E*X*P*R*E*S*S*I*V*E: TA Ñ FÉÉ KÚ?...WHO'S READY TO DIE?

"On the march again.....on the march again...looking for Mr President.....on the march again.....M.K.O is our man Ooo". These were the lyrics in the 1992, reminiscent of a typical mantra that pervaded the political ambience as Nigeria and Nigerians awaited the 1993 Presidential election. It's in history that Nigerians for the first time ever eschewed ethno-religious inclination and voted massively for a Muslim/Muslim ticket in the person of late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe. This was made possible because people felt their mandate was what the masses needed to liberate them from the shackles of the bondage of the 'kakhi boiz'. But as fate would have it, the dream was stillbirth and the hope (Hope 1993 as it was tagged then) was forlorn.

The zeal with which people trooped out en masse to fight the powers that be for truncating people's wish was unprecedented! I remember placards with various inscription lampooning the then military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida-IBB (Rtd) for annulling the ever freest and most peaceful election in Nigeria. This was also devoid of ethnic jingoism, neither did it have religious colouration. This was notwithstanding fierce-looking-no-shit-taking armed policemen threatening protesters with guns. People I grew up to know as "Kill-and-Go", as my mother would often address them before the modern day Mobile Police (Mopo as they are often called). I was about 20 years old then and I remember people like Baba Omojola, Late Beko Ransome Kuti, Lawyer Femi Falana, Campaign for Democracy (CD) and other human rights activists and groups standing against tyranny. 

But today, nobody is ready to take the bull by the horn, our teeming youths are timorous with no gusto to take on this fight (against this egregious leadership) that stirs us in the face. Our various youth organizations are either lackadaisical or are bought over and consumed by the same egregious system. All we hear these days is missing of billions of Naira with no discovery. All we do is to condemn on pages of newspapers and bark like castrated bulldogs. After that, we relapse and return to status quo. Where is the report of the power probe panel that indicted Bàbá Obásanjó? What has been done on it? How about the Farouk-Gate sleaze? Maina's police pension scam ñkó? Not to talk of missing $20billion in the NNPC. The once vibrant Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Mallam Nuhu Ribadu prosecuted about 16 serving governors for corruption, how many of them are in jail? And just this morning, I learnt from a brother that each delegate to the National (jamboree) Conference will collect N30,000 per day for food alone! Grotesque you would say!

The last time I saw Nigerians united again was in the wake of the pseudo fuel subsidy removal by the Goodluck administration in January 2012. This was where everybody forgot that they were Muslims, that they were Christians but came under one umbrella to fight against a perceived draconian government. I took part in the protest in Abuja and I remember two different scenarios where it was time for the Muslims to observe their afternoon prayers, and surprisingly without being told, the Christian counterpart provided security for the praying Muslim colleagues. It is only our useless political looters that often use the religious dichotomy to exploit the situation for their pecuniary gains. Our spirit today is low, nobody is ready to take the lead. The so-called youths (perceived leaders of tomorrow) are not sleeping or snoring, they're overtly in comatose. Àbí, ta ñ féé kú? Who wan die? You? Me? Who?

Czar.....Àşe ñ t'Èdùmàrè