Forgiving Atiku And Others

Forgiving Atiku And Others…

Musa Isyaku El-Ghude

History will still remember people like Daniel Kanu and others who conspicuously arrowheaded the self perpetuation agenda of Late General Sani Abacha GCON of blessed memory as a life President, but with God Almighty in control, the deseiny was a reality, these continuously remain the same till date.

Since the coming of Obasanjo in 1999 as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, there were good hopes and anticipation from members of the public especially in regards to their well being, with proper consideration of his performance as Military head of state in the late 1970s. The majority of the people appointed by Obasanjo in his cabinet in 1999 are people of probity and integrity, they includes Zango Daura, Wakilin Adamawa, T.Y, Adamu Ciroma, Ebitimi Banigo, Haruna Elewi, Philip Asiodu, Agbobu, Musa Gwadabe, Arzika, Dubem Onyia, Okafido, Yomi Edu, Ndalolo, Menakaya e.t.c. The take-off was very sound, modest and focused. Subsequently people like Zango Daura, Wakilin Adamawa, Banigo and others were either chased out or forced to relieve their appointments due to their sense of responsibility to liberate the masses and at the same time to ensure all government policies are people oriented. Evidently, only T.Y., Gwadabe and Ciroma were able to see the end of the tenure on May 29^th 2003. Even for T.Y., he was advised by his then service chiefs to leave office due to some problems that my engulf him, but with God intervention, he was there till May 29^th 2003.

The take-off of the government from May 29^th 2003 till date remain the talk of the day. Even those elected were either rigged or forced to office including the president himself, you may ask Mantu and Tafida for more clarification, while those appointed are purely sycophants and apologists. With the so-called reforms, Anti-corruption war e.t.c people were appointed into key position to carry-out the reforms on professional grounds, but they later changed to otherwise. These can be seen in Finance, Banking Industry, FCT, Privatisation, Transport, Aviation, Energy, Oil and Gas, Solid Minerals, Anti-corruption e.t.c. How well would these reforms go? To what extent does the Less Privileged Nigerians benefit?. How well have we gone to expect more tenure extension to accomplish these so-called reforms? Who are those people that can stand on grounds to implement the reforms with Nigeria at their hearts? If there is, who are they in this Government?

While the so-called reforms are going on, the Less Privillaged Nigerians are getting more desperate to feed themselves, provide education to their wards, Health Care delivery, Drinking water, insecurity e.t.c. Yet sycophants and apologists are clamoring that things are always getting better! God hear them.

But, the reality in the whole game plan is that, those advocating the success of obj are doing so just for their self interest. A report from both federal ministry of commerce and industries stated that even the small scale Industries are seriously collapsing let alone large scale. To our surprise, the chairman of MAN is one of the senior apostles of third term. For Gods’ sake who is this man representing? I don’t need to mention the number of industries collapsed in Kano alone due to lack of power and poor economic policy.

Parents laughed when they heard that NANS executives supported the continuation of obj. even the father of NANS President if at all he has, was bitterly calling his dear son, names. When parents can not afford the sum of not less then N10,000.00k for only bed space in your own country and a plan to even privatize the university, yet NANS are seriously creating themselves a space in Aso Rock to become bootlickers of obj. Obj will go, while education system, no matter how you connive to destroy it, will still remain under our custody. Nothing for the sons of less privileged Nigerians in terms of quality education at affordable rates in obj reforms.

One will remember how Obj has been amazingly in wild of abusing all administration that came after him post 1979. According to obj, from Shagari to Abdulsalami regimes, they were the worst thing Nigeria ever witnessed. Worst still, from 1999 to date is the sorrowful thing that Nigeria ever witnessed.

