Open Memo To Members Of The National Assembly; 3rd Term AgendaBy Max Gbanite
May I use this rare opportunity to thank and commend some of you who have stood on the sides of the masses in the discharge of your legislative duties, demonstrated true patriotic zeal and dogged efforts in defense of our nascent democracy, human rights abuses under this regime and above all the preservation of democratic structures and values; these structures and values, if preserved, will endure you in the hearts of Nigerians in general, including those yet unborn.
Most of you exist today based on articulated and well-planned strategies rooted in your parental up-bringing that hinged on family values (good and bad), respect for ones’ religion, more importantly the preservation of your family name and sustenance of some of the good values, virtues and structures while at the same time eliminating those, that have become obsolete or inconsequential with time, or otherwise have proven unworkable due to factors precipitated and guided by our ever changing world. Therefore, the Senate President, the right honorable and distinguished Senator Ken Nnamani was unmistakably correct when he said that, “Our economic posterity and social stability require policy continuity, not necessarily regime continuity” while addressing those of you who have been blackmailed to support this cataclysmic euphoria called ‘Third Term Agenda’.
Our checkered history is resplendent with tragic events mostly induced by some politicians who were either ill-prepared to effect legislative duties or failed to some extent to manage successfully the excessive power handed over to them. Every truncation of our democracy as events and history have shown, were created by selfish ideologies orchestrated and teleguided by greedy individuals, underachieving political parties, ethno-centrists, and cultist cabals who are bent on foisting their non-people enhancing policies on the masses; this has in the past failed and in future will always be an exercise in futility; it will never work because it’s against the peoples’ wishes, done in bad faith, and contravention of God’s wishes for the good people of Nigeria.
FLASHBACK:
As you debate this rapacious-ejaculation of ‘third term agenda’ into our constitution, it’s imperative, that you distinguished and honorable members of our national assembly take some moments to ponder what and how your actions by vote, either for or against this ‘third term agenda’ will affect you, your families, your friends, your constituencies, our nation, and the sustenance and continuity of democratic structures. This momentary introspection enables you to act conscionably and do the right thing to either strengthen or destroy the structures of democracy. Failure to do the right thing for Nigerians’ and Democracy (stopping this term extension cold) could lead to our past years of self-destruction and possible military interregnum. What is happening today, once happened before and, is best described by our current Commander-in-Chief, President Olusegun Obasanjo, in his book ‘NZEOGWU’; “…it was the mishandling of the elections in the Western regions, and the subsequent total break down of law and order which resulted in complete insecurity of life and property, that was the last straw. Officers had discussed events in the country freely among themselves…and expressed utter disgust with the situation in the country. They talked of ineptitude and the lack of purpose of the government. The nation was sick…every national issue since 1959 had led us one or more steps towards the brinks of political precipice.”
He further wrote, “The election of that year was fought on regional loyalty, with strong tribal bias. But the government that emerged was a coalition of two regionally-based parties leaving the third party, also regionally-based, out of the cold. With no patriotic feeling left and with selfishness, greed, corruption, sectionalism and tribalism being extolled, the third party embarked on ceaseless mischief to ensure that the unstable stool fell, no matter what happened to those sitting on it, around it and under it. The cry and attitude was ‘North for the Northerners, West for the westerners and East for the Easterners.’ Nobody seemed to care sufficiently for Nigeria as a nation. Those who were not directly involved in the politics of the day, which were politics of hatred, division, victimization, destruction, unabashed graft, greed and ostentation, were powerless to do anything about it. The nation was divided within itself. But obviously, the ship of the nation had drifted aimlessly for too long.”
The above narratives were based on the actions of the first republic politicians, and it seemed their inability to enhance and strengthen democratic structures, and the rule of law for this generation, led to the first incursion of the military in the affairs of our national politics. Sensibly, one would think, the author, being our current President and unmistakably armed with good knowledge of our past history, will today, do everything within his conscience and power to avoid a repeat of the mistakes of that era. Unfortunately for Nigerians, the traumatic events of the past has returned in full force today; more so with a cataclysmic ending in sight.
Whereas the new and emerging entire South West leadership (devoid of YCE and Afenefere) has tacitly endorsed the ‘third term agenda’ and illegal elongation of power for their kith and kin, President Obasanjo, the North East, North West, North Central, Middle-Belt, South East, and South South regions are shouting for power to shift to their respective regions, because the incumbent allowed his hawks to create an enabling environment of uncertainty for such agitations to flourish.
