As the intrigues and plot towards the 2015 general elections thickens, the essential personas seem willing to play the cards within and without the pack to ensure their aggrandizement irrespective of the rules. From subtle threats, inducement, to sheer assault – each of the divide would go any length to outdo the other.
Take for instance the siege laid on the National Assembly by the Nigeria Police. No doubt, this bears the hallmark of the Executive. It was certainly aimed at removing the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representative – or the former Speaker (apologies to the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, as he restated his position during his session with the leadership of the House last week, that the seat of the Speaker remains vacant, since accordingly to the provisions of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, Hon. Aminu Waziri has lost it having defected to another party). With this position, one may not be wrong to say that those who sent the I.G on this folly errand were definitely out to reenact the Ekiti scenario, where seven PDP members of the Ekiti House of Assembly were able to impeach the Speaker, as the Deputy Speaker – Hon. Emeka Ihedioha – and some PDP lawmakers were already in the House; the delusion of our political personas knows no bound!
Democracy is a game of number. And like any game, there are rules. The 1999 Constitution, the electoral act and other extant laws/ rules are set to govern and guide the process. To usurp any of such in the middle of a game (where bets are placed by players) is an invitation to anarchy!
Just this morning, I was engaging someone on his take on the bombings of the Kano Central Mosque. He couldn’t help but point fingers at the agents of the Federal Government – though the blasts and the shootings afterwards bear the DNA of Boko Haram. The blames, if not for anything, could be laid for their negligence in allowing the Boko Haram cancer to continually spread at the expense of more and more innocent lives. As his take would hold, an average Northerner, now, see the present administration as either colluding with the enemy or they actually are the villains. No doubt, many bear this disposition hence the call to arm by the Emir of Kano, HRH Lamido Sanusi, on his people; and the arming and paying of vigilante groups in the North East – a feat that has recorded so much gains but being reversed in the recent, no thanks to the call for their screening by the military command. Unfortunately, instead of all putting in concerted efforts toward arresting this evil monster, governance again has being left for politics.
From the outset, it has been the position of the present leadership of the country that the terrorist campaign in the North is an aftermath of the 2011 elections, a war being waged by few disgruntled and disaffected elements particularly of northern extraction. Incidentally or unfortunately, the leadership of the country through its hide and seek, and sheer ignorance of the magnitude and proportionality of the elements bearing this menace, went to sleep, hoping the whole thing could be wished away, thereby setting the stage for chaos. The opposition characteristically is always lurking around waiting to cast more aspersions on the person of the President to score cheap political points without bringing anything concrete to the table in term of antidotes. Although, they now seem awake to their responsibility since it is an election year. But, at what cost – after tens of thousands have been maimed and hundreds of thousands internally displaced?
Ironically, the good people of the North are not coming to terms with the lusterless attitude of their leaders: the Northern Clerics, Elders, Statesmen, Political bigwigs, and in general the core Northern Stakeholders. One will wonder why they cannot appreciate the irreparable damage the insurgency is causing the region! For me, these leaders should do more by encouraging their people not to harbour these vampires! Bombs or IUDs are not fabricated under an open field or under the tree. They – the elites of the North – held sway and are still in key positions in our country, and would have well used those offices to ensure that the massive hood of illiterate youths being easily conscripted were discouraged from going forth with the evil agenda. They created an army of unemployed youths, now being deployed against their own region and religion.
These leaders must all share in the wishing away syndrome – particularly the Evil Genius of the Hill Top Villa who laid the foundation for despotic inclinations in our democracy, all because of his overbearing, megalomaniac and disjointed dispositions! He ensured the castration of our military – all in the name of personal aggrandizements, but which he could not sustain; hence, he had to “Step Aside”. Those follies were built upon by the Otta Prophet of Doom – who would see nothing real, tangible nor good in any other’s result if such can not be attributed to him, therefore, his failed third term docket and endless pursuit of power in proxy. Unfortunately, the Yar’adua Presidency and Jonathan’s were not proactive enough at pulverizing the evil fundament, thence, the resultant loss of lives and properties on the sides of the Northern populace and the army. The nation is divided against itself.
In my capacity, I had initiated meetings and spent several quality nights with notable northern leaders and key religious leaders on how to work out a platform or solution to the hydra headed monsters in our polity – particularly the Boko Haram syndrome. Notable amongst them were H.E Atiku Abubakar, GCFR (Former Vice President of the Federal Rublic of Nigeria) and my father in the Lord Bishop David Oyedepo. The initiative was to bring together from different divides –political and spiritual – including all past Heads of State (especially those of Northern extractions). Unfortunately, because of lack of political will and better understanding of the challenges on the part of others, this came to naught!
Watching the clips from the chaotic scenes of the epicenter of folly, dished from the staples of Nigeria Police, I overhead a Honorable Member voicing his soreness as to how his people are being killed on the alter of politics and politicking. Why would I blame him? Remember, their recess was called off by the Speaker to attend to the letter of Mr. President seeking the extension of the State of Emergency in the three North Eastern states. But instead of allowing the proceedings to go on as expected, rather, they chose that same moment to exhibit their idiocy all in the name of 2015 elections. At the end, the urgent crux became relegated while the killing spree is unabated.
It is important to shout it out into the hearings of the divides that in the art of war, there is never a victor; all are vanquished; only degree differs. If the rancorous situations are left unattended, do not be surprised there may never be a Nigeria for any to administer. We need more of Federal Government proactive measures and the Northerners and Southerners cooperation in full without prejudice. 2015 elections are certainly around the corner, it is high time everyone played the game according to the rules, else, may our lot not be like that of the hen while chasing shadows, the hawk picks its chicks for meal! A word is enough for the wise.
Richard Odusanya EBMH
Executive Chairman
Leadership Rescue Initiative.
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odusanyagold@gmail.com
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