March 4, 2010
In the past few days, and indeed the past few weeks, the Nigerian nation has effectively become a big theatre of horrors. We need not go over the details of the events that unfolded since Yar Adua's sudden disappearnce to Saudi Arabia last November and his equally sudden, yet-to-be confirmed re-appearance about two weeks ago. It has been a season of intrigues and conspiracies, which all boil down to one simple truth: a very small clique of heartless and clueless felons, in their desprate bid to hold on to power, has effectively turned a whole nation of 150million countrymen to a pack of cards, fit only for use in their monstrous game of power.
But this piece is not a meditation on the doom and the gloom. It begins with a very important revelation, not that it is hitherto unknown, but it has come, from the recesses of our individual consciousness, to the full glare of public consciousness. And lest it escapes us, we must sieze it at once, and keep it right in the open. Constantly. It is the fact that this ignonimous cabal, however desperate it may be, is by no means impregnable, certainly not invincible. One immediate example will suffice. Just about 4 weeks ago, the Nigerian Governors' Forum, led by a Bukola Saraki, put out a strongly worded statement condemning the 'enemies of democracy', whose only sin was asking for the whereabout of Mr Yar Adua, and demanding that VP Goodluck Jonathan take over the rein of government as acting president. Citizens were unrelenting. Rallies of protests were organised in many cities of Nigeria, as well as overseas. In a matter of days, the governors' group has put out another 'strong' resolution, following the national assembly, that VP Jonathan should be acting president, guess what, 'in the interest of democracy and stability'.
Now, just two days ago, this same group of governors, trading the welfare of citizens for personal interest, have condemned those citizens demanding to see Yar Adua or know the true state of his health as unpatriotic elements bent on heating up the polity. These rogues have sold their souls to the devil. They are greedy as hell, insatiable as the graveyard. But make no mistake about it: for all the dare and the bravado, they will flinch and shift again, but only if... Only if citizens act. Only if patriots abandon the discomfort of the fence and march on the side of history. Only if lovers of freedom shed the corset of indifference and march with conviction and confidence for the emancipation of the fatherland.
When citizens act, they should act with clarity of purpose. The immediate demands of this movement have been spelt out by the Save Nigeria Group, and a rally in Abuja has been scheduled for next week. For a start, Mr Yar Adua must be seen, and his state of health fully disclosed. In the event that he is unable to cope with the demand and rigours of governance, he must resign or be impeached immediately. Infact, following the recent ammendment to the constitution, he must be impeached 14 days from 24th February. Secondly, the conspirators who ordered the deployment of troops last week wedsday must be tried immediately for treason, including the chief of army staff General Dambazau. More importantly, ahead of the 2011 election, the report of Justice Uwais committee on electoral reform must be implemented, wholesale, immediately. Nothing less, absolutely nothing less, than these will do. Even so, these demands are only in the short term, and the usurpers must be made aware of the consequences and the fate that await them.
Now when citizens act, they should act with consistency and sustained commitment. And they should be wary of little victories. The momentum of the struggle must be kept steady. Distractions can be most detrimental. I’ve heard people say, in the wake of Jonathan's confirmation as acting president, that it was 'the happiest day' of their lives. I suppose they went to sleep after that. I just wonder how happy they still are today, jolted as they are to the sudden and distressing realization that nothing has changed. Some have infact achieved emotional summersault by leaping from bliss to resignation, effectively affirming the power of a very small and incompetent cabal. They fail to realize that the apparent dare of the gangsters in power is but a smokescreen for their actual insecurity. When pressure is applied, they flinch. And this is not to underestimate the reach and power of their sheer will, fed as it is by unthinking desperation, ultimately presenting to us an appearnce of invincibility. The reality is that, compared to the enormous power inherent in the collective will of well-informed citizenry, the sheer will of unthinking tyrants pales and fades in significance. But that latent power of the collective must be summoned, now!
