Yar’adua’s anniversary gift

So when people deride him for the non-impact of his 7-point Agenda, I truly wonder whether they are merely talking just to be heard. A man cannot give what he does not have. If you give a berretta pistol to this writer, prepare to see him shoot himself because handling guns is not my metier. […]

So when people deride him for the non-impact of his 7-point Agenda, I truly wonder whether they are merely talking just to be heard. A man cannot give what he does not have. If you give a berretta pistol to this writer, prepare to see him shoot himself because handling guns is not my metier. No matter how much we talk about governance, we must never forget that Mr. President is as reluctant for this position now as he was when he finished his uneventful two terms in Katsina and wished to return to ABU to continue his research in Chemistry. He could have been a good siddon look member of ASUU on its indefinite strike and nobody should blame him for not finding a solution to the strike – if a man is keeping his head when others are losing theirs, he simply does not understand what is going on.

And for those who think that Mr. President should fire his speechwriter, I think they are simply unfair, an Obama speech in the hands of Yar’adua would have the same effect as a Hamas homily to the Isreaeli government or vice versa. You cannot arouse a nation if you have no inspiration in you. Mr President has chosen his anniversary boon, and would be looking forward to earning better now from Niger-Delta’s oil, while Nigerians devise the means of coping with apparent fuel scarcity as the year ends.

The most shocking anniversary event for me was the kidnap, of the Secretary to the Kaduna State Government, Mr Waje Yayok.  The circumstances of the event still marvel me. Number three man of the state that has witnessed the most dastardly riots in twelve years picked up in broad daylight, without trace and driven, in a convoy to Warri in Delta state and the politics of it all. You begin to wonder what happened to his police orderly and his SSS detail. Then you recall the police press conference in which they boasted freeing him in 24 hours. You ask why the police would make such announcement rather than act. You begin to wonder whether the officer who made such announcement does not need to take Farida’s advice to visit Aro.

You say to yourself, this is the same state that has suffered more riots than any other in the past twelve years. You begin to say to yourself that the price of security in that kind of state should be eternal vigilance and that a state that has such a record would have the safest security at least for its top officials. But no. Our security is in check-points where polymer notes guarantee safe passage of large cache of arms and ammunition but harassment and sometimes death for those who will not cooperate.

Then the man is released and driven to a motor park, put on a vehicle, his fare is paid and they waved him bye-bye before driving back in style to enjoy their loot Hollywood style. That kind of thing only happens in a jungle and not a country with a government? What further assurance is there that no citizen of this country should make a plan for the next hour whiles this government continues to remain in power. And heh, the police boss and his men are still enjoying the luxury our taxes could offer them in Kaduna without scruples. In fact, methinks the man, if he is a Christian would attend a thanksgiving service in his church as you read this.

In the midst of the drama, Mr President comes out bemused to announce his best anniversary gift. You no longer wonder why crime remains the best source of income for the kleptocrats and other criminals in Nigeria – because the answer is simple – it is as if there is no government in place. If not for God, how could anyone survive to write or read this?