Most of my work has been in criticism of my President, yet, a democrat
that he is, he doesn’t blink. When he said corruption was not the
number-one problem of Nigeria, we all disagreed. Well, i don’t; not
anymore. Recent happenings have proven otherwise: our problem as a
people goes way beyond corruption. Corruption, as pervasive as it has
become, is merely begotten of, and sustained by, our real problem:
Truth.
No, truth is not anyone’s problem. It is the lack of it, and apathy
for (lack of) it that is everyone’s problem. We hate the truth, we
hate to say the truth, and we hate whoever dares say the truth. That
is why, and how, corruption thrives. That is why propaganda has become
fact in Nigeria of today, and for a long time too. That is why
petroleum-product subsidy continues to remain an issue.
My first article was anti-GEJ. It was written during OccupyNigeria. It
was popular. In retrospect, subsidy had to go, since the government
was being duped massively, and we masses suffered either way. Of
course, we love to deny that the benefactors of the subsidy scam
sponsored the protests, secretly and as alleged. Yet, all Nigerians
really wanted was truth: as you cut our subsidy, cut the cost of
governance as well: the alarming allowances of legislators and
executives…
And rather than the unified front that OccupyNigeria feigned,
Nigerians were divided on the issue. I had friends that were
anti-subsidy. But I never complained. I never suggested, or thought,
that they were (financially) induced. I respected their stance, and
that was it. That does not make me a better person; it was simply the
normal thing to do!
It is demeaning, if not condescending, that differing opinions be
labelled perfidy. Freedom of opinion is a two-way street, and remains
so.
I may not like Buhari; I shouldn’t hate those who do, or be hated by
them. I shouldn’t unfriend them, or blackmail them. I shouldn’t say
they have compromised. For friendship does not derive from passive
support; I would not want yes-men as friends, and neither should
anyone. True friends must stare each other in the eyes, and confront
each other with truth. Not form a quorum for fear of opposing the
majority…
Jonathan is not perfect; no, he is not aboveboard. There are
improvements to make, improvements in the second term, if he gets one.
And even as I root for him, I am sure I will not hesitate to criticise
him, now and in future, as the need arises. That is the beauty of
democracy after all: freedom to criticise. Of course, one cannot say
the same of Buhari, as history tells.
Yet, as Nigerians abhor truth, they would rather that part of history
be buried. We must forget that a person is both as good as the good he
does, and as bad as the bad he does. We must only focus on that which
is flamboyant; thistles do not deserve existence in the Buharists’
utopia. Not so? We must make excuses for the past, and predict the
unrepeatability of the same! As my Buharist friends keep urging.
Yet, there is just one little problem with that reasoning: Abacha
wasn’t so bad himself. I sincerely ask, If Abacha were alive, would
you consider him a credible alternative to Jonathan? well, as much as
you consider Buhari? Would you vote for him notwithstanding Jonathan’s
good here-and-there? Would you vote for him to unseat Jonathan at all
cost?
No? Please consider the facts:
“The Abacha administration became the first to record unprecedented
economic achievements: he oversaw an increase in the country’s foreign
exchange reserves from $494 million in 1993 to $9.6 billion by the
middle of 1997, reduced the external debt of Nigeria from $36 billion
in 1993 to $27 billion by 1997, brought all the controversial
privatization programs of the Babangida administration to halt,
reduced an inflation rate of 54% inherited from Babangida to 8.5%
between 1993 and 1998, all while the nation’s primary commodity, oil
was at an average of $15 per barrel.
“His administration is also credited with creating the most
comprehensive and realistic blueprint for Nigeria’s development
through the Vision 2010 committee chaired by his predecessor Ernest
Shonekan.
“General Abacha is credited with restoring Nigeria’s standing as an
African power when he twice ordered the Nigerian military to intervene
and restore the civilian and democratic governments of Sierra Leone
and Liberia after a series of military coups in both countries.
“During the Abacha regime, many political parties and associations
flourished without let or hindrance. Like-minded politicians held
meetings freely and formed a plethora of associations. After the
Constituent Assembly, Abacha’s government democratised the local
government by conducting peaceful and credible elections of councilors
and chairmen. Abacha’s government also conducted House of Assembly and
National Assembly elections in the country.”
Little wonder he was given a (posthumous) national award for his
“immense contributions to national development”! Yet, many Nigerians
would argue that his good deeds cannot make up for his tyranny,
politics, and looting.
How then, I pray thee, is Buhari any better? By being alive? Or by
aligning his respected self with Tinubu et al?
Yet, I would not deride anyone who does (continue to) support Buhari.
I only ask that they do not deride anyone not on their side. We cannot
all be blind, or blinded. We must not all think alike. There is beauty
in diversity, as there is strength. We must cherish our differences,
even as we must all stand for that which we know to be truth, and
always. For men will not be judged by their ignorance, but by the
knowledge they chose to suppress in their quest for popularity, for
power, for acceptance. For ultimately, the battle we all fight is the
battle to remain ourselves.
Ayk Fowosire,
Sagamu.
@adelayok
Live and let live.
Jonathan for second term…
