Shame is a Virtue

Shame is a Virtue

Lawal Murabis

Perhaps one of the human qualities that distinguishes him from animals is shame. It is agreeable that both ethic and morality are part of shame. Ability to talk does not make mankind different from other animals as parrot also talks, neither does walking upright makes him different since apes and chimpanzees also walk upright. Studies show that some species of whale and dolphins can also think to a certain limit. However, the fact that all other animals walk and live “naked” or clothe less, mate anywhere and anyhow, have no moral obligations towards any other living thing, among other things, make them lower than human being. But these are by no means the only criterion for human supremacy.

At any rate, the point I am trying to make is how some well “respected” people in this country are raising dust over the Obasanjo impeachment issue since the House of Representatives rolled out the threat a month ago. Without an atom of shame, some of these people equate the occupation of the throne by Obasanjo to not only the sustainability of democracy but even the corporate existence of Nigeria . In other words, to them, no Obasanjo in the Aso Villa no Nigeria , period. One of his cabinet Ministers uttered that “Those who want to impeach the President are the enemies of democracy and do not wish well for the country”. Another described the Honourable Members as a “bunch of small children” who are incapable of knowing their left from their right. A state governor, who just a couple of weeks prior to the House action called on the President to resign honourably because he (the President) was a disgrace to democracy, now turns around and absurdly inferred that impeaching Obasanjo is a coup against the Southwest. Another state governor mobilized thugs to attack and kill the Honourable Speaker simply because their perceptions of democratic rule differ. When that failed, the same governor spearheaded the move to suspend the Speaker from the PDP (People Destruction Party) at the onset of this face-off. A psycho leader of a lawless and outlawed organization, the OPC, expressed his conviction that the impeachment would spell doom to the country and heads would roll (or drop). The Oga himself told the nation in his monthly Press Chart that the move was “a joke and a joke gone too far”. One hardly believes that all these brouhaha and empty noise come from a people who claim to be educated and civilized. Now I can see the sense in what my teacher once said – “There is a difference between being well-read and being educated”. How sentimentality beclouds peoples’ (and “educated people” for that matter) sense of reasoning beats my imagination hollow. How low can people get to perfect in sycophancy? When can Nigerians start to call a spade a spade?

I am not in anyway advocating the impeachment of Obasanjo or anybody for that matter if such person stays within the Constitutional framework. However, should any leader fails to deliver, or breaches the very constitution he/she swore to uphold, then the person must of necessity go. No single individual or groups of individuals are superior to the nation, any nation. Obasanjo is no exception; he is not and will not be a sacred cow. Hypocrisy and empty threats will not right the wrong. And if the impeachment will break Nigeria , so be it.

The way I see these entire ruckus is a clear indication of lack of shame (i.e. immorality and lack of consciousness inclusive) on the part of the defenders of tyranny, failure, betrayal, ineptitude and above all, corruption of the highest order. How else can one justify the equation of an ex-convict, globe trotting and corrupt leader to the corporate existence of the entire nation? The fact is that Nigeria never had it so bad since independence. The Minister who called the members “bunch of small children” also forgot that it was some of these “bunch of small children” who were begged and lobbied with when the “honourable” Minister was to be screened by the National Assembly. And those who opined that it was a coup against the Southwest, I am challenging them to tell us how many votes did Obasanjo get from them in the whole of Southwest? Was it not from the Southwest that a deputy governor made scathing remarks against the North and blamed the northerners for not heeding their warnings and went ahead and elected Obasanjo? Were you not the same people who campaigned against him in 1998 and called him all sort of unprintable names? Were you not the very people who chased him out of Otta and burnt his house immediately the result of the election was announced? He had to run to Abuja and take refuge at the Aso Villa several weeks before the Swearing In date. As for the chatterbox Minister, Nigerians are not a bit surprised with his prostitution and sycophancy. He did the same during the military regimes only to turn round and castigate them when the feast is over. He will do it again when the Obasanjoism is over and out. Talk of hypo-ingrate.

Another un-Godly utterance came from a “man of God”, the incumbent President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as reported by Saturday Punch that over half-a-billion Naira was doled out to members of House of Representatives to impeach Obasanjo, and if the threat does not stop, he would name names. From what we read in the papers, the threat is still very much alive, and up to now the Dr. has not name any culprit. Mr. Pastor, remember Jesus Christ said, “he who is dishonest in very little is dishonest also in much." (Luke 16:10).

To sum it up, I want the “honourable” Ministers, the Governors, the Advisors, the OPC, even the Clergy to note that history will vindicate the righteous and the coming generations will not forgive the hypocrites. You are just political leaders, you do not own the country or the people, and the people are keeping record of your deeds. One day they will surely throw it on your faces. Besides, at your ages and artificial social status what have you got to loose by being honest and upright? How long can you keep deceiving yourselves that you are smarter than over 120 million Nigerians. The earlier you look into the mirror the faster you will realize you are ugly. Remember shame is a virtue and the rancour we are witnessing over this issue is not a global democracy but rather Nigerian demon-crazy.

As for Mr. President, remember another saying of Jesus Christ – he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. You may recall that you used all the sword at your disposal to get Dr. Okadigbo removed, you attempted several times without success to remove the Speaker Ghali Na’Abba and, recently, Chief Anyim, the incumbent President of the Senate. However, should you eventually succeed in seeing any of them removed from their respective seats, you should know that it is not you but the Almighty Allah who can put or remove a person from power. But for you, definitely God shall reward you with the same venom you fed others. The Holy Kur’an says, “Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.” Sura 99 v 7 & 8

Lawal Murabis

93 Magashi Qtrs, Kano City

Kano .