You will soon be gone, and gone you must. However, the sadness and little joy you’d leave behind shall remain a tempest in our minds. You do not bring any tangible changes, so your coming is pretty much like others before you. Of course there’s morning, afternoon and night. Like sunset and sunrise, human beings go to bed, wake up and go about their daily bread. Churchgoers go to church to exercise their conviction. Mosque goers head for mosque to give thanks to Allah. True Buddhists and Hindus walk nimbly to the temple to offer their prayer. Traditionalists get into the swing of their religion in the Shrine of Ifa. Agnostics and convinced atheists joyfully remain within selves.

Exactly at midnight on 31st/1st human beings shall wish one another “Happy New Year” even though we know deep down happiness might not come our way. But we must shout such words like a dog barking at nothing. It has become a cliche, a ritual for our survival. As usual, we shall make resolutions that will soon dissipate before the end of January like butterfly open space. Mortals remain the same probably because it’s only one life, so one should enjoy it to the maximum like Nigerians – despite the sufferings – are regarded as the happiest people on earth. How lucky we are. Scientists, scholars, philosophers, psychologists etc, have been unable to pinpoint what exactly makes human beings or animals happy, yet it is boldly written on my people’s forehead. How lucky we are.

 In this hour of euphoria, we would forget the year of cosmetic death. We would forget the flying coffin that is claiming our lives like Christmas chicken or turkey. We would forget the rumour that one of the owners of Nigeria wants to perpetuate land lordship forever. This moment would even allow ex-governor Alamieyeseigha to celebrate and glorify God for bringing her safely to her fatherland – away from the conspiracy theory of her tormentors. May God continue to protect us.

 Nigerians are religious people. Whilst it is not the ultimate solution, religion provides a lasting hope, and perhaps the main reason we shall remain the happiest on this troubled planet. Farm and armoury have become our spiritual symbols, yet we are hungry and faced with a high degree of insecurity. The appearance of truth has not been able to prevent us from showing docility when punished by the owners of our heads. We can be loaded with general opprobrium but not more than that. We always let prudence prevailed over indignation. Is that why we remain the happiest people as we step into another bountiful year?

Critical events that are inimical to our health have a way of ending in thin air. This may be because our minds have been gradually paralysed from years of torture by different regimes – legitimate or illegitimate. Could it be because Nigeria affairs matter less to the citizens nowadays? If this is the case, then – and you may call me whatever prophet comes to your mouth – I say with puerile tear that it’s doomsday conspiracy. Listen, it appears Nigeria owners are either exploiting or taking our tacit approach to significant issues as admission of satisfaction.

Last year for example, there was a case of two executive robbers that brought Anambra State into a comma. We shouted, we wrote essays and articles, but we celebrated Christmas and New Year as if nothing happened. The culprit and villain of that drama is still dining at the top and of course, walking the street with pride of a locust. I said then “the entire hullabaloo that accompanied the revelations of the splendour of the moment concerning immorality of Balogun of Owu over his abetting “two robbers”, and the criminality of the “robbers” would soon dissipate as a dream dies first. It would be like other sensational issues in the past and nobody – not even the press – would pursue it further to reach a meaningful end.”

There are many of such sensational issues this year that would also disappear into thin air as Nigerians fix their minds to Year 2006. For instance, there is this elderly fowl disturbing the peace of our people at Ibadan. With the help of his thugs, he invaded Oyo State House of Assembly in an attempt to impeach the governor. Of course, he won’t be brought to justice because he is above the law. It is also a year of political fabrication. I really believed ThisDay Newspaper’s report in October, claiming the EU had cleared Obasanjo of having any foreign bank accounts until Amadeau Altafag, European Commission spokesperson for development, described the story as “not only misleading but also contains several mistakes and false quotes.”

Meanwhile, I hope this fight against corruption – whether politically motivated or not – will remain until eternity. Also, the agents of power seekers are in town confusing the public over self-succession. They are spreading rumour in the East and in the West, down South, and up North. They love Nigerians so much they want to prevent another Abachangida’s repressive regime. And that is why they want to impose their Messiah on us, even if the constitution has to be tampered with. They are the herds; we are the sheep. Those who are against self-succession are only being ungrateful. They are knowledgeable but lack imagination to see beyond ethnic pronouncements.

Perhaps the only reasonable and imaginative Nigerians today belong to two associations called Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) respectively. They have seen the trait of a messiah in his Lordship, the indispensable General Olusgun Obasanjo, hence the need to publicly support him to rule until 2011. For these elitist associations, the characters of Obasanjo are quite different from false messiahs the country had been plagued with. So people like Wole Soyinka who described the present government as lawless and incompetent “are doing themselves”. How could they fail to see that “Professor Charles Soludo is doing something, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela is doing something, Oby Ezekwesili is doing something, Dora Akunyili is doing something, Nuhu Ribadu is doing something.” In fact, Field Marshall Obasanjo’s critics are enwrapped in dreams, and that is why they cannot see a messiah in our midst. By and large, the third term propaganda will go down as part of Obasanjo’s major achievement in six years.

Even NANS (National Association of Nigerian Students), that radical group of students who used to be the torn in the flesh of Nigerian governments, has repented and now reading a new book by endorsing Nigeria’s ducky son – alias OBJ – for third term jamboree. And Obasanjo responded by giving NANS a personal donation of  #5 million with a promise of another #5 million by Ministers and friends. Moreover, the President has chosen to evade any question on this issue of self-succession. Does this mean he is playing politics with our lives even though I believe he won’t stay beyond what constitution stipulates? And must we base every issue on partisan politics? 

