08 Mar 2007 |
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The news spread like wild fire. Text messages practically collided in the air as they flew from one phone to the other. Phone calls were made crazily from city to city and from one end of the country to the other. Those who had access to the internet searched for every little information they could find. Is it true? Is it true that the anointed successor to the throne is dead? True, the news was all over the place in the morning that the anointed candidate had been flown to
“It had better be true,” I heard someone say. “Yeh!” said another. “That is the Abacha treatment. God just wanted to teach them he’s still in control.” “Can you imagine?” another chipped in. “They thought they could sit on everybody’s head. But see what God has done to them! Shame to bad people.” For a moment I thought we were not talking about the death of the anointed candidate whom many rightly or wrongly believe would unquestionably replace President Olusegun Obasanjo. Why would anybody wish him dead? After all, he was only an unwilling horse led to the slaughter by his master. Surely, someone should remember that it was not his will to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is just that the President could not find anyone who was worthy to represent his interests in government among those jostling for his job – after he steps aside, that is. So he searched diligently for someone among those who never dreamt of ruling beyond their clans. And he found a Yar’Adua and a Jonathan Goodluck. “Whether or not he was willing, the man is dead and dead forever. We can at least continue with our lives now,” someone said. “But why do you hate him so passionately?” “Me, hate him? I don’t have any business with him. It’s his oga we want his head. He just allowed himself to be used as a sacrificial lamb. Too bad he’s gone now.” “So….” Ok, before you ask another question, let me tell you one of the reasons I hate him. Why should he be going about in a presidential jet when he has not been voted in? I learnt he was even flown abroad in the jet after he slumped. Why are they wasting our resources on one individual?” “But that was an emergency!” “Ah, how many people have slumped here without the privilege of being taken to the hospital? My friend, it happens every day.” “But have you forgotten those people are not anointed candidates?” “I beg, make I finish the one wey I dey talk. If im be anointed candidate wey wan rule us, why they no rush am go
“My friend, you have forgotten that this life was too precious to OBJ. He did not want anything to tamper with his project.” “E hen! Me I no be im project, abi? Well, im project don scatter” At the end of the day, it was reported that Alhaji Umar Musa Yar’Adua is hale and hearty. President Obasanjo even spoke with him on the phone in front of over thirty million television viewers. “I am alive and well,” said the anointed candidate. I expect that this should gladden the hearts of his masters and followers alike. But whether or not he is hale and hearty enough to continue as the People’s Democratic Party presidential flag bearer is another thing. Only time will tell. Somehow, I think I heard one mischievous Nigerian say the powers that be should not be too excited yet. After all, God can still kill any candidate (as He did Abacha) before the elections. My question is, why are we always waiting for God to do something – something that is well within our power to do for ourselves? I am not talking about killing anybody; I am talking about initiating the change we crave so desperately. For all I care, God is waiting for us to do something about our precarious situation. I am sorry if this sounds blasphemous!
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