TIME FOR A REVOLUTION

When evil becomes so predominant in a land, weep not that the people suffer but weep more that the good people are silent over it. I believe a lot of Nigerians are up to speed with the recent modalities of our present day Government under the auspices of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Taking the rough with the smooth, it has always been a rough ride for this country. Although no country can be an ivory tower of perfection, the situation in Nigeria were the citizens feel unnecessary pains that can be averted is one that cannot be taken with a pinch of salt. In as much as most of our leaders have decided to soil the beautiful realities of this country with evil intents and rocky disbelieve, I am out of humour to say that Nigeria's jeremiad can only be averted through a purposeful revolution.
The internal crises of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that saw some G7 Governors cross-carpet to the All Progressive Congress (APC) does not in any way give a tincture of my expression of a revolution. The APC have ironically shown to Nigerians that they are strong advocates of change that's why they could admit some PDP deviants whose bites are worst than their barks into their fold, and also declare the Freudian slip as done by Alhaji Kawu Baraje that "it is a merger" instead of a cross-carpeting. Some of the leaders and card-carrying members of the APC have at one point in time held political positions in this country and much significance were not attained. So like the Republicans and the Democrats in the U.S, it seems clear that only two dominant party will have landslides come 2015. But the issue of party is never the problem in Nigeria; the problem has always been the candidates who field the parties. Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State is performing swimmingly in the state even though he is a PDP member. The Governor of Lagos State, Fashiola is as well doing excellently in the state even though he is an APC candidate. Whether you belong to any political fold, personality differences remains the core of any practical democracy.
I envision a change where most of our recent crop of leaders will begin ossifying from the minds of Nigerians and a new spring of leaders who were not born with a silver spoon in their mouth, and even though born with it have the people at heart. Leaders who have gone through the drills of the society; who know what it means not to have a job, nor have light for five days. Leaders who know what it means not to pay pensioners their arrears. I pray God lead us to discover this crop of leaders.
It is no longer news that a bill allowing politicians to own foreign accounts in foreign banks have passed second reading, while about forty million Nigerians still lie doggo at the mercy of unemployment. The twirls that have shrouded the missing N500billion Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) funds are no gainsaying to the fact that they have suddenly developed hands and legs into private accounts. The low level of education in our government and the continual increase in alcoholism amongst our politicians has led largely to her poor performance. I listened with keen interest to the Anambra Decides on AIT when some politicians could not fully express themselves in the English language, yet they are still in government while some intelligent graduates keep storming companies with their curriculum vitae (CV) scouting for a job. I have always said it that Nigeria's politics is ‘caviar to the general'. It is the most lucrative business with the highest net profits that involves virtually little or no capital venture but with inflated levels of connections. Little wonder did the Prime Minister of Britain say that "if the amount of money stolen in Nigeria happened in the U.K, U.K would no longer exist". It is with gracious feelings that I thank the Swiss Government for refunding the $700m laundered by the Abacha's regime. It is a pointer that foreign leaders with sincerity of purpose have no dealings with skullduggeries. I pray these monies do not go into private pockets again. The fortunate confession made by Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State upon the long detention of his two sons by the EFCC indicted for public money laundering that; ‘for every small thief there is a bigger one' mirrors a dark beam of light for this country.
If these iron gloves of oppression in the guise of leadership continues, then we will keep living in the jackboots of deceit where our spirits like the sting of an adder are crushed every moments of disappointment. The political turmoil that rocked Libya was eventually brought to an end when the people revolted. The tumultuous situation that has now restored temporary peace in Egypt upon the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi was the handiwork of the citizens. The revolution that brought in Jerry John Rawlings in the 1980s in Ghana was the crafted work of the people's courage and support. It is not that I am trying to insinuate a violent revolution neither am I trying to stoke up sedition against the government. All I am saying is that when a thing becomes too frequent in a particular land, it prevails until the good people rises to the occasion to beard the lion through the ballot.
I am not fain to start talking about the deficiencies of the Nigerian ballot system. Nigerians in the night of the storm ought to pray not for the safety from danger but from deliverance of fear to take actions. Nigerians solution lies not in the government but in her citizens, and with the instrumentality of the ballot being the voice and power of the people, I see a looming revolution.

God bless Nigeria.

