Replication of DNA Corruption in Nigeria Politics
By
Kunle I Sowunmi
Kshoid@yahoo.com
As a student in the seventies I did not liked Biology at all. I could not
even stand the site of laboratory work of torching the dead rats and other
experiment besides my then teacher was a smoker and was always smoking in
the class while teaching. Along with few of my colleagues we were busy
looking at the rounding and disappearing smoke of his cigarette, his
mannerism of puffing out the cigarette smoke and shape of his two fingers
holding the cigarettes sticks, it was very fascinating. I guess we were
more interested in the shape of his mouth than listening to his lecture.
He was the son of the Proprietor of the school and the Principal was
probably too scared to his pants to call him to order. Smoking was a bad
habit it can destroy the cilia of the airways of any smoker which may lead
to cancer in future. Ironically it was a bad habit I picked up myself and
it took me 20 years to drop the bad habit.
In the
later years of my life in the search for knowledge, I developed interest
in Cell theory and in the cause of studying, Mitosis of DNA is the most
interesting area of Human Anatomy one of the breakthrough of Dr. Watson
whom I later met in Texas in November 2005 and how this can interplay with
Nigerian problem will be theme of this article.
Definition of DNA and DNA Replication
DNA (deoxyribonucleic –acid) is defined as a nucleic acid found in all
living cells; it carries the organism‘s hereditary information. DNA
replication is also the process that occurs before cell division. It
ensures all daughter cells have the same genes. Mitosis is the process at
which each cell goes through in human body. All human anatomy can be
replaced definitely not the DNA. It will always be a perfect replication
of itself, which explains the reason for having the same mannerism with
your parents, your children will look and act like you and the genes will
be there to identify your family linage no matter how long. DNA has been
used to solve crimes in USA and other part s of the world. DNA is very
scientific and objective it remains one of the unquestionable
breakthroughs in science. I was happy to shake the hand of Dr. Watson when
I met with him in Texas last year. An achievement he said was just an
academic exercise in 1956 which later became the standard the whole world
now rely upon.
Nigeria and Her Culture
Culture was defined by General Olusegun Obasanjo (then Military Head of
State) in his speech at the time he declared open FESTAC in Lagos in 1977
as ” the language, the dress, and attitude and behavior of the people
within an areas or society. It is your culture that separates you from
others, in other words it is your identity.” Some definitions we can
attribute to our culture are as follows, “Isekekere Owolanla” meaning
little work with abundant returns the (Hispanics says Pokito Trawako Mucho
Dinero), Esun Lehin Apo, “ There must be something for any job” Je kin Je
“Chop I chop”, this is where I work I must earn more than my fair share.
Nothing explains the culture of the people more than the behavior of the
society. In Nigeria the above literary meaning of societal values
represents the pillar of the behavior of the African most populous
society. It is the same in most African countries and other third world
countries including Latin America.
Our system allow us to even bribe on behalf of children to secure
amenities and favors, we bribe to put our children in schools of our
choice, teachers receives bribes from student to pass examinations,
official of NEPA takes bribes, the police collects bribes with confidence
as if it is a right. Most of Nigeria Police Vehicles on the Highway Patrol
from Lagos to Abeokuta had it written on their vehicles “Operation Fire
for Fire” a very scaring message not only to robbers but also to the
drivers and psychological trauma for passengers. In fact, everybody
believes it okay to perpetrate fraud as long as the government is
pretending it is okay. The government is even reluctant to deal with fraud
cases when the press exposes it unless it threatens the third term
ambition of the sitting President. One is bound to ask the following
questions. Is this our culture? Is this our ways of life? Is this what it
takes to be a Nigerian or could this be the best we can offer the black
race?
General Colin Powel the former Secretary of State in the United States of
America (we call it External Affairs Minister) wrote about Nigeria how
happy he was to be in Nigeria as a black man at a time he was the Joint
chief of US Army. He felt Nigeria was home after his bitter experience he
wrote “Nigerians have tendency to cheat”. Some prominent Nigerians
including Prof. Wole Soyinka disagreed with him and he was forced to
apologize but he had said it the question is ‘Do we have tendency to
cheat?” Is our government cheating us of good and deserved egalitarian
society? Are we just not cutting it to see that all these are wrong? Is
this the best Nigeria can offer to human race and its people in
particular?
