The Bafarawa-Led Protest That Never Was

By

Gatawa Bagobiri

gatawa2007@yahoo.com

 

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