Davidson Obabueki

BUTCHERING THE BUTCHER

Alhaji was the head of butchers in our community and my father owed him a lot of money. He was always coming to our house to ask for his money but Papa could not pay.
One evening, after our dinner of cous cous, Papa called me and spoke to me in an unusually gentle voice. Please dont misunderstand me. Papa isn't a wicked father but he isn't a very kind man either! Papa said to me that night, "Salimot, my child, you know since your mother left us, I have been doing the job of a father and mother. And I think I have done a good job because I did my best to make sure you turned out to be the best woman you can be." I nodded my head in anticipation. What was he going to say next?
I didn't have to keep wondering for long. He continued, "In life, a woman needs three people, a father, a mother, and a husband. I am your father, have tried my best to be your mother, but I can not be your husband."
Okay, now this is getting scary, I thought.! What exactly is he trying to say? As if Papa knew what was going through my mind he said
"U will marry Alhaji Danladi next week. "
Of all the bombshells I was expecting, this was certainly not on my mind!
Not Alhaji! The butcher! That old man! That man is older than my father!
In shock, I did the unthinkable! I openly disagreed with my father!
"Papa, I won't marry him!"
The next thing I felt was the sharp slap I received. "How dare u question my authority! How dare you open that dirty mouth of yours to say you wont marry Alhaji? Walahi talahi, if you werent my only daughter, I would have shown you the side of me you don't want to see! Like it or hate it, you will marry Alhaji next week Friday!"
And that was it! My wedding day was not all joyful and sparkling for me. I had to muster all the courage in me not to cry. I simply took solace in the fact it would soon be over and soon I found myself smiling! Soon it would all be over and my husband, however old, will take me to his house and take care of me!

Excruciating, painful, does not adequately define my first night in Alhaji's house. He practically raped me! He demanded all sorts of strange things, even anal sex! I cried and begged for mercy but Alhaji would hear none of my pathetic whines, as he called it. After he was done, I cried to Allah, Why had he decided to put me through this suffering? Why didn't he let me die in the fire that claimed my mothers life? I begged him to take my life but even Allah turned a deaf ear to my cries as I was still alive the next morning.
My life was a timetable of all forms of abuse. At night I was repeatedly raped, in the day I was made a slave. I soon forgot the meaning of happiness and I became gloom personified. A year and few months later, I got pregnant. It was bitter sweet for me. I wanted a child but not one fathered by a brutal man! I didn't want my child to have any trace of brutality. I prayed for my child, I prayed that its soul remained pure.
One night, about 5 months into the pregnancy, Alhaji used me so mercilessly that I miscarried the pregnancy. I was beside myself with grief. The one and only thing I wanted in this marriage was gone because of this man's selfishness, greed and wickedness! I hated Alhaji that day with a passionate hatred! Months later, I noticed I had minimal bladder control, I practically wet myself each time I felt the urge to urinate. I went to visit a doctor and I was diagnosed of V.V.F. I didn't know what it meant, I just knew I was leaking and I smelled a lot. I thought the disease will reduce the way Alhaji used me but it didn't. He continued treating me like a sex toy and I plunged further into depression.

The last straw that broke the camel's back was an incident that occurred four years into my ill fated marriage to Alhaji Danladi. That night, I was feeling very very sick and he came to me for sex. I pleaded with him, explaining how sick I felt. Alhaji didn't care, instead, he drew my legs apart and threatened to tie them to the bed posts if he needed to. On hearing this I lost my cool and fought him but he was too powerful. He made good his threat and tied my legs indeed. It was that night I decided to free myself from this bondage. Papa would not take me back but I had no other choice. The opportunity presented itself one afternoon Alhaji had just returned from his butchers meeting and wanted sex again! I tried to protest but he began beating me and I had no other choice but to fight back. I fought and fought but Alhaji had more advantage over me. Still I was determined not to let this old fool have his way.
I noticed his butchers knife on the table, where he had carelessly dropped it while demanding for 'a good time.' I picked it up in my rage and began stabbing him blindly. I had no intention of killing him. I just wanted him off me for good. His shouts attracted the neighbors but they could not enter the house because he had locked the door, as he always does whenever he wanted to teach me a lesson.
He lay on the floor, dead, and I stood over him, soaked in his blood, glad that I was finally free of him. I took the key from his pocket and opened the door to the neighbors. To say they were shocked will be the understatement of the century and soon I found myself in police custody. I was charged to court but found non guilty of first degree murder on the basis of temporary insanity! That's a joke right? They said I was insane because I felt, and still feel no remorse whatsoever for killing my husband. They said I was insane because I was so deeply depressed that I wasn't thinking.

If wanting my husband dead is madness, then yes, I am mad! If wanting that beast gone is insanity, I don't want to be sane! Yes, I killed my husband but my sole regret is not killing him sooner!

