Igbos
have this adage which says “It is necessary that strong wind blows periodically so as
to expose the anus of the chicken. Right from his inauguration address as the president of this country, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has consistently pledged
amongst many others to run a government of equal opportunity for all Nigerians’, differences in religious beliefs, ethnicity and political ideologies notwithstanding. But as his regime’s days roll by
and things unfold it is becoming obvious that those pledges were made merely to deceive Nigerians
into accepting him, a man who was fraudulently rigged into the highest office in the country by the worst
leader Nigeria ever had. But I suspected and believed that with time he must show where he truly belonged
though it has come earlier than anticipated. If we agree that anything born of a snake must be long and that
tigers must always produce wild cats, why then would Olusegun Obasanjo's choice for the presidency be anything
but corrupt?
Local government elections which were authourized and conducted by President Yar’Adua
and that notorious INEC chief Professor Maurice Iwu respectively against popular opinion of majority
of Nigerians, has now created another problem of unrest and non-acceptance of the entire exercise this time
at the local governments. One would have expected that the implementation of his pledge to reform
the electoral process of the country would have commenced with either the dissolution of the INEC,
blacklisting Maurice Iwuh and his top lieutenants in that commission or suspending any elections until
standing tribunals get done with all election petitions. As if this problem which has taken some lives in some
local governments is not big enough, President Yar’Adua went ahead to compound issues by inviting for a
meeting representatives of only four political parties namely PDP, Action Congress, ANPP and PPP out of over twenty registered parties in the country, to seek
peaceful solution to the local govt quagmire for which he irresponsible. Does this make for peace? It makes no sense. Thanks to one time governor of Kaduna state Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa who eloquently condemned Mr Presidents meanness and urged the invitees to boycott the meeting. Would anyone have believed that Mr. President with all his innocent looks and daily claims of his adherence to rule of law and belief in human rights as strongly emphasized in democratic process could ever succumb to this kind of official misdemeanor even if he acted on the
advice and pressure of those who rigged him onto the throne. Common sense and conscience did not tell him that a political party like APGA which enjoys the control of Anambra state administration/government must not be skipped. Is this a continuation of your predecessor/mentor’s hatred and disrespect for the people of that great state, Mr. President? If that is your plan sir, be ready for a colossal failure like your master Obasanjo tried everything his presidential powers could afford to install Andy Uba as that state’s governor and the spirit of the great sons and daughters gone and living of that state like the first and foremost architect of Nigeria’s independence andfirst president the great Zik of Africa, pioneer womanpolitical activist Chief Mrs Janet Mokelu, senatepresidents Dr Nwafor Orizu and Dr Chuba Okadigb, onetime National Economic Adviser Dr Pius Okigbo andProfessor Kenneth Onwuka Dike the pioneer greatestvice chancellor of University of Ibadan all of whomthough have passed on contributed a lot to the presentstatus of this country. What about other illustrioussons and daughters of the state whose role past andpresent in building this coutry’s wherewithal can notbe overlooked. These include former Vice President DrAlex Ekwueme, former Biafran leader Emeka OdumegwuOjukwu, the great playwrites and novelists ProfessorChinua Achebe, late Cyprian Ekwensi and Late ChrisOkigbo, Professor Dora Akunyili of the NAFDA fame,former state governor Dr Chris Ngige and ofcourse theone and God-chosen incumbent governor Peter Obi toname this few.
With men like Alhaji Balarabe Musa who stoodhis ground as Mallam Aminu Kano’s follower(PRPgovernor) and Dr Bugaje both of whom made thisYar’Adua’s evil agenda known to Nigerians, there isstrong hope that every hidden agenda that is not inthe interest of peace and progress of our country willbe exposed and challenged publicly. Peace-lovingNigerians will always remain grateful to Balarabe Musaand others who like him are exponents of leaders wrongdoings around the country. To Mr President thereforeit is advisable and of paramount importance that forthe purpose of maintaining and enjoying the admirationand confidence of the people you won through yourpledges on assumption of office, you must retrace yoursteps and stick to those pledges. As powerless asChief Obasanjo is now, you must not carry out hisdictates which as divisive and unprogressive as theysurely are will destroy you. If you are a good foodpounder, do it inside the mortar but if not pound onthe ground, says an Igbo adage. But Mr Presidentalways remember that youare now the father of allNigerians and not only members of PDP and thereforetake into your custody the interest and welfare ofall. Realizing today your derailment from the idealsof a succesful president and changing and adopting theright principles of good governance, will beacceptable and most welcomed to even the offendedNigerians. Today is "not late"(Early) say the Igbos inthe name Ta'gbo. May God equip you Mr President withthe wisdom, strenghth and courage to overcome thetemptations inherent in leadership. I wish you well. Uche Ikedilo, Maryland,USA
Uche Ikedilo,
Maryland,USA
