BURNING POT BY PRINCE CHARLES DICKSON
"Daddy, Nigeria Is A Lie"
pcdbooks@gmail.com
The leper said two things, one of them being a lie; he said after he
had struck his child with his palm, he also pinched him severely
with his fingernails
Recently in a small family reunion I was invited, I watched as a
father told narrated a movie to the kids, unknown to him, the kids
had viewed the same film. He went about mumbling the story line,
while the older ones feigned attention, one of the younger ones just
blurted out..."Daddy it's a lie".
Last week, my admonition was on the lies as told by our 1st Lady,
Dame Lazarina Faka Patience. I got a lot of cold knocks, but truth
is, very little has changed from my submission. Primarily that the
president's wife lied...
My concern not being so much about her lying but the fact that
Nigerians have embraced lies as a national past time, from the
governed to those doing the governance itself.
That lies are told about electricity, that the whole pension
administration is filled with filthy lies. Lying about education,
which is why four students killed during a student protest due to
lack of water in Nasarawa State University and then the president,
donates some millions for some water project.
The cost of lies to our national development cannot be quantified,
so it is fashionable that parents lie to kids, husbands to wife,
wives to sisters, employers to employees, and how about those
legislative lies on job creation.
Telling the truth is just unthinkable, it has simple become a
deviant attitude to be truthful. From the recent past, the truth of
the third term remains fuzzy, many have forgotten the plenty naira
notes on the national assembly table--It’s all been lied away.
We will never find out who signed our budget only some four years
ago, I have not forgotten the 'god of men' that visited the then
president and could not tell the truth about his health status.
I guess this writer should let sleeping dogs lie, and off course
that itself is the problem, the dogs don't sleep, they lie
continuously. Babangida Aliyu says there was a one term pact,
Jonathan says no, show me proof, reminding me of the lies of zoning
and some signed documents. They just lie, telling us this, telling
us that and doing very little if any in terms of tangible
developmental.
They lied about Chime of Enugu, and Chime then lied to himself, how
about the current new improved, okay newly resurrected dame or what
have the liars got to say about my brother Suntai, after that
no-smile-carry-baby photo play and he's coming back next week which
never ends.
The problem with all these lies is how they seem to become the truth
after constant repetition; you know that caveat that if you listen
repeatedly to a lie, it becomes the truth. One other effect is, it
leaves us with a short fuse memory because it’s all too dramatic.
Like Oteh the SEC woman and her several thousand naira worth
crayfish, lobster and bottles of Gulder, or that tales by moonlight
of the guy with N2billion in his bedroom. Too many lies, even when
there's no need to lie we conjure up some fancy tales, lace it up
with all the condiment.
When last did a public official tell the truth, I mean say it as it
is, and have it on record as having said and stood by it. We just
talk anyhow, most times without thought or regard to the
consequences.
I recall a visit to Bayelsa then as governor, Goodluck Jonathan told
us that by the time he's done with electricity in the sleepy oil
state, generators would be a thing of the past--fat lie, till date
the generators blared non-stop.
Every case is a lie, whether Dele Giwa or Bola Ige, Harry Marshal or
Otokoto/Okija or Ezu River, its all story-story and
once-upon-a-time. Nothing is classified, nothing is de-classified.
I end this admonition with open letter Ronald Reagan wrote in 1994
to the American people, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's
disease.
The former president interestingly lived another ten years.
My fellow Americans,
I have recently been told that I am one of the millions of Americans
who will be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease.
Upon learning this news, Nancy and I had to decide whether as
private citizens we would keep this a private matter or whether we
would make this news known in a public way.
In the past, Nancy suffered from breast cancer and I had cancer
surgeries. We found through our open disclosures we were able to
raise public awareness. We were happy that as a result many more
people underwent testing. They were treated in early stages and able
to return to normal, healthy lives.
So now we feel it is important to share it with you. In opening our
hearts, we hope this might promote greater awareness of this
condition. Perhaps it will encourage a clear understanding of the
individuals and families who are affected by it.
At the moment, I feel just fine. I intend to live the remainder of
the years God gives me on this earth doing the things I have always
done. I will continue to share life's journey with my beloved Nancy
and my family. I plan to enjoy the great outdoors and stay in touch
with my friends and supporters.
Unfortunately, as Alzheimer's disease progresses, the family often
bears a heavy burden. I only wish there was some way I could spare
Nancy from this painful experience. When the time comes, I am
confident that with your help she will face it with faith and
courage.
In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the
great honor of allowing me to serve as your president. When the Lord
calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave the greatest love
for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future.
I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my
life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn
ahead.
Thank you, my friends. May God always bless you.
Sincerely,
Ronald Reagan.
Will we reach this stage in our national life, where truth will
triumph, where lies are not necessary, or do we still remain a
lie...only time will tell.
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