GOD, give us men! A time like this demands

Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;

Men whom the lust of office does not kill;

Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;

Men who possess opinions and a will;

Men who have honor; men who will not lie;

Men who can stand before a demagogue

And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!

Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog

In public duty, and in private thinking;

For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,

Their large professions and their little deeds,

Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,

Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.

Josiah Gilbert Holland

On the first of October 2005, Nigeria celebrated 45 years of independence from the former colonial power- the British rule. It was a huge celebration. Everywhere, everyone’s mood was festive. Virgin Nigeria, in commemoration of the celebration, offered N45, 000 return flight ticket to London- (their reason for celebrations you can understand; Nigerians recently helped them to steal one of the Nigerian family inheritance: the Nigerian Airways). Vmobile, one of the useless and hardly functional mobile telecom firms in Nigeria which continuously rips so much money from Nigeria, in the spirit of celebration, offered 45 free text messages to its subscribers. I remember text messages were flying into my mobile phone like minutes tickling on that day and after several consistent goodwill messages to my phone, I decided to take part in the fever and started sending congratulatory messages to friends. One of them wrote back and said the tragedy of Nigeria’s 45 years independence celebration was not in the riddle of the flamboyance of thoughts about the length of independence, but in the futility of my joining the praise singing songs of hurray! As far as he was concerned, a child of 45 years who has nothing to offer both his parents and offspring at such matured age, is a huge failure. “Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” After so long of doing so much for one’s country, it is only fair and pertinent to ask what that country can do for her citizens in return.

In most recent times, there are so many family members and friends calling my private phones for financial assistance of some sort or the other. There are friends, relatives, even foes searching desperately for jobs because the situation is getting worse (and this is not rhetoric but true). Roads are getting worse, resources are becoming leaner, the nation is getting sick, morale is low, housing for all by the year 2000 is not applicable to folks of the low class, armed robbery is increasing, confidence in the police force is falling, capacity to prosecute public officials is dwindling and political promises are no longer bond. In short; “Nigeria jagajaga, everything scatter, scatter.” My friend’s refusal to celebrate woke me up to the harsh reality of the Nigerian mirage. I instantly went into solitude and melancholy. It was then that I responded; in the same vein as Josiah Gilbert Holland during his life (1818- 1881) and prayed to God almighty that God give us men; men who have honor, men who will not lie.

God, give us men!

GOD, give us men! A time like this demands

Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;

Men whom the lust of office does not kill;

Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;

Josiah Gilbert Holland

It is not unusual for people to seek heroes and pursue happiness knowing or believing that some mentors will take care of business regarding them. If we, as a nation, had gone to sleep since October 1999, shortly after president Obasanjo became the president of Nigeria, we did so knowing, that after years of resisting military rule with the blood of our social and political comrades, the lives Nigerians who were convinced that military (or interim) rule is an aberration to political governance, that from the demise of M.K.O Abiola, politics in Nigeria will take a reinvigorated motivation that never again will the blood of the innocents be shed within our polity over bad governance. We lost properties and lives of many in different political impasses (be it the struggle for autonomy of the commune by Ken Saro-Wiwa and hundreds of other Ogonis activists during the endless Ogoni crises; be it the loss of life of our respected Pa Alfred Rewane, the loss of precious lives of human rights activists, labor leaders and comrades who were believers in rights of self determination but who were fell by the hot bullets of Tafa Balogun; the quarrelsome murder attempts on Pa Abraham Adesanya and Felix Ibru and so on). Majority of Nigerians went to sleep wishfully thinking matters that had come to some conclusive end for a new beginning. And it would have been so, except that what metamorphosed from the struggles are characters in different official positions whose words are not their bond. We have leaders who are wallowing shamelessly in the thirst and hunger of their constituencies and members. We went to bed thinking that we had a man of honor in Obasanjo; honorable enough to lead the country back from the scattered memories of decades of exclusion from public policy formations, who will teach us how to have faith in our opinion of governance, guide us through the reform of our deteriorating collective values and integrity and significantly help us return power from the all consuming central government (of one man- the president) back to the people (even if such means regionalism). But perhaps these are too much to expect from a leader who was forced to leadership as a consequence of the demise of the great M.K.O Abiola because the only determining factor then was not his intellectual prowess or his political mastery, it was because he, Obasanjo, like M.K.O Abiola, is Yoruba man. (Had Obasanjo been an Igbo man or Hausa, he would never have been a choice in the then emerging dispensation). But what do we have, we have a president who wanted to do it all alone; he never consults us for any policy inputs no referendum it is as though the generality of Nigerians do not matter. He alone has the sole wisdom in all matters and he is the supreme sovereign- the Platonic Philosopher King (something philosophers thought was utopian!). On this season of commemorating the Nigerian’s 45th independence anniversary, I pray, oh lord, give us men, men who have honor, men who will not lie. Oh God, give us men, a (perilous) time like this demand: Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; men whom the lust of the office does not kill; men whom the spoils of office cannot buy! God please give us men who will not place matters of personal ambition over collective interests, who will not apply to alter the constitution for an obnoxious third term. A perilous time when motivations are low, where spirits are down, when hunger and joblessness pervade the cities, a time when just a simple glow of faith in leadership and reform programs will assure the hungry of a better tomorrow. Oh God, give us men who have honor to know that the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria stipulates two terms in a presidential election for each leader who gets re-elected after the first term. When Obasanjo was going to end the first term in office, he said he would ask God if he should contest again. God must have spoken to him in Yoruba Language because the Ibos will like to know why his regime is heading towards detribalizing MASSOB and seemingly persecuting people of Igbo origins; why Orji Uzor Kalu is in a verbal war with the presidency because of his support for Vice President Atiku Abubakar. God must have confirmed him a good choice in Yoruba Language because Hausas, Efik, Ibibo, the Ogonis and other ethnic groups in Nigeria are wondering why his government through the all powerful EFCC is embarking on selective justice against people who are also claiming God has spoken in Hausa/Fulani Language to propose Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the next president after Obasanjo. God give us men who will hear your words and not use your words as camouflage to becloud people’s judgments and inspire loyalty.