Well, who else possess the wisdom to prosecute high-ranking political lords if not a messiah? How many dictators have the guts to send their not-so-greedy Inspector-General of Police to six months jail vacation after tucking billions of our money in his protrude tummy? Who else has the foresight to pursue one of the looters to our other fatherland in order to make her pay for her deeds? Who else would preach morality on corruption when himself in dire need of counseling? Who else can deliver his promise on poverty alleviation and economic recovery within six years if not a messiah? Who else can create 3 million jobs within six years? Or are we saying abject poverty still remains in the land? See, Nigerians are being ungrateful by rejecting a third term in office for a messiah. How many other President-Generals have worked so hard to ensure their citizens are the happiest on earth? Oh, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed were not recognised in their own time as well.

The messiah in his address at the National Convention of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abuja, December 10, states inter alia: “There is no Nigerian that we have not touched through proactive and positive initiatives. There is no community that has been left out…We have replaced fear with hope. We have replaced uncertainty with confidence; and replaced despondency with dedication and purpose…We have a great plan to rehabilitate, reconstruct and expand our railway system…Against all odds, we have secured debt relief for Nigeria…We have rekindled faith in Nigeria…Today, the PDP has united Nigeria.”

Chei, this messiah needs someone to tell him the truth in its absolute form. I know he likes joking but doing it at the expense of the citizens is not the characteristic of a messiah. Is that why they call him OBJoke?  Although joking is not bad in its beauty form, VIP’s should beware of expensive ones. For example, it’s funny and laughable to hear the joke about the giraffe with a sore throat. But to hear Obasanjo’s speech about replacing fear with hope in this year of flying coffin, and blah… blah…blah, has gone beyond a joke. And I really don’t know how to appeal to him anymore, regarding sufferings in the land, since he has repeatedly said ours is a land of honey, gold and well managed diamond. Besides, he is Owu man, as stubborn as a donkey.

As the euphoria of Year 2006 engulfs us, the thought of whether we are ready to getting started occupies my mind. I wish Nigeria well though there’s this little pessimism in me whispering, “Nothing will change for better”. Whatever, I have to face the reality of a nation in need of major overhaul. So I pray: Unto Him I look…to bless Nigeria my country…to help us as not to extol vices at the expense of virtues…to let us stop worshipping money…to change snare minds of thugs and politicians like Ubadibu, of pen or armed robbers or 419ers…to give us a listening and not so stubborn president…to serve Nigeria with all our strength…to uphold her honour and glory…so help us God.

Robot  Villager

# 1 You will soon be gone, and gone you must. However, the sadness and little joy you’d leave behind shall remain a tempest in our minds. You do not bring any tangible changes, so your coming is pretty much like others before you. Of course there’s morning, afternoon and night. Like sunset and sunrise, human beings go to bed, wake up and go about their daily bread. Churchgoers go to church to exercise their conviction. Mosque goers head for mosque to give thanks to Allah. True Buddhists and Hindus walk nimbly to the temple to offer their prayer. Traditionalists get into the swing of their r...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 01.01.2006 06:20

Unregistered

# 2 sounds more like a rollercoaster ride. Speedmeister Posted by Unregistered| 01.01.2006 07:50

unregistered

# 3 Ali: Nigeria Cannot Change Leadership for Change Sake Says Atiku has 3rd term ambition By Ike Abonyi, 01.01.2006 In a veiled support for the rumoured third term bid of President Olusegun Oba-sanjo which has been severally denied by the Presidency, Peoples Demo-cratic Party (PDP), National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, weekend said "the PDP is proud of President Obasanjo and if the country decides on their own to amend their constitution, who are we to prevent anybody from enjoying it?" Ali, however, told THISDAY that if there is anything like a third term ambition, Vice President Atiku Abubakar is guilty by aspiring to be President in 2007 after he would have been Vice President for eight years. Ali who, in an exclusive interview with THISDAY, said the nation was blessed to have a man like Obasanjo at the helms of affairs, urged Nigerians not to listen to politicians who clamour for change in 2007 for "change sake". According to Ali, Nigeria has for decades been saddled with bad leadership until Obasanjo came back a second time in 1999, adding, "he has come back and we have seen evidence of good leadership again, do you just change a gown when it is not dirty?" In the words of Ali, "there are some political parties who say 'changi dole'. Change for change sake, those people are not thinking of the progress of the people. All they want is a continuous state of turmoil. We have had enough of that." Asked to clarify what he meant by the charge that Atiku has third term ambition, Ali said "by 2007, he (Atiku) would have been vice president for eight years. So if he comes and stays first term of four years and another second term for four years, that is sixteen years for one man out of 150 million Nigerians. Why are you shouting at the president going for only one extra term, if it is possible? So, let us not deceive ourselves." According to Ali, Nigerians should worry about principles instead of personality adding, "Obasanjo, Obasanjo, Obasanjo, that is what you people talk about everyday. I think that is not an issue." On the festering crisis in Oyo State between Governor Rashidi Ladoja and his estranged godfather, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, Ali vehemently denied the insinuation that the PDP leadership and the Presidency have taken sides, but added that to achieve peace in the state, the party must bend towards Adedibu. "I am hoping that I will be able to broker a sort of peace. I say 'sort of' because, to broker peace in Ibadan in the present circumstance is actually kowtowing to the wishes of Adedibu, which is inevitable." Ali dismissed the series of meeting between Major General Muhammadu Buhari of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and General Ibrahim Babangida which was facilitated by Governor Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State, saying that the party was not worried. "I have already told you what Kalu is. He wrote a petition to me that I called him a loose cannon and that he didn't deserve it and so on and so forth. But that is the kind of thing that Kalu enjoys doing, summoning these people for one reason or the other and giving the impression that they are holding some meeting," he said. Ali also spoke on sundry other issues in the polity. Posted by unregistered| 01.01.2006 18:36