What about the idea behind the so-called
N60billion? Is it to be used in Abuja and
by top northeastern politicians in the
name of the northeast and their victims;
where will it work? How will you
“wholesomely support” the genuine
victims, whose houses and homelands
have been plundered and have been made
displaced?
On the 11th of November, 2014, I watched
like many other keen observers as my
president, Goodluck Jonathan made the
long-awaited declaration of his intent to re-
contest for the presidency come 2015.
President Jonathan
The throng that besought the Eagle Square for
this singular event was a gathering of sorts—
hired or not hired, I give it to them!
But unlike many, I wasn’t keen on the
programme for the pomp and pageantry that
was cut out for it. Rather I was eager to listen
to the words of a sitting president, wishing to
offer himself for further service; he must have
some great comments, spurred by his
achievements to make, I had reasoned.
When my president mounted the podium for the
eventful declaration, I’m sorry to say though,
that I became fearfully disappointed right from
the beginning. This reality was not as
disparaging to Mr. President (or whoever
authored the baloney) as to the painful extent
that it was to me; so awkward for the lies they
echoed. I would try to make out some excerpts
here, while I relate each to my discontentment.
The first excerpt goes thus: “A number of young
men and women have been kidnapped by these
criminal elements including our daughters of
Chibok. We will free our daughters and defeat
terror,” President Jonathan said.
What does this statement reveal? Even as
factual this assertion might be, it leaves more to
be desired; for it would have better remained
unsaid than this purposeful whipping of
sentiment it caused. Our dear president goofed
here in that he exposed his ignorance on the
situation that has befallen his nation.
He flubbed in expressing the issue and his
resolve in such begging and non-assuring
manner. I ask: in promising to ‘free our girls’,
what happens to the young men, whom you
pointedly identified as truly being kidnapped
(and those abducted men and women you
seemed to have lost sight of)? You mentioned
Chibok girls chiefly because they have been in
the front light; what about those 60 women
kidnapped in Madagali, the 30+ boys abducted
in Mafa, et al., whose safety you swore to
protect? Do they not as well matter?
Then comes the second: “I will do everything
humanly possible to end this criminal violence in
our nation.” he assured. Here again is the
mendaciousness of a highfalutin assurance from
a president, who had lacked the will to give
such an indication right from the very onset,
save in fiddling, exposed.
By promising to end the criminality, Mr.
President unconsciously acknowledged that he
has woefully failed in tackling the present
conundrum even with the position for which he
feels, if further given a chance, he would
achieve better and more miraculous output. And
one would be forced to wonder that going by
the whole wherewithal the constitution has
generously placed at his disposal to enable
him perform, he still couldn’t end this criminality
or give us a hope on it in the good four years
that he has spent so far; whether it could be so
probable for the next four years, in another
leadership under his watch?
If so, for how long will the trial game continue
(when there is no indication towards the light of
workability) for us to realize that it doesn’t
make any different trying the same hand? Is it
till the crisis that has mesmerized the North-
east spills over the entire land?
Yet another lie that got me pondering at how
pitiable my countrymen have turned into for jolly
ride was the third. This captured The Victim
Support Fund, The safe School Initiative and
The Presidential Initiative for the North-east.
According to Mr. President, these programmes
are aimed at alleviating the misfortunes of the
devastated people of the Northeast.
The ideas are very well; but notwithstanding the
loftiness, they remained lofty initiatives, which
in reality were streams of falsehood. And
ignorant of this, my president did not deem it
courteous enough to hide these lies, but reeled
them out in unbroken flow that insulted the
sensitivities of discerning and humane
Nigerians.
How on earth would someone who has
personally acknowledged the presence of
violence in a place and bearing that such was
yet to be resolved just in a distance of just
some paragraphs, be boastful of initiating
programmes which are far from being realities—
going by the dicey nature of the terrain. How
can you provide one with a pen knowing that he
lacks a book? For goodness sake, how palatable
to the ears could such supposed efforts be? The
continued existence of Boko Haram infamy in
the the northeast with no hope of effective
abatement in sight leaves these lofty
programmes mere wishful and impractical.
What about the idea behind the so-called
N60billion? Is it to be used in Abuja and by top
northeastern politicians in the name of the
northeast and their victims; where will it work?
How will you “wholesomely support” the genuine
victims, whose houses and homelands have
been plundered and have been made displaced?
Is it in the camps, the mountain fringes and
other unknown locations where they have
scurried to that the support would be made
available? For if it is in their areas— now
deserted, as the initiative suggests, it would
better be truthful as mere initiatives. The
situation on ground that has made such
declarations improbable, glaringly reflects their
falsehood.
“I promise the victims of these dastardly acts
that we will continue to stand with you.” ‘Oga
Jona, make I hear!...’ as my sister, Ngozi would
retort. The only truth that could be found in an
assurance of this manner is to use the enabling
position as yours, Mr. President to restore their
wilted confidence by returning stability into their
homes, their lands. Anything short of this, and
more so when the capacity abounds, is
deceptive—mere excuse of lie.
And there again he goofed about Safe School
Initiative; even though the failure of such was
evident as captured in his speech, in the
gruesome massacre of over 40 students of
Government Science School, Potiskum the day
before. Please and please, Mr. President, it is
enough that the insurrection has rattled you with
the consequent despair tolling on us; to feed is
with bogus lies—lies that we know are lies, is to
make more fool of us. Stop the lies-posting and
get to action; and one thing is that all these lies
could begin to be true possibilities if the
singular effort in returning peace to the troubled
region can be mustered.
Howbeit, one thing I would concede to Mr.
President in his declaration upheaval is his right
to belief: “...The Almighty God has made it
possible for me to develop a bond with you and
I am grateful for your support...” He might be
given the benefit of expressing his widest
imaginations and convictions as to what manner
of camaraderie he feels Nigerians have towards
his presidency; though the truth or otherwise
remains to be determined by Nigerians.
Nonetheless, it would be mistaken enough to
allow him circulate blatantly, without bar,
obvious white lies.
But then a total deviation from the scripted
norm; to me, it was the only truth he was able
to declare in that his speech: “I see a Nigeria
where all who have taken arms would again
embrace peace... I see a Nigeria where the
children... of Christopher... and Namadi do not
go hungry. I see a Nigeria where all... live in
peace and harmony... I see a Nigeria where...
the next generation will take us to outer space.”
Altogether, they were perfect dreams and I have
no reason than to concur with him for this
singular truth!
The writer, Ahanonu Kingsley, writes from
Owerri, Nigeria.
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