James Ibori was given a title? Wow! That's really great.
Why so many Nigerians aren't feeling OK with it especially those from the South West?
Why really?
Oh ok. He is an ex-convict. He is corrupt right? He stole money I guess.
But whose money really if yes? Lagos Money? Ogun? Of cos, it was Delta money.
Some even said during his time as a governor, he built roads, paid teachers, people were happy. So, there is nothing wrong if he steal some, after all, nobody is perfect. Just the same way some learned guys in Lagos once challenged me that Fashola could steal as well since he was working . Same goes across other regions. Ekiti cannot be left out as well.
Aren't we becoming funny as a people? Well, it is understandable. If a man stays too long in chain, his right is given to him as a gift.
Then who are those giving him title really?
Of cos the Deltans themselves. And that makes it interesting and a good story to write but let me make it as short as possible.
When people say our greatest problem as a country is corruption, I just laugh profusely. Because I have come to realise that there is something stronger than corruption. Because corruption to me is just a symptom of the fundamentals that gave birth to it.
It is that fundamental that has kept Yari of Zamfara as the Governor of that state after his declaration that Meningitis was a product of fornication. You don't
say that abroad and not end up a national mockery.
It is this same understanding that made Buhari gathered less than 10,000 votes in the entire 2015 election in Bayelsa. Jonathan does not need to build the 2nd Niger Bridge or clean up Ogoniland to win the entire South South. Even if Ebele is replaced with cluelessness. That fundamental is so strong.
It is this same reason Buhari had 1.9M votes in Kano alone. Those who were challenging that Buhari didn't have certificate in the South were just wasting their time. A Nepa bill was enough for him to gather vote in the North in the last election. Competency is secondary here. Change means something else to an average northerner.
I will be most surprised if the former Jonathan honours the call of the house of summon (sorry Assembly) on the Malabu Saga. Why should Jonathan honor the invite really? Was Obasanjo summoned for the 16 trillion allegedly spent on darkness? Did Babangida honor Oputa Panel for the 12.4 Billion Dollars oil wind fall? Remember, Gani Fawehinmi died fighting on it. What of Buhari? Did he not agree with Bamayi and others who claimed Abacha never stole a dime in Nigeria? These are some of the questions Jonathan's region will begin ask from next week. I won't be surprised if a protest begins as well.
So, the house of summon should calm down and not disturb this our oil revenues for now. Remember, the stability of our electricity is also depends on that region. We have always negotiated our unity. It is never real.
It is this terrible feeling of marginalisation and lack of sense of belonging that gives room for any endorsement of corruption in various forms.
The day the people begin to be in charge of their assets and its control, corruption begins to go down naturally. But as long it remains under the dictates of one yoruba or Fulani or Ibo man in Abuja, this sense of marginalisation comes first ahead of corruption in the mind of the people across regions. The phrase "National cake" makes everyone or region to be defensive irrespective of who is accused of corruption among their children. Once they take charge. Everyone becomes conscious of their assets and money. Watching over your neighbours become natural.
We must endeavour to make our definition of corruption national
instead of the regional definition of corruption we carry about. The
word corruption will remain relative. It is what you call it or how you
see it. The Deltans aren't worry. To them, Ibori is not corrupt. He is a great son of the land. Even the Bishop that presided over his thanksgiving service referred him as a great man.
So what is our stress? It is their son that spent their money.
Eso igba yin
God bless Nigeria
@tunde_adenuga
No comments:
Post a Comment