In Defence of Assassins

By

mefun_ile@yahoo.com

How can people be so mean? How can they be so inconsiderate? How can they be so biased and jaundiced in their opinions? How can so many people be crying wolf where there is none? Why would people want to make other innocent hardworking Nigerians look so bad? Could this be envy or jealousy? What could be the motive for this character assassination of the members of the Association of Nigerian Professional Assassins (ANPA)? One is yet to fathom an answer because this is so unfair. It is an injustice to an organization which ellipsis in Yoruba language appropriately translates to “We Kill.” This is an unfair discrimination to a professional organization whose members have always been diligent, resourceful, dedicated and patriotic.

The media is even the guiltiest of all. They yell through their various headlines about something that was not worth reporting. Every time a member of ANPA records a success and a milestone, they flood the market with hackneyed headlines in their debris called newspapers and endlessly infect the air with their whining euphemized as  broadcast reporting. They sensationalized trivial matters such as assassination of Chief Bola Ige, the former Attorney General as if it was a horrible thing. They embroidered the murder of Dr. Marshall Harry (ANPP National Vice Chairman for South South) as if it was something bad. The media raised hell when Mr. Barnabas Igwe ( Anambra State Bar Association Chairman) and his wife were killed by assassins as if the Assassins were doing something wrong.

These reporters! They think they know what is best for this country. They are so full of themselves. What is the big deal in doing your job and doing it excellently at that? What is the big deal about ANPA having capable hands within its rank and file? Why is the media always yelling when an assassin proves that he has not wasted his/her parents’ investment in training him/her by successfully murdering or killing someone? Has this anything to do with the attempt by the media to divert attention from the inefficiency of its members?

This is yellow journalism at its best. One really does not know what else to call it. But has our journalists lost their souls? When would they get serious about other important national matters arising? Are they under serious intoxication of pen power?’ One has never seen such a level of injustice meted out to a group of hardworking professionals such as being directed at ANPA and its members by the Nigerian media and the Nigerian people. If the ratio of the successes recorded by ANPA members could be replicated by the members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigeria Medical Association, Association of Professional Politicians and other professional associations in the country, Nigeria would have been a fully developed country since October 1986 when Dele Giwa was efficiently murdered.

Well, the media has to reflect the nature of the people they cover on daily basis. This is because Nigerians have never failed to engage in envious but destructive righteous indignation every time a member of ANPA records a success. Their now familiar consternation every time a Nigerian is diligently murdered by a member of ANPA has to be exposed for its subtle jealousy.

The media and Nigerians behaved the same way when Chief Ogbonnaya Uche (ANPP’s Senatorial Candidate for Orlu, Imo State) was effectively killed. They did the same thing when Hon. Odunayo Olagbaju (Member, Osun House of Assembly) was effortlessly murdered. They went berserk in the same manner when Ahmed Pategi (Kwara State chairman of PDP) was diligently assassinated. It was in the same manner they hit the roof when Mr. Theodore Agwatu (Principal Secretary to Imo State Governor); Hon. Monday Ndor (Member Rivers State House of Assembly); Mr. Sunday Ugwu, Mrs.Janet Olapade and Sunday Ugwu and other lucky Nigerians like them were dutifully murdered. Now that Reverend Okwesili has also joined one of the lucky few to be murdered by the Assassins, the media and Nigerians are up in arms again condemning ANPA members for being effective and efficient murderers.

This kind of condemnation is utterly unwarranted. It is uncalled for as it is unfair. One believes that this outcry smacks of selfishness on the part of those who have been crying out about the spate of assassinations still sweeping across the country. One thinks it was and still is inconsiderate of anyone to whine because someone is being diligent about his or her responsibility to kill innocent Nigerians. There seems to be more than enough reasons to believe that all those crying wolf about this spate of assassinations have ulterior motive and they must all be enemies of progress of the Nigeria state.

The way everyone was and still is complaining about the assassins and their efficient assassinations amounts to surreal character assassination to depict assassins as sinners. It is as if assassins are not human beings. It is as if these assassins deserve no human rights. It is as if these assassins are kind of creatures from another planet and not Nigerians like the rest of us. Not since the June 12 imbroglio when the military came into undeserved disrepute and ignominy has any group of hardworking professionals such as ANPA been unduly and unfairly vilified and condemned for their courage, gallantry, dedication, efficiency and patriotism.

Even, the so called Diaspora Nigerians are not left out in their whining and jealous rage against the successes of their fellow Nigerians in ANPA. In every gathering, whether it is wedding or naming ceremony, it is the topic of the day. Some of them have not even stopped at that, they wrote and are still writing about ANPA members. They flooded the web sites with endless but obviously envious commentaries.

Particularly riling was the media attempt to portray the twin attack on Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos sometime ago as something of national importance. What is the big deal about assassins going after Governor Tinubu? Is Governor Tinubu not one of the lucky Nigerians to be selected by ANPA? Is it not a sign of bad luck that Governor Tinubu has escaped ANPA twice?  Reuben Abati that audacious columnist always with his hidden agenda had the temerity to write an article that “everyone is afraid now” quoting one of the courageous office holders in Nigeria? Is it not meant for the courageous to be scared in their own skin? If this is not subtle prejudice one does not know what to call it. Why would envious Nigerians like Reuben Abati lament the good luck of those Nigerians lucky enough to have been murdered by ANPA?

When NADECO was championing democracy, did the organization tell us that assassins would have no rights? Did it say that assassins would not be free to practice their profession? Are the assassins not entitled to the fruit of democracy?  Are they not Nigerians like the rest of us? Why is it that people are always trying to be selfish? Why this unwarranted self centeredness on the part of Nigerians? Why are we so intolerant of hardworking Nigerians who just happen to have a different profession from the rest of us? Why are the assassins being picked upon? Why are they being singled out? What is wrong in being professionally efficient and effective?

