Date Published: 05/13/09
This week out of respect for a great mentor and an exceptional leader Olugbenga Fabilola, Esq., the writer of this column Oladimeji Abitogun is yielding the space. This would continue from time to time in order to accommodate equally brilliant and informed opinions from professionals from all works of life. Please enjoy the piece.
NIGERIA RONU (THINK)
BY OLUGBENGA FABILOLA
The rerun election in Ekiti state has come and gone but its ripples are still palpable and may remain so far for a long time to come hoping and praying that is does not snowball into revolution of gargantuan proportions.
The build up to it witnessing mind boggling statements as “operation re-capture” ,” Oni will now serve 6 years,” “No Jupiter can take Ekiti from us” etc and the election proper and the drama surrounding it characterized by the killings, disappearance, resignation and deresignation of “Mama”, the circus show on the television by “oga wetin you carry”, “madam NAFDAC (now rebranding Agent)” and the “wuruwuru” man who apparently were caught napping by the unexpected resignation of mama are all indisputable evidence of the tragedy of a nation that has continued to be a laughing stock of other jurisdictions, including our African brothers. Ghana has expressed shock and worry why Nigeria remains disorganized and dislocated.
It is only an idiot that will not know that the result of the election was doctored to favor the eventual “winner”. Nigerians will continue to wonder at the brazen display of crudity, insensitivity and desperation of our leaders. Why must they engage in a “do or die” battle on elections? What they have forgotten however is that there is higher verdict than theirs and that is the verdict of the Almighty God. Who ever thought that the maximum leader with dark goggles will die a chicken death like he did despite all the security mounted around him and his unbridled ambition to transmute for a military leader to a civilian president. The verdict of God and its modus remain unfathomable to mortals. One thing that is infallible in that his judgment is certain though it may grind slowly.
The decision of the ‘losers’ to contest the sham of election at the tribunal rather than resort to violence is highly commendable. It is indeed an uncommon display of civility and nobility. It will be conspiratorial treachery and mockery of demented people if any tribunal does not throw out the election at the slightest opportunity except its membership are made up people from the outer space and not the Nigerian state. On this occasion again, the judiciary will honorably acquit itself. They have done it before and they will do it again. They have remained the beacon of hope for the Nigeria of our dream which is to hand unto our children a banner without stain. How the “winner” allowed himself to be that ridiculed as the winner of a fractured election despite his enlightened status ( and a young man for that matter) remains inscrutable.
There will appear to be a consensus amongst Nigerians that military intervention is no longer the alternative and it has never been as nearly all of the problems plaguing the Nigerian nation are the ripple effects of their misrule, autocracy, greed and all that bad governance connotes. I associate myself fully with this view. This is why the resounding shouts of NEVER AGAIN will continue to reverberate within the landscape of the Nigerian state. We will continue to fight in a civilized, decent and just manner all the injustices and inequities in this land and without doubt, as we trudge on, we will e able to get it right someday. Whether they are embarrassed or not in the process will remain another kettle of fish. I think it is only a buffoon that will not be embarrassed by embarrassing acts that he or she deliberately visited upon himself or herself. It is only in Nigeria that a so called elder states man will retort that nothing embarrasses me when accused of corruption. We now know better, making scapegoats of late Sunday Afolabi, Tafa Balogun, former education Minister and others is not sufficient to hide their chicanery and shameful acts.
As write this piece inside the belly of the Delta Aircraft conveying me to Atlanta en-route Bloomington, in Indiana, USA to attend the graduation of my daughter from Indiana University, my heart bleeds that my blessed country remains in disarray after many years of independence despite the unequal led human and natural resource that abound therein. Why should I risk the lives of my family members travelling thousands of kilometers to attend the graduation of a daughter if there are equal alternatives in Nigeria. Quite apart from the costs, the indignities that one suffers as an immigrant in a foreign land especially America are traceable to the absurdities in the governance by our inept and un-visionary leaders.
To my fellow Ekiti Kete of the old Ekiti division of the old Western region, I will implore you to remain steadfast and unshaken in your confidence for a better dawn in the morrow. He who laughs last, as the cliché goes, laughs best. The best laughter is reserved for you. Let us continue to pray Nigeria.
Olugbenga Fabilola, is a Lagos, Nigeria, Attorney.
