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.