God give us men, men who have honor, men who will not lie…men whom the spoils of the office cannot buy, even when it is N400,000 in “Ghana Must Go” bags for honorable members to impeach speaker Ghali Na’aba.

God, give us men!

Men who possess opinions and a will;

Men who have honor; men who will not lie;

Men who can stand before a demagogue

And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!

Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog

Josiah Gilbert Holland

When a country such as ours is celebrating 45th years of independence, one will rightly conclude that after many years- 45 years of trial and error, by now Nigeria will favorably be parading amongst the league of nations, men who have honor… but what can one intelligibly say about people like Jerry Gana, the modern day court jester who dances around the corridors of power saying things and gesticulating to be noticed by Obasanjo even in church services or Alex Akinyele, that famous large mouth public errand boy who says things no matter how awkward so that he can remain relevant (like calling Nelson Mandela a gutter man), or Senators Ibrahim Mantu or the former Senate President Adulfus Wabara, who demanded bribe in order to make law, with the others named in the bribery scandal such as John Azuta Mbata, chairman of the former Senate Appropriation Committee, Chris Adighije, former chairman of the Senate Education Committee and Shehu Matazu, head of the education committee in the lower house. The two other senators accused of pocketing bribes were Badamasi Maccido and Emmanuel Okpede.  When the Americans speak of executive branch officials or public officials approaching the congress for congressional enquiry, they shake and tremble. No member of the congress even likes to be surprised so the members make adequate research before such enquiry and offer themselves above moral probity so as to reduce any form of intimidation or threat from people because of their subsuming power of enquiry and oversight functions. But with people like Senator Jim Nwobodo, Jubril Aminu, late Chuba Okadigbo, Evan(s) Enwerem, Ibrahim Mantu, Adulfus Wabara and many others who had re-colorized and de-mystified the assembly as a conglomeration of Nigerian’s best people who possess opinion and will for “…this nation, under God shall have a new birth of freedom!” Can anyone facing congressional enquiry in Nigeria after the Ministry of Education bribery scandals, the El-Rufai’s bribery accusations or N5million furniture allowance saga, tremble and shake? God give us men; men who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking! Are these men, along with their cohorts, people who can stand before the demagogue of El Rufai (and say to him; “stop demolishing people’s houses until we approve it”), Nuruh Rebadu (and say to him; “stop arresting us and other top shots for stealing money until we make our congressional investigations?), Okonjo Iweala (and say to her; “stop publishing budget allocation because it is exposing corruption) or Charles Soludo (and say to him; “stop your financial reforms without the people’s consents), the demagogue of London Metropolitan Police (and wave the immunity card or sovereignty before their pointed noses) or stand before whatever form of demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking? Can we boast that 45 years after, Nigeria’s leadership class (excluding the late legendary minister of health, Professor Olukoye Ransom Kuti) has produced men who have honor who will not lie? Lie about never telling a lie before in his life (Jerry Ghana), lie about secondary school leaving certificates (Tinubu), lie about monies meant for development ending up in private accounts (Dariye, Alamieyeseigha, Abacha, Babangida Tafa Balogun to mention but few) , about public documents changing faces to disrupt investigations, about INEC conducting a free and fair election for once in Nigerian history do we have men, men in our public lives- tall men sun-crowned who lived above the fog or do we have a Bola Tinubu (in Lagos State), a Joshua Dariye (in Plateau), a D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha (in Bayelsa);Chris Ngige (in Anambra) Tafa Balogun (former Inspector General of Police)? My God! What room do we have left for values in this country when all these men occupy the available spaces?