The disastrous mistakes of past politicians and calamitous effects of their actions were vividly mentioned in books written by two survived actors of January 15th 1966 military revolution; men whose actions were predicated on premeditated evil policies perpetrated against the wishes of the people. Majors Ben Gbulie and Adewale Ademoyega in their respective books: the former in his book, titled ‘NIGERIA’S FIVE MAJORS, COUP D’ETAT OF 15TH JANUARY 1966, wrote that, “….the political situation was gradually but surely getting out of hand. Mass murder had been, and was still being committed in the West, even at the time of speaking (late 1965)…what with one political power clique in that region engaging its adversary in a decided but undeclared war. Incidentally, while I was attending a course at Abeokuta, I had personally seen the bodies of the two Hausamen decapitated by unknown political thugs at the local railway station. It was such a ghastly sight I could not help feeling nauseated. But violent political killings had become everyday occurrences. So had arson, looting and rioting…the country’s politicians not only appeared to be above the law, they seemed to be actively engaged in breaking it-in using the military to achieve their fulsome political ends…the stench of corruption in high places had given her a racking stomach-ache. Bribery and graft had long exchanged places with high moral principles, which the country’s leaders had callously flung to the winds in the name of the so-called ‘eating of the national cake’…the politicians and public officers had indeed let the nation down. Globe-trotting (ostensibly to seek financial aid) had become a common practice, while many a public servant had fraudulently enriched himself with the ten percent takings and kickbacks from contractors. Embezzlement, too, was on the increase.”
And the latter in his book, titled, ‘WHY WE STRUCK: THE STORY OF NIGERIA’S FIRST COUP’ wrote that, “…people have been disillusioned and disaffected with the Balewa government and the rulership of the Balewa/Akintola/Sarduana clique of the NNA. Economic, Social, Education and political problems were not solved. Corruption was rife and nepotism was the order of the day. The safety valves of the nation were reposed in such institutions as the Courts, the Census Commission, the Electoral Commission, the Police, and finally the Armed Forces. But the sanctity of those institutions was being politically assailed, assaulted and dragged in the mud, so that they were fast losing their credibility. It became obvious that the national leadership was nearing its collapse and that the ship of the nation was heading for the rocks. Still, it was drummed into people’s ears by the Federal Government’s radio, television and newspaper that certain NPC leaders had said that the NPC would rule Nigeria for the next twenty-five years. No doubt, the wishes and feelings of the electorate were not taken into consideration.”
You honorable and distinguished members of the national assembly must re-steer our great nation back to the part of honor by following the rule of law and strengthening democratic structures, to avoid the impending disaster a haphazard endorsement of this illegality called ‘third term agenda’ may cause the nation. Whether you believe it or not, this matter, if not handled with care, is capable of bringing the United States of America’s intelligence prediction of our nation breaking up in 15 years closer to reality. This is the same prediction that you people rose stoutly to defend against last year as a farce and in the process asked the American’s not to interfere in the internal affairs of our nation. Can any of you honorable and distinguished members of the national assembly sincerely predicate where the endorsement of the ‘third term agenda’ will lead us? Please let us not find out the wrong way, however, if we must be honest then the closest to mind is SOMALIA. Please don’t be frightened, we are moving closer to perdition going by the utterances associated to the tongues of your colleagues who are the arrowheads of this despicable act. However, it’s very important for those who claims that their actions have the backing of President Olusegun Obasanjo to be very sure of that, because they may end up being his first victim to be charged with corruption and imprisoned; all that is needed is to look at what he has said and done in the past with his tongue.
THE TONGUE:
Earlier in this memo, I mentioned that President Olusegun Obasanjo is armed with a thorough knowledge of our checkered history, and it’s also important to note that he’s masterful in the art of saying what he really doesn’t intend to practice. His records while in office is littered with broken promises or for lack of a better word broken tongues; making him unarguably a master tonguist; a sufferer of twisted tongues. Well, the following excerpts will help your calculations.
