”No , but you shall give it to me now , and if not, I will take it by force’ is a hackneyed scriptural verse often credited to the sons of Eli who treated the Lord’s offering with contempt. This again comesinto playas we seea tribe oftiny minoritytransmuteinto a masked terror machine cutting downlivesthey aspireto ruleoverinAfrica’s biggest democracy and largest economy.The people have at different times voiced discontent withtheir style of leadership in the past, at present and also express fear for the future as they gather again to hoodwink usin a bid to clinch victoryand establish control of political power at the centre – this of course remains a toweringambition under the existing circumstances calling to mind thetwenty months ofrepressive rule under which Nigerians groaned.
This , however , could never be forgotten in a hurry.Every bit of their action in the past qualifies for bullying and this was painfullyrecorded.Many who spoke against the ills of the day at the period under reviewwere cowed into silence, detained without trial,killed by retroactive lawsand today we see their desire to stage a comeback rearingits ugly head on the ascending order of magnitude. Their story is one of desperation typical of a group of people who do nothing but fanning the embers of discord and beating the drums of war which speak volumes for the destruction of lives and property somewhere in the desert cotton fields ofnorthern Nigeria all in a senseless bid to bring President Jonathan down from atop his pedestal.
In the face of every agony being suffered in this embattled region by families fromwhomloved ones have been estranged these political gladiators employmany forms including threats, violence, intimidation,destruction of property to ruleNigerians notby law butbydiabolic whims and caprices and theseconstitutenothing but a gravedanger.Essentially they could be compared withhawks together withfalcons on the looseout to pounce on its prey and we all have beenvictims of their consumingambitionsthat have caused us sorrow, tears and blood.
These close-knit cliques have failed us miserably and woefullyover the years bringingus all to the edges of the abyss thus paving the way for a bloody revenge viaimpending revolution if adequate precaution is not taken. Hence the evolution of civilisation and social organisation that checks and regulates the lust for revenge and other such instincts compel one to answer in the affirmative as they continue to play god with our lives by unleashingterror on defenceless Nigerians. Their satanic ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian, if they all need reminding.
Buhari unlike President Jonathan does not know how to get attention in positive and acceptable ways , that is why he often resorts to force calling to mind his infuriating remark”the dogs and baboons will be soaked in blood”. He is anti-social, rude and hostile ,feel justified inpicking on others and probably has a high opinion of himself,uses force or aggression to intimidate political rivals and opponents and these have incurred him none other than negative consequences for his harmful anti-social behaviour. What one sows , they often say , one shall reap; this is one incontrovertible fact.
In advanced societies with particular reference tothe Old World where I have sojournedfor nearlytwo decades nowpolitics is played without rancour and bitterness. Everyone puts in one’s best like such President Jonathan is doingto reposition one’s country on the path of economic prosperity and developmentand this has been yielding amazing results as Nigeria came recentlyfrom behind in the first quarter of this year after a re-basing calculation of our GDPto becomeAfrica’s biggest economy –a feat which wedid not dream of under his predecessors among whom isthe perpetually unelectable General who again aspires to be the most powerful man in Nigeria. His previous regimeyou know as well as I knowwas characterised by gross human rightabuses and violations all in a futile bid to cover up his cryingcorrupt practices.
Democracy is all about the control of an organization by the majority of its members and this is an essentiallymissing link in the All Progressives Congress, APC,Nigeria’s main opposition party. Many of the party bigwigshad to defect as it became obvious thatthe party has beenhijacked by certain overlords, grandees and high-ups and what we herein the Diaspora often hear is that the ”Messianicparty” lacks internal democracy. Ay , this is not in dispute because the party chieftains that we all knowonly striveto aggrandize themselves and in fact bestride the Nigerian political world like a colossus.Candidates for elective offices are notelected ; their selectionalways carries the trademarks of the greatAsiwaju proclamations and pronouncements. This is bushman politics at play on our part of the globe.
Could these type of men be entrusted with power? You would be better advised to be on the alert; in fact do not be caught off guard becausepower , it is said ,corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Just asit is not surprising that the term “Machiavellian” has come to describe the astute and immoral execution of power, having these men vested with power is tantamount to raising Niccolo Machiavelli from the dead, who shallhave us all subduedand kept under permanent subjugation. We really do not need to be told that these tribesof men are hawks and falcons again on the loose.
Iyoha John Darlington, aka Lington Donovan, a political analyst and public commentator on national and global issueswrites from Turin , Italy.