I was able to be in Edo State as a supervisor during the shameless national head count. Fortunately enough, I worked with some foreign monitors, one lady from UK and a man from Senegal. They were telling us that they are disappointed with the situation they met. They gave all necessary logistics, equipment, materials and mobility, but there is nothing transparent to write home about. I ask them that, Nigeria has been the giant of Africa and one of the less corrupted nation in the world, but why do they alleged that things are not in order? The Senegalese laughed, though a muslim, and ask me to swear if Nigeria is not corrupt, and in particular if there is no corruption in the whole of this exercise. I kept quite. He insisted that I must answer him. But at the end of it, they were frustrated to leave the country without any official report given to them. This is the type of Nigerian leader that needs to remain in power for the rest of his life just to accomplish some self serving agenda.

The third term agenda is another National Issue that is heating up the polity. In one of his writings, Wada Nas of blessed memory in 2002 after the electoral bill were passed by the National Assembly, that obj will still look for more terms after 2007. He also highlighted Nigerians somewhere in 2004 that Jerry Gana and co are drafting mysterious constitution, which he (Gana) exchange words to Nas, because of his (Nas) stand to remain patriotic. With his focus, we have seen the true colour of obj in looking for a life president. We all witnessed Gana and Agabi when they smuggled the so-called mysterious constitution to the NPRC.

The opposition squad of third term comprises of different people who contributed tirelessly to the sorrowful days of Nigeria. VP Atiku is number one among this people. It was alleged that the person that addressed a media conference in Yola on his (VP) suspension from PDP lost woefully at polls, but the former told the later that he won, despite the fact that the former accepted his defeat and as well congratulated the winner. We know his Role in Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau and other Southern States during the Gubernatorial and National Assembly elections of April 2003. His roles when PDP sycophants were making unpublished statement to Buhari. But today, Atiku has been forgiven by Nigerians due to his résistance to accept third term.

Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi is one of the respected leaders in the whole west African Sub-region, he has been a very good friend of obj. He contested the chairmanship of PDP at National level and more so, one of the founding fathers of the PDP. He was also alleged to map-out strategy on how to rigged-out April 19^th 2003 election. Today, Baba Awoniyi has been forgiving and we accept him as senior apostle of Anti-third term.

Chief Audu innocent Ogbeh was the General Officer that commands and operates the rigging machinery of PDP during the 2003 elections. He used his office to deter Ghali from impeaching obj with influence of Gowon and Shagari. After tirelessly serving obj, this less corrupted ex-minister of communication was chased-out from Wadata Plaza at gun point. We today rally around with Ogbeh on anything anti third term. He needs no invitations to attend any of such gathering. Ogbeh, you are forgiven.

Rimi, being him the only surviving son that democratically ruled Kano and Jigawa as a Governor deserves a lot of respect nationwide. He contributed to anything that PDP does. Rimi were forgiving when he answer the call of Kanolites to chased out the Government he straregically put in place, which he did. He is today gaining more sympathizers, and with their pull-out from PDP and formation of ACD is a welcome development. Rimi is now one of the foot soldier that preach for the truncation of anything tenure elongation.

Others whom were dully forgiven includes Governors Boni, Goje, Idris, Kalu, Hon. Bugaje, Yomi edu, Titilayo, Gemade General Malu e.t.c

With recent development from House of Representative where less privileged Nigerians lay more confidence is sorrowfully and disheartening. The House of Representative resolved to debate on the version of the constitutional amendment bill that provides for a third term for state governors. Although the resolution to uphold the bill cause a serious division among the representatives. While 171 members voted in favor, only 109 members voted against. The remaining 80 members are either for or against.

The NGF meeting was highly encouraging as they kicked against third term with exclusion of Nassarawa, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno and Kaduna State Governors. But to our surprise, Bukola Saraki chaired the meeting, while all members from Kwara State voted for third term, indeed conspirators.

On the other hand, one minister who lost election as an incumbent governor, called on the ten members of house Representative in his state, but out of ten, only three showed up, and among the three, only one member accept the third term bid.

My advise to our clergy men and women is to adopt a prayer session in all our mosques and churches as the final solution, so that while we are playing our role through fighting within our capacity, God will also deal with them.