We are roughly a year away to 29th
May 2007; a significant date that was about to be cleansed from our
political dictionary had the heroes of democracy not stood firm to
strangulate the ugly monster called Third Term. May 29th
2007 is, therefore, real and a date to reckon with in our democratic
experience. It will, God willing, be a date occupants of Aso Villa and a
number of State Government Houses will quit out for their successors to
park in. It is the love of continuing occupying the Villa and Government
Houses that led to the recent blunder, shameful and barbaric incubation
of Third Term Project, which was blatantly rejected by Nigerians.
Thus, with the victory of democracy over despotism, the lovers and
sponsors of the Project now bear the level of ‘traitors’.
The way and manner Nigerians stood to
reject the Tenancy Elongation Barbaric Project shows the extent to which
we are internalizing democracy. Nigerians it all shows are ready now to
partake in the whole democratic processes, ready to resist government
intimidation, brutality and apparent use of state apparatus to deny them
the exercise of their fundamental human rights. The issues of imposition
of political candidates on citizens and colossal rigging of elections as
witnessed during the presidential elections in 2003, for instance, will
no longer be accepted by the electorates.
In Sokoto State, our politicians deserve
commendation for coming out to identify with Anti-Third Timers. Right
from the beginning of the project, our governor, Alhaji Attahiru Dalhatu
Bafarawa, made his position clear: that Tenure Elongation negates the
sanctity of our Constitution and poses a danger to our nascent
democracy. He was even reported to promised leading a protest march
should amendment in favour of Third Term for President (and even
governors) effected in our Constitution. His position was but the stand
of the whole citizens of the State. It is our pride, indeed, that among
the leading heroes of democracy that spearheaded the killing, down to
the burial, of late Mr. Continuity are Senator Sule Yari Gandi and Hon.
Aminu Tambawal. It is on record that all the remaining senators and
members of the National Assembly from the State voted against the Tenure
Elongation. Your courage is surely acknowledged, and you have left a
remarkable record worthy of appreciation by generations to come.
Most significant in this regard is
Bafarawa’s opposition to an amendment others would argue might benefit
him. So, it was assumed that he would embrace and sing the slogan of
Third Term as was done by his colleagues, particularly Bunu Sheriff,
Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Abdullahi Adamu, and Adamu Aliero by the
neighbourhood. Bafarawa’s respect for the Two Term constitutional
provision has earned him, and the entire State, a Gold Medal of
Democracy. He is more than ready to hand over power to an elected
Governor come May 29, 2007. He posits that eight years are enough for
one to make contribution in development of a given society. That
governance is all about trust, accountability and social justice; all
geared towards betterment of the citizenry.
Today, we recall with sadness the brutal
and intimidating nature of Late Mr. Third Term that had been a
central factor in our democratic life since the days of Gowon. Of
recent, the monster forcefully manifested its dreadful face during late
Abacha’s regime. Unfortunately death, not weakness on its part,
intervened to blow up the whistle ending the great fight. With no equal
marching partner to fight with, Mr. Third Term withdrew from the
political stage of the country to relax for a while.
Anxious to re-assert itself as a factor to
reckoned with, and having gained much energy during a long period of
leave of absence, Late Third Term once again bounced back to
challenge occupants of Aso Rock. For a year now, no issue - not even our
staggering level of poverty, institutional decay, hunger or lack of
electricity supply – engaged Obasanjo’s administration than Mr.
Continuity (name preferred by those in the corridors of power).
For those who embraced its mission, it
colonized their mental faculty. Obasanjo, his kitchen cabinet, party and
the entire organs of government began to loss their sense and interpret
things differently from the rest of us. It has impacted much on the
personality and psychology of Obasanjo and his henchmen and women. That
mere dream of it could, as Obasanjo had done many a time, make him
perceive his friends as enemies and his enemies as friends.
Any time our president dreamt of it as
good, as he often saw it, and his friends and associates interpreted it
as bad omen, he branded them as enemies of the nation and opponents of
reform programmes. It is to the credit of Third Term, that the
more Obasanjo embraced it, the more he distanced himself from his known
friends and associates, including the founding fathers of his party,
PDP. It so traumatized Obasanjo to the extent that he could not even
realize the circumstances under which he ascended to power in 1999, and
those behind his second coming in 2003.
The Third Term possessed the
capability to change colours, but mysteriously kept on appearing to
Obasanjo in white gown; thus signifying victory and good luck. Those who
perceived of it as red (signifying danger and anarchy) dare not say it
to Obasanjo. Only few were courageous enough to say it out or write him,
not minding Fani-Kayode’s tongue slashes. It is the understanding of
that obasanjo’s psychology, and to seek its protection, that the likes
of Ahmadu Ali, Jibril Aminu, Mantu, Tafida, Sheriff, Bukar Abba and
hosts of patriotically weak Nigerians began to chant its slogan. They
all surrendered, having lost courage to open well their eyes to see its
true colour.
