13 Nov 2008 |
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Obasanjo And The Third Level of Madness I know psychiatrics may not agree with me because I have no scientific evidence, but I have come to believe there are three levels of madness. The first level allows a madman to know he is mad. At the second level the lunatic knows he is mad and believes every other person is mad as well. The third and the most miserable level is the kind of madness that allows a madman to think he is normal while every other person is mad. At this level you can find a madman trying to teach normal people on all and sundry matters excluding the one he is most qualified to talk about, that is, how to be mad. Let me start by saying that the lack of scientific evidence should not bar me from postulating my theory, after all insanity itself has no scientific method of practice. Madmen simply adopt the method that best suits their level of mental degradation and then go about it with all the insanity they can muster. Unlike normal people who sometimes mimic each other, madmen simply mind their business. According to my theory, at the third level of madness, the patient thinks something is wrong with his doctor. Even though he walks naked, he is deluded to believe he is gorgeously dressed and seated at the high table at a prestigious ceremony attended by normal human beings. That is when you see him adjust an imaginary ‘agbada’, tossing his hands in the air in oblivious mimicry of the real thing, when in actual fact he is scavenging the garbage heap for moth-laden bread.It is at the third level of madness that one could find a discredited Chairman of the Nigerian INEC boasting of something he can teach America about conducting elections. Such a clownish boast coming shortly after America has conducted what has come to be regarded as their best elections, makes the maker of the asinine comment all the more insane. Popular Columnist, Okey Ndibe, aptly called it the ‘audacity of madness’. I agree with him. And there are a handful of other deluded Nigerians who have been mouthing words that belittle the giant leap Obama has made, without them knowing the import of such utterances. When an Obasanjo for instance decides against all reasonable logic and testimony of history to believe he is qualified to teach Obama how to rule America, then you know something is fundamentally wrong with him and the system that threw him up as Nigeria’s former president.As I read what he called his advice to Obama, I marvelled at the canny ability of hypocrites to hoodwink the people in their bid to remain relevant. He talked eloquently about the economy. But what on earth could a man whose policies did not improve the Nigerian economy in eight years, teach Obama about American economy? What on earth does this dictator know about democracy apart from the numerous ‘family affairs’ of PDP? Like a ring of gold in the swine’s snout so is wisdom in the mouth of a fool...and good governance in the mouth of a dictator At the third level of lunacy, it is easy for the failed dictator to be so conceited as to see himself as an African elder to whom the younger Obama, being African, should show some respect and buy one or two of his crooked ideas about leadership. For instance it could be a nice idea if Obama could hire some ‘Mantu-like’ congressmen to tinker with the American Constitution to allow him a third-term after the second. This way he could ensure ‘continuity’ of the good dividends of black leadership in the White House.’ Afterall the whites have occupied that house from Adam, and now it is the turn of blacks to take their share of the ‘national cake’.Obama may have African blood flowing in his veins, but none of the philosophies and ideals that shaped his world view and political thinking has any semblance with the African culture of sit-tight dictatorship. In other words, Obama may bear the same first three letters of his name as Obasanjo, but they are worlds apart both geographically and politically. Simply put, therefore, OBAsanjo has nothing to offer OBAma. Obama stands for everything Obasanjo is not and vice versa. Yet one could not miss the arrogance in his tone as he struggled to find a common ground between himself and Obama. Despite the humbling nature of Obama’s win, OBJ still found the ego to sound like a school teacher, coaching the kid that he perceives Obama to be. He sought to take some glory in having met and conversed with Obama and Mrs.Clinton during their campaign. Meaning? As Mr-Know-all, Obama must have tapped from his wisdom during that brief conversation to achieve this feat. Therefore the world needs to actually give credit to Baba Iyabo for Obama’s victory! Let’s talk about madness!It is hypocritical and insolent for Africans who failed to promote multiparty democracy in their domains to begin to cheer and celebrate Obama’s Victory. Doing so, as many have done, implies two things. First it means they love America more than their fatherland. On the other hand, if their joy is simply because Obama is a ‘fellow’ black man, then, it means they have not matured beyond ethnic chauvinism, a vice which America has gloriously overcome by this election. So instead of making so much noise, I expected this failed leader to have reverted to the sober- reflection mode and asked Nigeria for forgiveness for destroying the future hopes of her youth through greed and lust for power. 47 years from now, when a child born during Obasanjo’s era would be of Obama’s present age, would he look back and have something to thank Obasanjo for? Would he have been adequately prepared and given the opportunity to rule the nation like America did for Obama?
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