That ‘intense pressure’ to ruin
They caught the independence virus before us; they caught the sedition bug before us, but once we caught on the coup bandwagon, we made them a dime a dozen. We mutinied so much that sane nations had to outlaw some type of coups. By then, we had exported the virus as far as The Gambia. […]
They caught the independence virus before us; they caught the sedition bug before us, but once we caught on the coup bandwagon, we made them a dime a dozen. We mutinied so much that sane nations had to outlaw some type of coups. By then, we had exported the virus as far as The Gambia. If I lie, ask Alhaji Chief Sheikh Dr Professor Yahyah Jammeh. If Jerry Rawlings had been a Naija soldier, he would have been as dust as Mamman Vatsa and Ghana would, perhaps have been a worse basket case than Naija. But they put Rawlings in stocks rather than announce Domkat Bali-style “they were executed a while ago” and that was a bad mistake. He broke the shackles, rounded them up for the bar-beach show.
Today, the Ghanaians have outsmarted us. Rawlings did what Abacha and the Wizard of Ota could not do; and for that, each time somebody wanted to yab a rock occupant, they invite Rawlings. And he delivers the sermon without sand papering the rough edges. Same thing for John Kuffour, who has given more speeches here than perhaps anywhere else. These people must make the wizard seem bereft of tricks.
Last week, while our Golden Eaglets (is that what they are called?) were messing with the heads of the Mexicans, President John Mahama of Ghana was speaking to President Jones in parables. It was a simple matter, as simple as buying bulletproof cars for ten times the street price. A young and nubile member of the Ghanaian cabinet Victoria Hammah was caught on audio boasting to stay in politics until she had made $1 million.
So, what is wrong with that? Ghana is still the land of black and solid gold; and these days, if you want to make millions in liquid cash (not in toilet paper money), you joined politics. Poor Victoria, she was only speaking her mind in the comfort of her official car, oblivious that her chauffeur had been watching too much television. By morning, her soliloquy had been broadcast all over the other world. And for that, Ms Hammah was hammered literally. In other words, President Mahama did what President Jones would never have done. No committee was set up, no show of latest fashion before the Ghanaian parliament. She was dismissed like Calamity Jane.
So, what were these Gha-naians trying to teach us? That they have reached the level of political sophistry of Torontonians who want Rob Ford their boozy-partying Mayor out for admitting to smoking crack cocaine and later swearing to murder someone?
When things like this hap-pen, the temptation to laugh in Otuoke is overwhelming. Which African president acts based on public opinion? If they did, they would have no supporters left. In an age G-rebellion, who does not know that a loyal corrupt minister is better fresh air than a gang of governors eyeing the presidential chair? Mahama dismissed rubbished Victoria with a single paragraph letter; no pension, no gratuity. What a way to reward a loyal servant who only expressed a common wish that in Naija is the motto of governance?
Besides, this lady needed a million for political altruism – to control people. Is that not the reason for politicking in the first instance? They all want power so that they can loot; they all loot so that they can make enough to control people. Look at the geriatric crooks in government and ask – what more could they want out of life? They retired with their loot, became ministers who pocketed money meant for fixing potholes then graduated into board chairmanship. Look at the retired military governors – they hurriedly shed their military toga for robes and returned to loot. Look at the number of looting governors who have returned to the Dome as extinguished members. It’s all about control, so if this poor lady had a Naija blood in her, she would have the whole women council behind her. Rented crowds would be asking she be made the first female Grand Corrupter of the Nation, GCON.
But Mahama, who inheri-ted a vacant stool, just like Jones, sacked her to show that public service is a trust. He sacked her to send a bad signal to others with looting as the centrepiece of their policy not to confess evil before their drivers or jealous wives. But above all, he sacked her just to spite President Jones, who has no inch of displeasure with the tar of corruption. He sacked her to spite President Jones who only hears the people when they form 1665 Ahitophelic associations to beg him to run.
President Jones never hears the cries of the masses who are tired of his disinterest to ASUU strikes, power cuts, bad roads, plane crashes. Deaf to those who are groaning from the effects of bulldozers on their business in the face of joblessness. But the president’s antennae catch the message of those who pressurize him to run. No sir, this is intense pressure to ruin.