In one of my articles as published before the last presidential election
titled “Recycled Government “ I mentioned “ It is the fervent prayers of
these writer that Nigeria will be strong and reasonable enough to elect
men of good will and sincere approach to governance men like Gani Fawehimi,
Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana. And men with the fear of God” But Nigerians
in their wisdom or otherwise turned opposite and elected those that will
keep on punishing them. I did mention the parable of Jesus and rich man
who had a vine yard sacked his managers for poor performance, reorganized
his business and advertised for new managers, the same set of sacked
managers applied the conclusion then was that they should not be hired.
Nigeria keeps on hiring the same set of failed managers and politicians to
manage its activities and expecting miracles without re-training or
re-orientation using the same method for governance.
One can
see how our system wasted men of goodwill in any election. In Abeokuta in
Ogun State a Barber defeated a Professor in a local government election
the same goes for Oyo state a school dropped out is now paraded as the
Deputy Governor and a stack illiterate called Orisa Molete presides over
the whole lives of everybody in the state including the President that
prostrated six times for the Orisa Molete. It is very pathetic to watch
millions of Nigerians being deprived of the best they can get. It is even
sad for those of us who live abroad to watch our fellow countrymen and
women going through the hardship without knowing it. It is very pathetic
and insulting watching Nigeria leadership running away from the truth.
Truth about social security system of Administration, truth about city,
state and federal police decentralizations, truth about transparency in
justice and equity, truth about fairness.
Nigeria elected heartless leadership, who did not see leadership as
service but away to inflate hardship on its people made me to ask what
happened to all the billions Governor Olusegun Osoba spent in his 4 years
as Governor of Ogun state because I did not see anything to show for it.
The third bridge that was to come out of through Obada Oko and Ogun
Polytechnic Road which he was working on during Babangida regime was not
done in his second coming as governor when a sum of N100 millions was paid
in 1992-1993. The man Osoba is free from EFCC which claimed to be going
after corrupt politian Osoba and other governors that were defeated in
the last election are no longer having any immunities from prosecution
which makes EFCC guilty of political hunting against those against third
term ambition of Baba who could not keep his long throat from Abuja
pounded yam.
It is also in Nigeria the President can deep his fat hand into National
Coffer and donate money to Ghana or any others or associations of his
choice without approval from National Assembly. Can anyone tell this
writer the deference between Obasanjo and illiterate Barkin Zuwo then
Governor of Kano State found with five million naira government money in
his official residence Zuwo said “ Government money in government house no
problem”. Same goes for President Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo the Balogun of
Owu. “Government money is Obasanjo to donate to anybody of his choice
period”
Conclusion
DNA which is a replication of genes in us must have dealt a big blow on
Nigeria future which explains why we have not been able to elect good
leaders, why we keep on recycling the same leadership and why new leaders
keeps on ending up like the old ones. The issue is beyond tribes it is
about DNA it is about what we cannot change which is why Nigeria may never
change. The fault is in our stars. This writer has written about social
security administration to all the government agencies and authority in
Nigeria including an open letter to the president Olusegun Obasanjo none
had acknowledged it the reason, they are not in government to serve but to
continue to force their ego on Nigeria populace.
Democracy will work in Nigeria if the paraphernalia that surrounds its
performance is adopted two of them are decentralization of Police up to
city, state and Federal including Social Security Administration without
these we can forget about the light at the end of the tunnel and just
accept the DNA Cross which is not the best option.
The real corruptions in Nigeria will be exposed in 2007 when men of
goodwill and those with good intention will be disfranchised totally from
government. It will be free for all grab and grab until there will be
nothing to grab. The real demon in Nigerians will be exposed with Obasanjo
himself presiding over the whole events. This will be the actual
manifestation of mitosis of DNA of Nigeria corruption. For those who have
the opportunity to read this please keep this article, remember this
little advice in the year 2007 the part 3 of the article will be
published.
Kunle I Sowunmi
Kshoid@yahoo.com
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