YESTERDAY A HERO, FOREVER A LEGEND

     Even the greatest of kings have to step down from their thrones. These were the first few words that filtered through my head when I heard about the sad demise of one of the most influential people of the 20th century. Quite frankly, his death was expected and inevitable and at the age of 95,it could be boldly described as a life well spent. However, when one considers the fact that he spent 27 years of his life in prison and how his mere existence emboldened and inspired several people to greatness, one cannot help but feel he was 'gone too soon'.
    For the sake of readers who do not know the great Madiba (is that even possible??), he was a South African anti-apartheid activist who after spending over a quarter of his life in prison became the first black South African president. He was also the first to be elected in a fully representative election. A philanthropist, a democratic socialist and an African nationalist.
     Mr. Mandela was one of the most extraordinary liberation leaders  Africa and indeed every other continent ever produced. He led his people to overcome the deeply rooted system of apartheid that prompted racial segregation in every South African life and this he achieved without the bloodshed so many people envisaged.
     His admirable strength of character equipped him for his long struggle, pain and ultimate victory over apartheid. A boxer in his youth, Mandela showed his never say never attitude and even in the face of death, courage and strong will prevailed.
      As President from 1994 to 1999,he exhausted much energy in pacifying and moderating the bitterness of his black electorate while assuring the white populace who had fears of a backlash. After working tirelessly for the people of South Africa for 5 years he declined a second term, something inconceivable in modern Nigeria. Instead Mr. Mandela turned his attention to the continent as a peace broker.
    At the end of his lifetime he had already established himself as an international emblem of unity and even as the world celebrates the life of a legend, There stands to be few lessons Nigerian leaders can pick up from him. Leaders should realise that they are not living for themselves anymore. Being a leader does not start the day you are sworn into office but from the very point they stand and fight for a purpose and then you immediately become a slave to that cause.
     I'm talking to that self-centered classrep who does not realise he belongs to his fellow students. I'm talking to those heads of unions who only think about themselves and the  present. I'm talking to those power hungry politicians whose only concern are themselves and their generations. Live a life that would speak for itself, one deserving of sweet and rich words of fulfilment and selflessness and not one that would be sent off in a grand Abacha-esque style.
     Although Mr. Mandela requested for a quiet and simple exit,the world cannot help but scream       

' NELSON ROLIHLAHLA TATA MADIBA MANDELA,you may be gone but legacy will forever be etched in our collective memories'...

 

 

 

 

THE PHARAOH OF OUR TIME

When God ordered Moses to instruct King Pharaoh of Egypt to release the Israelites from his thralldom, Pharaoh became so obdurate that God hardened his heart. It seemed to him that all else had failed on the part of God and the Israelites notwithstanding the ten plagues when he (Pharaoh)
gave the chase and eventually, together with his chariots met his waterloo
at theRed Sea.

The ongoing impasse with the Federal Government and ASUU seems to havedefied all laws of negotiations. It is no longer news that ASUU embarked on an indefinite industrial action on the 1st of July 2013 spanning over five months now. All essays made by the Federal Government to
resolve their contretemps have proven abortive as ASUU seems to be taking the
fool’s errand approach for a 100% implementation despite the agreement reached in the thirteen hours meeting with the President and some labour leaders, and the subsequent 60-40% vote by the Federal/State Universities indicating a call off of the strike. Instead ASUU have elicited some outrageous demands amongst which are the non-victimization of lecturers by paying up their four months salary, the immediate implementation of the N1.2trillion
agreement reached by Government, et cetera. The Federal Government has been
flounced by this demand and has issued via the Minister of State for
Education and the supervising Minister of Education; Nyesom Wike, a one
week ultimatum, terminating on the 4th of December 2013 to call off the
strike or face the boots. In the meanwhile, the pro-chancellors have ordered all vice chancellors to re-open the universities. Threat has been issued by Nyesom Wike to all lecturers who fail to turn up at this
order and have instructed vice chancellors to declare vacant the seat of
any adamant lecturer and also to open internal or external adverts for
job application to the position of a lecturer.
Ignoring a 60-40% democratic consensus of calling off the strike
by the member universities of ASUU headed by the Chairman; Nasir Isa
Fagge is to me a showmanship of negligence, breach of the rule of law, and
official duty and respect amongst her members. I have never heard in any
country where industrial agreements or disputes are met or resolved in
one sitting. There are some bureaucracies attached to it and can be sorted out
in dribblets even while students are in school. It has never happened
in this country where a President would sit and discuss with ASUU for
thirteen straight hours all to say the strike continues. The once bitten twice
shy syndrome that ASUU have decided to adopt may worsen the situation twice as
fast as students are no longer on the ‘angel side’ owning to the scorching effects of the strike on them.
The ASUU leaders have exterminated the light beaming around Prof. Festus
Iyayi’s death and now their private interest is at stake. At the initial stage they were fighting for a just course but it seems as if their
private pockets are at stake as they are fully demanding their four months
salary for work not done. The thirteen hours meeting with the President
should have been enough to iron out or chime in the issue of the non-
payment of their four months salary, but that was not done. If a student is
absent from lectures for two months with or without reason, whether he
will be given a C grade freely in that course is out of the question. And yet
ASUU are demanding for a lost cause. Whether or not the Trade Dispute
Act guarantees the non-victimization of workers of their salaries is not a
topic for this context as private pockets are superceding the public
interest which is against equity.
The series of plagues that have bedeviled this strike doesn’t seem as a
wary to ASUU as they have decided to toe the line of King Pharaoh of Egypt.
The bossy attitude of King Pharaoh towards the Israelites warranted God to
release His last card that eventually closed his chapter. The plot has
being thicken and every attempt to return the students back to the promise
land have all come a cropper. Now the Federal Government has adopted a gun-boat policy which I am not praying for a Red Sea occurrence, but just like Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte who after his conquest of virtually the Europe, ignoring all advice, fell to the Duke of Wellington at the battles of the waterloo.
Some lecturers have broken ranks within ASUU and those ones whose job are now at stake should kindly return back to the classrooms while negotiations continues because when it happens, we will know that we were only sheep without a shepherd.

God bless Nigeria.

Written by Davidson Obabueki.