Its interesting just how much of the little things we just don’t care about.
i have never been one to trip myself over petty info but I wonder just how much
life would have changed if I had paid a little more attention to that dip in
smile, the hint of a frown and, many other such nuances. Its not a lecture in
reading facial expressions, it goes beyond smiles and dimples when we have to
elect a guide over 150 million people. But then, it is the little
things....
I have never met any Nigerian leader beyond the brief sighting of the IBB in
my childhood and that does us no good here. i have-like most Nigerians,
watched with interest the changing faces that occupy the positions of
leadership in our lives. I read about them, watch them on TV, listen to them
over the radio and rather unmistakably, come to deduce a bit of the character
behind what they portray. Obj might have wanted a third term, is undeniably
vindictive, accused to bedding his son's wife but we cant deny him a bit of
rustic flavor. Coupled with the title ‘Baba’, the image of the Egusi and
pounded yam eating father is crystallized in the nation's consciousness. its
the little things....
as the nation searched for a suitable candidate for the office of the
president in 2011, there was little doubt in my mind who exactly would be
deemed suitable by the electorate. it wasnt really a free and fair contest
between the stoic faced general and the fedora wearing fisherman’s son. Aside
the power of the incumbency (and what that implies in Nigerian politics), there
was a certain suavity to his style that was almost coy. The teaming mass of
Nigerian voters, sufficiently discouraged by the media assassination of General
Buhari could not believe that the candidate they would vote for could actually
relate to them via the internet. Suddenly the argument became, new against old.
Buhari seemingly represented a part of the Nigerian history they were all too
willing to put a lid on. Buhari didn’t own no Facebook account, he campaigned
the old fashioned way, comes from the north and has a media imposed reputation
of being an Islamic fanatic. Nigerians felt they had seen enough of such
righteous politicians, Nobel laureate, Soyinka brought back ghosts of executed
suspected drug dealers, elections were rigged on both sides and finally a
Facebook president was elected.
Months later, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is no longer a darling of
the sympathetic media, he presides over a phase of the Nigerian continuum that
is make, or break to our continued existence. He is probably the most
incompetent person ever to assume the mantle of leadership in any self
respecting nation. He is famous for condemning terror attacks with liquor
induced boldness, he has unleashed the Dame as the very antithesis of Soyinka’s
literary prowess and as I write this, he is probably the last duly elected
president we may have as a united Nigeria if he does not fix this BH
madness. Yes dear friends, the situation is really that terrible.
But how did we get to this place? Surely for someone who displays this level
of gross incompetence there should have been warning signs, great Neon lights
pointing at his hat saying; Incompetent!!! There were, we just did not care to
see them. Why? Cause, Nigerians vote along ethnic, tribal, religious lines. And
do we wonder why we are backwards?
Way back in 2006 Dame Patience was indicted by the Ribadu led EFCC as having
laundered a sum a little greater than a hundred and forty million Naira (140
Million)-this allegation, made in the hallowed chambers of the Nigerian senate
house by none other than the then anti-corruption czar himself. In civilized
societies, the hint of an involvement with criminal activity no matter how
remote is usually enough reason for a dignified resignation to make room for an
unbiased investigation. No one resigned, no investigation has been conducted
and the matter has in fact been swept under the rug!...one little thing…..