So magnanimous it were that those that
embraced it and submitted were rewarded. Banks were of recent trashed of
cash that were given out as gifts to lawmakers, NGOs, and individuals
who danced to its tune. Contracts and appointments came the way of those
who believed in its might. In this way, students, manufacturers, top
civil servants, political office holders and traditional rulers were
gradually convinced that it was but beautiful.
It is on record that those who surrendered
themselves to it were rewarded abundantly. They got money; they were
elevated to level of ‘untouchables’ and ‘citizens without law’. They
were seen by Obasanjo as the only living visionary and patriotic
Nigerians.
It must also be remembered that the
project blessed its followers with high form of wisdom. For instance,
Fani-Kayode acquired wisdom to foresee what Gen. Gowon could never
perceive. So also you elevated Mantu to Field Marshal in charge of
Strategy & Continuity Enforcement Command. Furthermore, it was its
wisdom that made it possible for Jibril Aminu to profess that its
supremacy had come to stay.
Late Third Term might have not
realized that its power so frightened that in the past one year many
Nigerians were prematurely sent to graves. Many more were detained,
harassed, intimidated or blackmailed. Truth must, however, be told. It
was only those who lacked the ability to perceive of it from the angle
of Obasanjo and his ‘fixers’ that were met with such brutalities.
We must equally recall the fate that
befell those of us that refused to submit to the mission. The list
includes most founding fathers of PDP, Gen. Buhari, Atiku, Awoniyi,
Soyinka, Gani, Kaita, Malu, Na’abba, Members of 2007 Movement at the
National Assembly, State Governors of Adamawa, Benue, Niger, Sokoto,
Kano, Zamfara, Lagos, Abia, religious leaders, pressmen and women and
million other Nigerians to numerous to mention. Most of those mentioned
here were in one way or the other sanctioned for expressing non-believe
in the project. As it were, so were its Police, SSS, EFCC; none could
tolerate non-compliance with its marching orders. In this way, its fear
has established precedence that only those who doubted its supremacy
were visited by Ribadu’s boys. And those that submitted, the precedence
was that they could do no wrong. Anenih’s road contract issue and Bolade
George’s pending case at NPA have since been forgiven and certificates
of merits awarded them.
As Late Mr. Third Term departed, we
remain sad for the gap its departure has created in our polity. For a
year now, it was the only issue of national significance. It succeeded
in creating battalions of foot soldiers who fed on carrot it so provided
to its followers. It enriched its cronies and helped trashed our banks
of non-circulating currency stocked over the years. It has tamed our
emirs and chiefs, students, and once-upon-a-time activitists, for love
of contents of Ghana-must-go and fear of being consumed by its
overheating fire. It has also succeeded in rendering dull one time
intelligent mind of Jibril Aminu. Surprisingly, it has elevated the
likes of Mantu and Kayode to achieve the highest levels of wisdom.
For those of us that opposed it and
survived it, we must confess that we have lost a formidable team player
in this democratic game. Its demise will surely expose its followers
left behind to ridicule and hatred. Before its very eyes Hambagha and
his likes were pelted with stones by their kins over its mission. Now
that it is no longer alive, how would Mantu, Kayode, Anenih, Amadu Ali,
Tafida, Jibril Aminu, Bukar Abba and co. continue the task of
consolidating the gains of Continuity project?
On our own part, and I believe for most
Nigerians, its supporters are doomed without it. For, while they praised
it during its life time, now that it is no more, betrayal is what they
would turn to. Soon they would disassociate themselves from it and deny
ever embracing its mission.
As late Third term is buried, its
lieutenants have started propounding excuses to convince us to accept
them in our fold. But it is too late. They were with it, not with us, at
a critical time when it mattered most. This is no time for excuse
acceptance. The registers of both its followers and our followers shall
for ever remain a source material for generations as they make
meaningful analysis of our actions and inactions in the development or
otherwise of Nigeria.
Finally, I salute the courage of late
Third term for engaging us in the fierce battle that lasted for over a
year, costing the nation loss of lives and billions of naira of tax
payers’ money, including the crude oil budget surplus. More importantly,
it provided us an opportunity to clearly know who truly patriotic
citizens are and who the traitors are.
With the burial of late Continuity
at the NASS Graveyard, Abuja, on the 16th May 2006, Bafarawa
must have a course to rejoice since the combine forces of democracy have
aborted his planned protest against Third Term. Garkuwa and other
democrats must, however, remain alert, knowing what the man called
Obasanjo is.
May the dreadful spirit and desperate soul
of late Third Term never resurrect in our polity again. Amen.
GATAWA BAGOBIRI
SABON BIRNI LGA
SOKOTO STATE
|