Dissecting Governor Adamu

Dissecting Governor Adamu’s Theory Of Selfish Ambition

Bilyaminu Mailafiya

Speaking at a recent rally in Lafiya, obviously staged – managed to drum up support for the hopelessly unpopular third term agenda for Gen. Obasanjo, the Nassara State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu was reported as condemning the Presidential ambition of Vice President Atiku Abubakar as selfish. Because sycophants and flunkeys lack principles to drive their lives, it may not be necessary to join issues with them over certain national issues. Governor Abdullahi Adamu is one of the chorus boys of the third term agenda and he can go to any disgusting extent to lick the boots of his master, even if muddied.

However, sometimes our silence in the face of insult to our intelligence may be mistaken for approval of the third term psychosis. As a mental disorder, one of the manifestations of psychosis is detachment from reality or unawareness of the absurdity of one’s thoughts or actions. In fact, as a Hausa proverb goes, when a dwarf hits you, you should bend to his level and strike him back. Those who don’t appreciate the virtue courtesy and charity in their treatment of others should not be treated with the kid gloves either. At every opportunity, Governor Adamu takes sadistic pleasure in attacking and vilifying Vice President Atiku Abubakar, even where his presidential ambition does not constitute a criminal offence under our constitution.

Let us, however, examine the “wisdom,” logic or absurdity of Governor Adamu’s assertion that Atiku’s presidential ambition is “selfish” and that he is trying to “exploit” Northern sympathy for his personal political cause. The trouble with Governor Adamu is that he doesn’t have the courage to stand behind the truth; instead, he prefers to contort the face of the truth in order to please megalomaniac ambition of his master, President Olusegun Obasanjo. Is Atiku Abubakar truly selfish because he legitimately aspires to succeed Gen. Obasanjo in 2007? Who is selfish between a President who is determined to exceed his constitutional term limits and a Vice President who does not support the suppression of our constitution to achieve that objective? Who is selfish between a President who is bent on bastardizing the constitution and democracy in order to rule without popular consent and a Vice President who insists that the rule of the game must be obeyed? Is moving the goalposts of the PDP constitution and making a level playing field impossible not the height of selfishness? Is manipulating the constitution to enable President Obasanjo rule for another twelve years, after his current two-terms of eight years, not a clear case of disgusting manifestation of selfishness? Is disregarding the feelings of the majority that want Gen. Obasanjo to quit in 2007 not another case of selfishness?

In fact, it is sheer madness to insist that you must rule citizens against their wishes. One of the imposed PDP national leaders, Mr. Ojo Maduekwe, had told a weekend newspaper that popular opposition would not stop them from going ahead with tenure extension. What then was Governor Adamu talking about, accusing Atiku Abubakar of selfishness for declaring his presidential ambition? The real characters that can qualify for selfish tendencies are men such as Abudullahi Adamu who have abandoned principles for a mess of pottage. How do you rationalize a campaign by men like Adamu who ridiculously continue to tell us that without President Obasanjo’s continuation in office, Nigeria will collapse, despite resounding historical evidence to the contrary?

The United States has survived her founding fathers such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and other heroes of the American liberation struggle. In Nigeria, the country has survived her great nationalists such as Dr. Herbert Macaulay, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmado Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa and many other patriots. Therefore, tying the destiny of Nigeria to the continuation in office, without consensus, of President Obasanjo, is the worst political dummy any rational person can ever dream of selling to Nigerians.

Ignoring the mood of the citizens that overwhelming reject tenure extension is the worst form of selfishness anyone can possibly display. When THISDAY newspaper inadvertently surrendered its front and back pages for a pro-third term sponsored propaganda message, readers’ reaction was swift and furious. Within minutes of the paper finding its way into the market, the editors admitted receiving over one hundred and forty text messages, all expressing disgust and disapproval at the prominent space granted the pro-third term campaigners to insult the sensibilities of Nigerians. Independent surveys sponsored by leading national papers also show that over eighty-percent of Nigerians are opposed to the tenure extension for the President, contrary to Senator Mantu’s boastful declaration that more than 90 percent were in favour during his public hearings charade!

Now, tell me, who is guilty of selfishness? Stubborn insistence to exceed your term limits, despite rising popular opposition, is the worst manifestation of selfishness. Let Governor Adamu go back to his dictionary to find out the exact meaning of selfishness and then he will see whether Atiku Abubakar is guilty of what he accuses him. The idea that no other Nigerian is good, competent, experienced, credible and patriotic enough, except Gen. Obasanjo, is the personification of selfishness. The manner the PDP constitution was mutilated to install non-elected leaders and the subsequent attempt to force tenure extension for Obasanjo down the throats of Nigerians is clearly motivated by selfishness and not national interest.

As one of the chorus boys on the tenure extension train, Governor Abdullahi Adamu should stop insulting our intelligence by throwing dirt at other politicians that are opposed to their undemocratic and unconstitutional shenanigans. Tenure extension promoters have no sense of morality, conscience and regard for public feelings. In fact, they see their self-interest as the extension of the national interest. However, despite the huge public funds and donations of money from the so-called private sector sponsors of tenure extension, popular opposition to the project continues unabated. Yet Governor Adamu and like-minded sycophants are determined to force-feed Nigerians with the third term bitter pills.

Rather than being accused of “selfish ambition” in the words of Governor Adamu, Vice President Atiku Abubakar should be commended for lending his hand to the struggle to oppose dictatorship that aims to prevent fellow Nigerians from legitimately aspiring to serve their country. The no-alternative-to Obasanjo theory is the most insulting and selfish proposition any sensible person can make. Sadly, such is the rubbish Governor Abdullahi Adamu was ramming down the throats of gullible citizens of Nassarawa State that were docilely assembled in Lafia to drum up support for tenure extension. Any rally intended to throw support behind the illegal, needless, unwarranted and unpopular tenure extension is like singing the dirge of democracy.

For refusing to be intimidated and choosing to beard the lions of dictatorship in their den, Vice President Atiku Abubakar is being accused of “selfish” ambition by those who have no regard for the basic tenets of democracy. But hard as they try, the third term ambition may crash. Let President Obasanjo not forget that the sycophants urging tenure extension may be his nemesis, because the louder the flattery, the harder the fall!