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The Advocates Of Power Shift And The rest of Us By Samuel Agboola
The current issue dominating our polity is the power shift as been advocated by a section of the over pampered North in collaboration with some sell-outs in the south, using their well known but worn-out tactics-intimidations and threats- in demanding for the returns of ‘their power’ which they graciously leased out to their slaves. Several commentators have contributed in one way or the other on this rather derogative, insensitivity to the feelings of others and the arrogant manners been adopted by these set of self-proclaimed colonial masters from the other side of river Niger.
One thing even the worst critic of Obasanjo’s administration cannot take away from the man is the subtle and matured manner he has manage to reinvigorate our belief in this country, showing all that cares to know reason the country is still a toddler after more than 40 years of independent from the colonial masters and that the country can rise again with good leadership in place.
This article is not meant to cast aspersion on any part of this country as these set of bourgeois, rent-seeking and corrupt individuals abounds in all parts of the country. The Ghali Naa’bas, overnight democrats like Mohammed Gambo Jimeta, the shameless Audu Ogbeh, tactless Sunday Awoniyi and the Duro Onabules should be told in clear terms that no amount of intimidation can reverse the positive course of events been championed by the Obasanjo’s government for this country.
This country belong to all of us; be a Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, Ibibio, Nupe, Ogoni etc., it is the right of all no matter the tribe or religion, to aspire to rule this country as long as he has the requisite qualifications - not the grade two type please. The yesteryears men, dubious and morally bankruptcy, potential candidates of Nuru Ribadu’s EFCC should be permanently put where they belong to.
Before 1999, the North has been in power for more than 35 years out of the country’s 39 years self rule. This strange hold on power was sustained by raw force and crude manipulations until one of them outsmarted himself during the 1993 annulled presidential election won by the late Chief M.K.O Abiola, the rest as they say is now history.
The presidency was conceded to the south nay Yoruba by the cabals in 1999 not because they wanted but because it was expedient then else there might not be any country for them to loot again, the mafia knew when to retreat as the mood of the country and international community was against another member of the cabal coming on board, considering the brutality unleashed on the country ironically tasted by some members of the cabal-late Yar’dua et all- by the late Gen. Sanni Abacha.
They searched and manipulated the system to install a supposedly ‘stooge’; ‘the man they can trust’, whom they believed could be manipulated easily and blackmailed to hold the power in trust for them while on forced sabbatical. However, it was a miscalculation as their stooge, well schooled in their games of deceitful acts, brigands and shenigans later becomes their undoing. We should even pulse here and ask ourselves what has the country gained for the long years the ‘born to rules’ ruled the country? Nothing, absolutely nothing rather it was a bastardized economy, a completely ruined state, lazy and wasteful oligarchy, feeding fat on others’ sweat, $35B foreign debit etc.
The cabal’s vociferous and unwarranted attack on the present government is not unexpected though, this is all about 2007 elections, we should recalled that the last attempt to take back their power in 2003 ended in utter disappointments for the ‘born to rules’, who cannot survive outside government. A fanatical Buhari and an overnight democrat, against all expectations was imposed on ANPP to contest against the incumbent president, not surprised though, considering the crude manner the southern presidential candidates, with better credentials than the lanky General were forced out of the party’s primary in Abuja.
The irony of the latest events in the country is that the Cabals have not learnt any lesson from the backlash of their mismanaged 2002/03 ANPP primaries, Nigeria is more than Sokoto, Katsina, kano, Borno, Zamfara and Jigawa and the earlier the better they change tactics, Nigerians are too smart to be deceived by anyone hidden under the guise of religion or ethnic.
Well meaning Nigerians, including the innocents and suffering commoners in the North should support the efforts of the current government that has been doing all in its best to clear the mess left behind by the long decades of misfits in power. The on going constitution review must be carried out to the logical conclusion while all eyes must be on deck to ensure that this year’s census is a success; it is unfortunate that Nigeria is the only country where the desert is more populated than the rain-forest zones.
The injustices of the past must be corrected and this is the right time. The era of monkeys working for baboons to chop is over. People should be adequately compensated for their efforts, based on what they put on the table. Imagine the whole LGAs in the south-east not up to LGAs in just a state in the North- Kano (now Kano & Jigawa).
Before I end this article, I would like to give one more advice to my brothers and sisters up North, please don’t allow anybody to instigate you to cause trouble, if anybody ask you to attack your fellow Nigerians, ask the person to lead the attack with his/her households in front, remember that no part of the country has the monopoly of violent.
Don’t allow anybody to destroy your future under the guise of religion or ethnic sentiment, they have their children in some of the best schools abroad, you too deserved the best, not the almajiris’ lifehood. There is enough to go round for everybody in this country, if only we can institutionalize accountability and good leadership, devoid of any form of selfishness and parochial interest, the very noble course the current administration is championing.
The MDD/MRDD advocates - Rimis, Naa’bas, Gambo, Atiku, Ogheh, Solomon Lar, Awoniyi, Galadima and Adedoyin etc of this world have nothing to offer you, rather the gra-gra is all about notice me, use innocent people to cause chaos in the country, then expecting the government to negotiate with them as was been done in the past, with possibly some oil lifting licence, contracts in Ministry of Defence, Works etc. Not too long ago, Audu Ogbeh was a critical member of this government while Solomon Lar has 3 members of his households current serving in the same government he now has deep passion for criticizing, a word they say is enough for the wise.
Samuel Agboola writes from Lagos |