Even the Afenifere did not do better. The meaning of their name is “those who wish others well.” But it does not seem they wish ANPA members well at all. They complained about efficient assassination of Chief Bola Ige. They continuously lament and whine about the efficiency and successes of the ANPA members in a manner that made obvious their envy of those lucky ones who have been fortunately dispatched to the world beyond by ANPA members.

It would not be surprising if one finds out that the jealous and envious outcry against the ANPA members was inspired by the fact that Nigerians are not used to people being efficient and effective in the execution of their jobs. One had thought that doing your job well should earn you accolades and not condemnations? Not so with Nigerians.  Nigerians hate effective and efficient performers. They would rather adulate indolent, inept and lazy performers. Nigerians are so lazy and inept that they feel threatened by the effectiveness and professionalism of the Assassins. Hence, they are so envious and jealous of the Assassins’ successes that they would do anything to discredit their commendable efforts!

It is also possible to smell another media conspiracy here. This could be the media at work again trying to discredit the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. They have been trying to goad Obasanjo’s administration into bias and prejudice against the Assassins just as they have tried unsuccessfully to goad him to try the former military president Ibrahim Evilgenius Babangida (IEB) for his looting of the nation’s treasury and murder of Dele Giwa who was one of them. This might be a subtle attempt by the media to promote hatred against hardworking professionals in ANPA just as they have done against IEB and Sani Abacha and make Nigerians loathe them. They did the same thing to former President Shehu Shagari and retired General Mohammadu Buhari. These journalists will never cease to amaze one with their propensity to throw their own agenda in the faces of the rest of us!

In their mindless goading of President Obasanjo, the media and the Nigerian people would not relent in their incite-ful moaning as to why no successful member of ANPA has been brought to “justice” for being so successful in his or her profession! Who would have imagined that Nigeria would ever come to this? Who would have imagined that Nigeria would come to a point where jealous and envious detractors would clamor that successful professionals be brought to “justice” for no other reason other than being successful? Since when has being successful equates the commission of a crime in Nigeria?

Look at what they are doing to the former Inspector General of Police, Tafa “fire for fire” Balogun for being so successful? This is what the goading of President Obasanjo by the envious media and jealous Nigerians could result to for any person or group of persons they do not like his face. The man “fire for fire” has become a cripple now. He can no longer return “fire for fire.” Already, some have now pinpointed President Obasanjo as their enemy as a result of that action that put out Tafa’s fire. Obasanjo has fallen into the same trap set by the media and the Nigerian people to bring his administration into disrepute by allowing himself to be goaded against Tafa “fire for fire”. This is exactly what they are trying to do to ANPA and its members. But In shah Allah, they will not succeed against ANPA members.

One thinks it is time to draw lines in the sand about jealous frenzy and furious antics of envy. Otherwise there should not be further complaints that Nigeria is underdeveloped. One has not seen where envy and jealousy has helped in developing a nation. Nigeria would not possibly be an exception to this rule. Rather than be envious and jealous of the successes of ANPA members who continue to effortlessly, efficiently, and professionally kill and or murder their fellow Nigerians, Nigerians should be proud of them, share in the glory of their successes and celebrate them.

To those envious and jealous Nigerians out there, they need to be aware that efforts are on by Nigerians who appreciate the hard work, the efficiency and dedication of ANPA members to set up a legal defense fund to challenge any attempt to prevent the members of the Association of Nigerian Professional Assassins (ANPA) from practicing their lawful profession. This writer has heard that the ANPA members have their eyes on Chief Gani fawehinmi (SAM) (SAN) to be retained for these services. He is the best legal mind in Nigeria and he has always championed the rule of law and equality of all before the law.

This should not surprise anyone at all. After all, the life long vision of Chief Gani Fawehinmi is to ensure that every Nigerian is protected by the laws of the land. Assassins are Nigerians too. They deserve to be protected by the laws. They ought to be allowed to continue to practice their profession of killing innocent Nigerians without let or hindrance.

In this fight to defend the rights of assassins, ANPA is going to use all lawful means because this is a lawful profession being practiced by law abiding Nigerians. ANPA will mobilize all human rights organizations such as the Center for Democracy (CD) and enlist the support of Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti. It will get the Nigerian Bar Association to speak up in the defense of the Assassins. The Nigerian market women, Nigerian Transport Workers, Farmers and Artisans will be mobilized to protest in support of protecting the legal and human rights of the Assassins.

In this task, the political parties will also be brought on board. The strategy is to buy off the Youth and Women wings of the political parties by distributing some stuffed “Ghana Must Go” bags with cash. The battle will also be fought on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are also some hungry governors that ANPA will not have any problems in enlisting their support. The Corporate outfits and their misfits will also chip in from their wealth acquired from fleecing Nigerians to help ANPA in the battles ahead. International political and economic pressure would also be brought to bear as the struggle unfolds. ANPA emissaries would be sent to the capitals of the world to appropriate diplomatic goodwill for this cause and seek to address the General Assembly of the United Nations to make its case that being an Assassin is not a sin.

It is time for ANPA to actually demonstrate its political muscle and demonstrate that they have support across the Nigerian political, social and economic spectrum. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. If lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, transport workers, market women, architects, dentists and even those detestable journalists and politicians could avail themselves of the benefits embedded in the protection of the law, why not Assassins? It is also time for those envious of ANPA successes to get off its members’ back and let them be. To continue to portray the members of the Association of Nigerian Professional Assassins as if they are not Nigerians and have no human rights is an unfair act that ought to be fought to a standstill.