For Nigeria at 45, we can only echo our prayers: God PLEASE give us men; Men who have honor, men who will not lie and join Josiah Gilbert Holland in singing once more;

God, give us men!

GOD, give us men! A time like this demands

Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;

Men whom the lust of office does not kill;

Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;

Men who possess opinions and a will;

Men who have honor; men who will not lie;

Men who can stand before a demagogue

And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking!

Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog

In public duty, and in private thinking;

For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds,

Their large professions and their little deeds,

Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps,

Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.

Dele A. Sonubi

Abuja, Nigeria

Robot  # 1 | 25.11.2005 20:33

://www.nigerialinks.com/Articles/Guest/dele.JPG width=118 align=left border=0 />God give us men; men who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking! Are these men, along with...Read the full article.

A.Y.Ajia  # 2 | 25.11.2005 23:36

Thank you D.A. Sonubi.

Unregistered  # 3 | 26.11.2005 00:46

What do you mean by "God give us men"? This idea that some wonderful leader(s) will emerge to save our sorry selves is symptomatic of an African ideological weakpoint which gives too much power, and even semi-godhood to a leader. It is a foundational premise that informs, though flaws, the opinions of otherwise intelligent commentators. God has given Africa men, and those men are US. It is up to us to either act like men, or continue to stew in our problems. Period. Leave this wonderful leader issue - it is reflective of self-weakness or self-abdication.

Unregistered  # 4 | 26.11.2005 05:42

Dear sir, or madam, it will appear that you did not read the article and understand the content. i was not merely asking for men (which you so unequivocably explain exist and i agree) i was merely asking that god, should help us, let honorable ones amongst these men emerge as winners at next elections. but otherwise i agree with you, the honor lies in US.- Dele4You

Unregistered  # 5 | 26.11.2005 05:43

you are most welcome sir. Dele

Unregistered  # 6 | 26.11.2005 05:57

Awesome poem - I remember it from days in Mayflower. With men like these in high places look no further for the anti-Christ. If Alams can 'steal' all that money in a state that lacks basic water, electricity, food and social amenities, if convict Balogun can backload all those funds from a policeforce whose men go to work without guns, uniform, salary and stay in cramped barracks akin to under-the-bridge lifestyle, if administrators can replace striking health workers with medical students! habaa, what then are we talking about. For a country like ours to move forward, as mindboggling to some as this may seem, we need a revolution similar to that of France and former Russia. We the people should go out en-masse and decapitate these beasts within our polity. But that said, it can not work in Nigeria cos we are yet to realise the commonality of our tragedy. This is not a Hausa or Yoruba inflicted affliction but an infection by a viral cabal of men (from every part of the country) who needs to be gotten rid of for us to move forward as a nation. These guys have slapped us Nigerians in the face and further asked the question, ' Ehn ehn, ki lo fe se si'. This is where we are right now and the quicker we come together to fight this colossal beast the quicker we will get out of the quicksand that is Nigeria.

Unregistered  # 7 | 26.11.2005 06:09

I found this confusing: Are these men, along with their cohorts, people who can stand before ... Nuruh Rebadu(sic) (and say to him; “stop arresting us and other top shots for stealing money until we make our congressional investigations?) Are you saying that these men should be allowed to steal money, and only on their own investigations should such arrests be sanctioned? How can someone who is accused of money be their own judge? Also, what do you mean by this: Okonjo Iweala (and say to her; “stop publishing budget allocation because it is exposing corruption) Are you honestly suggesting these 'God given men' should oppose a measure that helps to stop corruption? Shoko

Dele A. Sonubi  # 8 | 28.11.2005 07:35

Dear Shoko, i agree with you that those parts you quoted could be confusing. this is so because back here in Nigeria, when the issues of corruption was made against "some" members of the national assembly, the assembly as a whole, as a body, wanted the exclusive right to investigate the allegations first before anything else. this is why i ask if these people can stand directly before Nuruh and ask him to hold on pending their own investigations. but because no one in nigeria has respects for thier investigations, no one can hang on until they come out with another lie! Dele

Dele4you  # 9 | 30.11.2005 09:37

I am glad the poem reminds you of Mayflower sir; I am an old student of Mayflower too. I was at Junior and Sennior Schools together- Tai Solarin made us sing that song on daily basis to remind us of need for honor in public services