IF NOT IN NIGERIA?

Much as one tries to mind his business;  focus on his daily occupation, and as such desist from paying much attention to contemporary  issues, certain disturbing  echoes emanating from the polity called Nigeria always provide one with one reason or the other to comment  on such blatant disregard for decency in a supposed sane society.

The news of the return of ailing Taraba State Governor who was involved in a jet crash about a year ago filtered in few days ago. And just as one was about  to start appraising the situation to determine the kind of concern one should have for the ailing Governor by way of sympathy, one was greeted with the disturbing news that the ailing Governor who cannot even walk un-aided let alone speak since he has not uttered  any statement nor address the press since  his arrival  has purportedly  written a letter to the Taraba State House of Assembly conveying his readiness to resume his duty post  as Governor.

One was then  taken aback as to what an interplay of absurdity reminiscence of the show of shame and brigandage that  surrounded  the health issue of the late former President Yar’adua again playing out itself in a supposed democratic setting.

Recalled that the issue concerning the health of former President Umar Musa Ya’adua was shrouded in secrecy such that the then first lady  Turai Yar’ Adua, was ruling the nation by proxy while the husband was lying helplessly on the sick bed in far away Germany ,and the Vice President  then, in person of Goodluck  Ebele Jonathan was never given access to him, neither was he allowed to act in his stead until the news of his death finally put paid to their intrigue and treachery.

After much reflection on the impulse of the Taraba issue, I concluded within myself that such absurd situation can only happen in Nigeria and Nigeria alone. If not in my country, where else? Does this country or its leadership class still have any sense of decency going by on-going embarrassing fiasco?

The manner and swiftness with which the letter of intent purportedly written by the ailing Governor was addressed to Taraba State House of Assembly upon his surprised arrival  shows a high network of conspiracy by  principal actors, Danbaba Suntai and his cronies, his Deputy and possibly the State House of Assembly  or certain  element in the Assembly ,against the sensibilities of the entire nation.

It is sure that the dramatis personae are acting out a script already prepared to supposedly bamboozle the about   150 million Nigerians and ensure that Governor Dambaba Suntai, a man said to still be in a terrible health condition lay false claim to be in control, while his cronies or possibly, his wife ride roughshod on the state and continue to feed the nation with falsehood and stage managed leadership.

Of a fact, if a patient suffers brain damage, it may take longer time to get the brain repaired and back to functioning stage if ever it will be functional again. Medically, people who are in a coma or a minimally responsive state may remain dependent on the care of others for the rest of their lives. How can someone who probably needs prayers from all of us tells us that he is ready to assume the post of Governor of a state with its attendant huge responsibilities, when it is obvious that he is not ready for such challenges in his current state of health.

How on earth do people love money more than themselves? Are we also sure that the decision to wrestle the state back is that of the ailing Governor whom we are not sure is fully aware of what is happening around him? Is it not another scheme by the people surrounding him to ensure that they continue to enjoy the peck of office at his expense?  Where else can this orgy of foolishness thrive, if not in my country? Nigeria!

Of course, where else can such happen, if not in Nigeria? If not in Nigeria, where else can we have an interplay of absurdity in all spheres of activity, even at the highest level of governance, or have we forgotten so easily the electoral brigandage committed during the recent  election of  Chairman of the Governor’s forum, where sixteen members are claiming superiority over nineteen members?

Closely related to this was the show of shame that follows in Rivers state where five dis- (honourable ) members purportedly impeached the Speaker of the House of Assembly in a brigandage manner . All these are happening in a supposedly democratic setting and sane society!.

After ruminating over the scenario, I later concluded that, in the same manner, Governor Dambaba Suntai of Taraba state and his cronies  should not be blamed for foisting such arrangement on the entire nation, since there is  a good precedent in former President Yar’Adua’s controversial health  matter ;The lawless Rivers State  Lawmakers should surely not be blamed since they equally have good  precedent in their Senior Colleague from Ogun State who wielded the “extra ordinary power” , so to say, with 11 Lawmakers displacing 15 Lawmakers. What a show of shame!

Nigeria is a country where   everything goes and anything can happen and it never bothers  our leaders that with such issues playing out itself, Nigeria will not only be a laughing stock among the comity of nations, but no one will ever take the nation, its leaders a la its people serious on any matter whatsoever and this will continue to have a negative toll on our development.

One still recall vividly the kangaroo judgment of a Nigeria High Court Judge, Tahlba Mahmud who awarded a sentence of two year imprisonment with an option of fine of a paltry sum of N750,000  to the former Deputy Director of Police Pension Fund, John Yakubu who owned up to the embezzlement of N27 billion of the over N33 billion pension fund scam.

The issue of the Wonder stow boy who travel on the wheel of a plane from Benin to Lagos is yet to fritter out. The teenage boy, Daniel Ihekina who was arrested at the Lagos airport flying in the tyre hole on an  Arik Airline said he thought the plane was US- bound. The story of the boy further exposed the security lapses, not only in our airport , but across other strata of the society. One cannot but wonder on the catalogue of absurdities that daily confront the nation, yet no one cares a hoot about the desirability or otherwise of such action.

How can anyone exercise control, when those at the highest echelon of leadership also display kindergarten-like stance in some of their actions. I wonder what is really wrong with some of our leaders and even the led and why everyone has decided to run viral throwing caution to the wind without ever thinking about the implication and negative effect on the polity called Nigeria.

Where else can this one happen except in Nigeria where corruption are daily swept under the carpet , while others commit heinous corrupt practices with impunity. The bribery scandal involving  a  top member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan and business mogul, Femi Otedola was yet un-resolved, yet no one hears any news on the development. Is it not Nigeria?

It is the same Nigeria where some sets of electorates displayed their ignorance by  donning  Ankara “aso ebi” to welcome a chronic criminal in person of Bode George, on his return from prison.

On the Taraba state issue, while we are yet to see the end of interplay of drama that is still lurking ahead as the present manifestation is just few of the many bags of tricks in the hands of the dramatis personae, it is expected that civil society groups and other interest group take up the issue appropriately, since those in the highest echelon of authority have decided to look the other way, probably as part of the big conspiracy.

And, just as this writer was about ending this  piece ,information tripped in that the ailing Governor of Taraba State , Danbaba Suntai has dissolved his cabinet as well as appointed another Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff. Sure, this is just one of the many  bag of tricks. Unless, something urgent is done, a major political crisis may be looming in Zamfara state just as a result of the greed of some unscrupulous elements.

God Bless Nigeria!

Written By Waheed Ogunjobi