I was helpless as I watched the masses drink copiously from the historical chalice. Why? Why? Why? I asked. Deep within me, after cross checking facts and figures, I knew that Nigeria needed a paradigm shift from religious, ethnic or regional coloured leadership to a merit base leadership. However, the day I sold the idea at the ?popular peoples parliament? station market in Umuna-Orlu, Imo State, it did not go down well with ?my country men? look at this ?ofeke? the hunger terrorized dirty cyclist shouted at me. My only crime was that I refused an offer to drink of the ethnic poisoned chalice. I did not welcome his unjustified insult and did respectfully made my case known to him but rather, re responded harshly. If you are indeed a true son of the soil and not an ?ofeke? good, why project the image of Buhari against that of ?shoeless? Azikiwe Ebele who is our kinsman. Earlier in the week, General Mohammed Buhari the Daura born ex military junter while on his campaign tour in Imo state paid a historical visit to A.J.Obinna the most respected cleric in the Hear land state and the catholic Arch Bishop of Owerri. I had wanted to explain to the crowd that after all by that singular visit Buhari was not a created Islamist buy nearly used my ?yanga? to wake up the ?trouble? of the untutored and unthinking crowd. I looked pitifully at the crowd and took a slow but steady step back to my enclave at the Saint Joseph rectory. After all it could be an expensive foolery to sing ?Nunc Dimitis foe pushing down a drunkard I had consoled myself.
Back to my room in the rectory, I found myself in a hot romance with quietness. She was my friend and I loved her so much. She taught me how to pause and ponder. Why have Nigerian even after a Mekelzedek years of excruciating and hellish experience refused to rise against ethnicism in politics. I wished I had the powers to break the tminaus bread so thank the blind can see the dangers of ethnic politics. I tried to shout out ?reasons? but like the blind Biblical Bathimus, many ethnic bigots who claimed to be more Ebele and Azikiwe than me saw no reason why I was disturbing their messiah who was on a January of ?ethnic importance?. They saw no reason why we should not continue to swim at the shallow and dirty waters of ethnicism.
Yes, I saw the hand written on the wall. The enemy within our fold, the ruinous cabals of destroyers and the chronics have declared that things must continue to fall apart in Nigeria. They have sworn to the god of corruption that the centre cannot hold for any meaningful progress. While they engaged themselves in the idiotic business of raping publicly our common inheritance, professional sycophants, flatters, palace jetter made themselves kingmakers, seized the crown and shamelessly crowned a king without our consent.
These enemies of Nigeria poured into our national chalice honey laced with poison and gave us to drink. Their ruinous plan to take us a step forward and a million steps backward was well planned that it will take only a sophisticated alertness to detect it. Surely, they knew that due to decade of rape and pillage that have occurred over the years, many a Nigerians are suffering from ?mugusm? and may remain ?mugus? to the detriment of National unity and progress. They know more than Socrates that resisting a crippled leadership and a corruption infected government that is wearing a well tailored ?Agbada? by Nigerians will akin to looking for a virgin in a maternity ward. Yes GEJ was their selling brand. From East to West North to South the melody was the same. He is one of you, a minority, once a shoeless boy, the emperor of fresh air. what a profile? With the ethnic propaganda of a ?shoeless boy?, they made it to the coast. Yes they won the battles, what of the peace?
2015 is not tomorrow, but the drummer has started the job he knows how to do best. I am afraid that ethnic politics is fast becoming a ?modus operandi?. I weep, not for any other thing but for the failed to live up to expectation. If we are leaders of tomorrow, why allow shameless old men and ethnic champions to mortgage our collective future for their mudane and selfish interests? I wish that Emeka, Femi and Yahaya will realize that these propagatos of ethnic politics and adherents of the old Roman practice of ?Divide et empera? (divide and rule) are our common enemies. Why must we refuse to see that the so called take, flashy and false imams, mallams and jet flying pastors are shareholders in the looting bonanza chaired by our ruinous and heartless elites? Will Emeka, Chicheta and Isioma not sell their rights to build a peaceful, progressive and prosperous country for a pot of ethnic porridge? How am I sure that Emamuzor, Ejiro and Gaga will refuse to drink from the poisoned ethnic chalice? Will Tola, Femi and Bola make any difference? Who will not be happy if Isa, Ahmed and Aisha realize that wanton destruction of lives and properties is not the best way to defend the sacredness of the ballot or reclaim a stolen mandate?
As youths, we must realize that Nigeria is greater than any political, ethnic, clannish, regional or religious affiliation. Our ambitious actions and inactions must be within the framework of the constitution. While acknowledging the primacy of the constitution, we must also uncompromisingly reject the poisoned chalice and take the lead to the land of milk and honey. May Nigeria outlive us all and may our efforts and that of our heroes pose not be in vain. Amen. ??
Echoes of Reality?With Martins-hassan Esom (08165148181)
