Beyonce, Thisday and Poverty Alleviation

By

Bature Dodo

Why, some of the extremists among them always speak with disdain, of the way the leaders from the northern part of the country, especially the military leaders of deliberately pursuing policies that would perpetually keep them in servitude, even though the wealth of the country is got from their part of the country. So it cannot be.

Second, I expected a denial from the Bayelsa State government that there had been some terrible mix up somewhere, but after a week of waiting, I concluded that none would come.

Third I expected both the Bayelsa State government and the management of ThisDay to sue Media Trust for libel, but that too did not come.

But the most shocking and disappointing thing is that there was a deafening silence from ThisDay columnists about the whole affair. I said to myself, don’t be impatient, give them enough time and for sure some of them will comment on it. Today is exactly one month since the news was broken, this I consider enough time for anyone to comment, but as I write these sentences, not one single sentence, not even a word from any of them! And I say, no, it cannot be. I repeat, no, it cannot be! Where is Simon “The Bomb” Kolawole, who took on the might of the Finance Ministry on debt relief commission to our loud cheers? Where is Olusegun “ignorance is the problem” Adeniyi, who took on the mighty Lagos state government over Tinubu’s certificates and many others to our eternal gratitude? Where is Eniola “the cynic” Bello who has provoked many discussions that go right to the heart of misgovernance in Nigeria? Where is Kayode “Mr sober” Komolafe whose social cadence is unbeatable? Where is Godwin “interesting times” Agboroko whose expositions leave one invariably dazed? Where is Olaniyonu “I told you so” Yusuph who is always warning us to keep vigilant and whose lines are usually a delight to devour? Where is Ezuchie “Ah-ha!” Ubani who brought to our attention the deception in Abia State? And where is even Ejioma “it figures” Nwogwugwu who gave a whole new meaning to the word “figure”? Surely even for her, at home with and therefore unfazed by high figures, the figure of N150, 000,000 is worth a second, and perhaps even a third look? And pray where is even Mr.

Nduka “savoir-faire” Obaigbena? Silence! Silence! And more silence! Are we to understand that these gentlemen and lady are overtaken by the Nigerian factor? No comment? What would have happened if it were another media house, print or otherwise who are involved? Would they have individually and collectively been silent? Is Eniola “the cynic” Bello really convinced that Beyonce’s rendering of the National anthem and the couple of minutes patriotism generated thereof worth N150,000,000 from any state’s poverty alleviation fund? Does Simon “The Bomb” Kolawole believe that the amount fritted away on the debt relief commission is more important than that fritted away from the state’s poverty alleviation fund on a bourgeoisie gala of questionable worth? Is Ezuchie “Ah-ha!” Ubani telling us that this is not worth commenting about while, the charade in Abia State is? To cap it all Media Trust that broke the story and who keep telling us that trust is a burden neither did any follow up nor even publish some of the letters that I am assuming the story must have generated, since I can’t be the only person in the entire country who read the report, or the only one who was piqued by it.