For when citizens act, change happens. Radical changes. This is the story of all revolutions. The Parisians of the French revolution were not led by soldiers. It was the citizens taking action, in a well-organised and sustained manner. The same can be said for the Boston Tea Party, and the Bolshevik revolution.
Citizens and countrymen, the time to act is now!
Seun Kolade
But this piece is not a meditation on the doom and the gloom. It begins with a very important revelation, not that it is hitherto unknown, but it has come, from the recesses of our individual consciousness, to the full glare of public consciousness. And lest it escapes us, we must sieze it at once, and keep it right in the open. Constantly. It is the fact that this ignonimous cabal, however desperate it may be, is by no means impregnable, certainly not invincible. One immediate example will suffice. Just about 4 weeks ago, the Nigerian Governors' Forum, led by a Bukola Saraki, put out a strongly worded statement condemning the 'enemies of democracy', whose only sin was asking for the whereabout of Mr Yar Adua, and demanding that VP Goodluck Jonathan take over the rein of government as acting president. Citizens were unrelenting. Rallies of protests were organised in many cities of Nigeria, as well as overseas. In a matter of days, the governors' group has put out another 'strong' resolution, following the national assembly, that VP Jonathan should be acting president, guess what, 'in the interest of democracy and stability'.
Now, just two days ago, this same group of governors, trading the welfare of citizens for personal interest, have condemned those citizens demanding to see Yar Adua or know the true state of his health as unpatriotic elements bent on heating up the polity. These rogues have sold their souls to the devil. They are greedy as hell, insatiable as the graveyard. But make no mistake about it: for all the dare and the bravado, they will flinch and shift again, but only if... Only if citizens act. Only if patriots abandon the discomfort of the fence and march on the side of history. Only if lovers of freedom shed the corset of indifference and march with conviction and confidence for the emancipation of the fatherland.
When citizens act, they should act with clarity of purpose. The immediate demands of this movement have been spelt out by the Save Nigeria Group, and a rally in Abuja has been scheduled for next week. For a start, Mr Yar Adua must be seen, and his state of health fully disclosed. In the event that he is unable to cope with the demand and rigours of governance, he must resign or be impeached immediately. Infact, following the recent ammendment to the constitution, he must be impeached 14 days from 24th February. Secondly, the conspirators who ordered the deployment of troops last week wedsday must be tried immediately for treason, including the chief of army staff General Dambazau. More importantly, ahead of the 2011 election, the report of Justice Uwais committee on electoral reform must be implemented, wholesale, immediately. Nothing less, absolutely nothing less, than these will do. Even so, these demands are only in the short term, and the usurpers must be made aware of the consequences and the fate that await them.
Now when citizens act, they should act with consistency and sustained commitment. And they should be wary of little victories. The momentum of the struggle must be kept steady. Distractions can be most detrimental. I’ve heard people say, in the wake of Jonathan's confirmation as acting president, that it was 'the happiest day' of their lives. I suppose they went to sleep after that. I just wonder how happy they still are today, jolted as they are to the sudden and distressing realization that nothing has changed. Some have infact achieved emotional summersault by leaping from bliss to resignation, effectively affirming the power of a very small and incompetent cabal. They fail to realize that the apparent dare of the gangsters in power is but a smokescreen for their actual insecurity. When pressure is applied, they flinch. And this is not to underestimate the reach and power of their sheer will, fed as it is by unthinking desperation, ultimately presenting to us an appearnce of invincibility. The reality is that, compared to the enormous power inherent in the collective will of well-informed citizenry, the sheer will of unthinking tyrants pales and fades in significance. But that latent power of the collective must be summoned, now!
For when citizens act, change happens. Radical changes. This is the story of all revolutions. The Parisians of the French revolution were not led by soldiers. It was the citizens taking action, in a well-organised and sustained manner. The same can be said for the Boston Tea Party, and the Bolshevik revolution.
Citizens and countrymen, the time to act is now!
Seun Kolade
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