what they wear). They speak through music. They speak through dance steps. They even speak through or with silence. In fact, silence is a major word and language that sometimes carries heavier weight and action that mere words.
We just hope those they speak to listen, appreciate and use the spoken language as a tool to better the society.
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