President Obasanjo wrote this about his tongue in his book titled ‘Sermons from Prison’: “The tongue is the most eloquent and useful part of our body in working with God and humanity. We exercise our Christian faith and Christian life for growth and development through the use of our tongue in many ways…and yet used negatively, the same tongue can hinder the development of our Christian life. Lies, slander, gossips, tale bearing, falsehood and backbiting are sharp swords that kill slowly or promptly. Perversity, corrupt and ungodly talks separate us from God…. the Psalmists portrays liars, slanders, perversers more graphically, ‘not a word from their mouth can be trusted, their hearts are filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit’…our tongues also have the potential to make our lives rich, pleasant or miserable and to affect our destiny. The tongue must be frugally and judiciously used. The more we talk, the more we are likely to go astray into areas of gossip, slander, backbiting, corrupt and ruinous talks. But if we keep quiet when we should speak up against evil being perpetrated by the wicked, we will be accomplices in the crime and we would have sinned and earned the wrath of God.”
Having read the above, you will agree that President Olusegun Obasanjo is a wonderfully crafted bundle of contradiction to the highest order when it really comes to implementations of his own words. Suffice it to say that those of you who are about to support any evil action must take the above speech to heart before taking the decision; moreover you have been forewarned in the last paragraph of the consequences that your evil action potentiates for you and your families. Therefore, heed to the words of wisdom and return to two terms of four years and, avoid the wrath of God visiting upon you.
In another book titled, ‘THIS ANIMAL CALLED MAN’ the author, President Olusegun Obasanjo warned that, “… But the leaders who bear great responsibility and who wreck havoc on the nation Politically, Socially, Economically, Morally, Emotionally and Consequently Spiritually will not go unpunished here and hereafter. That is the promise and assurance of God. Sin has adverse consequences and frequently, the innocent suffer because of the misdeeds of the wicked, particularly wicked leaders. God desires that all people everywhere should turn from evil to good.”
Honorable and Distinguished members kindly digest these words while using your tongue to count your teeth, in the end you would agree that the author has simply written a premonition of what will happen to leaders like him. Please don’t allow yourselves to be the deterrent cannon fodders whose vote of yes for the evil called ‘third term agenda’ will prevent God from punishing such leaders. Be mindful that the author wrote these words while in prison, and had no idea that God will test him eventually by giving him another chance to lead our nation, just to expose the retroactive hypocrisy and resentment harbored against Nigerians internally by the author; the question that begs for answer is why you honorable and distinguished members should allow the described wicked members who are in the minority amongst you who have been financially induced to contaminate those of you who are in the majority and turn you against your own people, especially the God chosen people of Nigeria? You must by all means available to you resist being used to wreck havoc on the nation politically, socially, economically, morally…the saddest part is that most of you attend church services on Sundays and jumat prayers on Fridays. How do you reconcile such evil behaviors? May God not allow you to stray; VOTE NO TO ‘THIRD TERM AGENDA’.
CONCLUSION:
Honorable and Distinguished members while debating this illegally inserted ‘third term agenda’ in our constitution, permit me to indulge you on an article, titled ‘FULENGE OF ONAOPEPO’ written by Kola Animasaun, published in Sunday Vanguard, March 12, 2006. The article simply excerpted collective statements credited to President Olusegun Obasanjo, immediately he came out of prison to rejoin civilization and unleashed his hatred for Abacha’s regime.
According to Animasaun; Excerpt 1: Obasanjo described the Abacha regime as “deceiteful, godless, corrupt, soulless, oppressive, murderous, obstinate and wicked.” Animasaun challenges us collectively to be the judge of that. Excerpt 2: Obasanjo said the Abacha regime “must be held substantially responsible for all mysterious disappearances and assassinations of those who have stood firmly against its misgovernment.” Animasaun challenges us collectively to remind ourselves of all the unsolved murders from 1999 (Bola Ige, Harry Marshall, Aminasoari Dikkibo, Chuba Okadigbo, Rimi’s wife, and many others, including the most recent attack on Sunday Awoniyi; emphasis mine). Excerpt 3: Obasanjo said of Abacha’s regime, “I am shocked at the recent and current spate of killings, violence and waste of lives and properties in our society for which the immediate past government had to accept its own share of responsibility. Operession and degradation are the mother of violence. He who makes peace through dialogue impossible makes confrontation and violence probable, in fact inevitable. And when government whose over-riding responsibility is welfare of the people is engaged in violence against the people, the reaction of the people must be expected to be more violent. People’s loyalty to the government will be eroded when the government cannot guarantee security of life and property, as well as justice for people. If in the past four years people and government in Nigeria have learned the futility of violence in securing enduring solution to human problems, this nation will be on the road to being delivered. If government encourages violence, violence will thrive. Pure coercion is an extremely expensive, wasteful, ineffective and inefficacious way of assuring cooperation.” Excerpt 4: “Peace and unity, which are preconditions for development and progress must be founded on justice, equality of opportunity and equity.”
My question to you members is, where is the man of integrity who penned these words? Unfortunately, he has been caged by the same cult-cabal that once caged Gen. Abacha. If these words of rebuke were good against Gen. Sani Abacha; your miscalculations on this ‘third term agenda’ will be the basis for your legacies to be abused by future administrations. You people must rescue the real President Obasanjo from the jaws of cult-cabal whose interest is not that of the masses.
Incidentally this memo will be incomplete without the mention of President Obasanjo’s warnings to General Babangida in 1993, against the possible extension of his regime.
According to ‘THE NEWS MAGAZINE’ 20th February 2006, Obasanjo wrote, “… the good manipulation we have witnessed these past years are all the more disturbing because they do not even go to the heart of the matter, which is to institute an enduring democratic order in Nigeria. The concern has been with the rules and methods of selection, not with the building and sustenance of democratic institutions and traditions. The managers of the transition are furiously refining the means, long after they have forgotten the end. Our country deserves much better… so also is the existence of all kinds of shadowy, government-funded associations which make it their business to speak authoritatively for the government, attacks decent citizens in the most uncouth language, set individuals against individuals, community against community, religion against religion, soldiers against civilians, Muslim against Christian, and government against citizen…anyone of them, individually or collectively, who advises you (for whatever personal benefits) to extend the life of your administration even by one day betrays the trust of his people and is therefore a traitor to the country’s democratic process.”
Honorable and Distinguished members if these words of warning were good against Gen. Babangida, and he heeded the advise by stepping aside rather than forcing Nigerians’ to accept him and exacerbate a more serious crises; then the same exact words should and must be thrown back to Gen. Obasanjo, especially now that he is the wearer of the shoes. He must be made to understand that should God do an Abacha number on him, and he dies, that Nigeria will continue to move on. Afterall, Nigerian Armed Forces moved on and has produced more Generals since he retired in 1979. What really disturbs me and many other Nigerians’ is that there are more weighty issues that begs to be amended in the constitution that are more important to us than this ‘third term agenda’ issue. But those weighty issues are now being shoveled under the heaps, because someone just woke up and decided that regime extension is what we want..FALSE.
Honorable and Distinguished members as you ponder on this matter, I recommend that you see a cartoon published in weekly trust of March 1st, 2006, page 11. The illustration has the President stepping from a solid stone from his first term in 1999 to another stone with 2003 written on it-signifying his second term, and with a native intelligence-cunning snare he is about to leap onto a third stone with third term written on it, but the catch is that that stone is a lighted dynamite waiting to explode and blow him and his accolades to pieces.
I am disturbed that those who are advocating for this misadventure are inconsiderate of our security agencies, who probably, if they are worthy of their roles, have advised the President on the ramifications of this orgy. I feel concerned for the various security agencies who are currently over-stretched to protecting a regime bent on scuttling democratic structures, instead of protecting the people of Nigeria.
Since President Obasanjo has told the world that he is ready to die for ‘third term agenda’; oops sorry, I mean die for Nigeria. It will be interesting to see if those that want him out in 2007 are equally ready to die stopping him.
The challenge rests on the men and women of Nigerian Armed Forces, Nigerian Police Force, and other Security Agencies who are currently being used and may be deployed by the regime to stop, by any, and all means necessary the opposing masses against this illegal agenda. I hope that if and when the time comes (God Forbid bad thing) and the mass demonstrations and protests begins, that the men and women in uniform will for a change be on the side of the people and not allow itself to be used against those whom they are named after; Nigerian Armed Forces and Nigerian Police Force.
If this feat can be achieved, then those in uniform and other security agencies would have restored their dignity, and captured the respect of the entire populace and attained the highest ranking as their counterparts in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Philippines, and Georgia. People’s revolution would have indeed started…and may God have mercy on the souls of those who plotted, hatched and forced the ‘third term agenda’ on Nigerians’.
Before it’s too late, I call upon tested leaders like Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, all retired service chiefs, Traditional Royal Fathers, members of the various churches and their muslim counterparts, retired service men of various military and para-military groups, NANS, NURTW, and all other sundry organizations to kindly appeal to their respective members in the National Assembly and their various State counterparts to work on other important amendments, but rejects the ‘third term agenda’ before we all die trying to defend against it.
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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