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KWENU! Our culture, our future |
The mirror and reflection
Max Gbanite [New Jersey, USA]
Sunday, July 7, 2002
HAIL TO WEBMASTERS AND WEB CRAWLERS Robert L. Perry, a Canadian -- when asked of his opinion on the real essence of Canada – said: “To disagree, to harness diversity, to respect dissent; perhaps this is the real essence of Canada.” Pope John Paul II, on his first visit to the United States, said to Americans: “Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.”
Please, kindly take a moment to reflect on these statements while I seize this opportunity to profusely thank the publishers, investors, and managers of the following websites (alphabetically):- Gamji, Kwenu, Nigeriannet, and Nigeriaworld -- for their sensibility, foresight, and unrelenting pursuit of excellence in web publishing, truth, and justice by providing us the media to air our opinions, and to state of our views, whether right or wrong, ordinate or inordinate. I thank these pioneers from the bottom of my heart for their investment in time and money, and I encourage fellow Nigerians to support the efforts of these compatriots.
In thanking the publishers of these esteemed sites and others out there in Cyberspace, it is also very imperative for them to take some steps and reassess what they allow to filter into their sites. We are living in a globally litigious society. No publisher worth the name would want his or her site to become embroiled in legal actions that may kill the site, due to errors on their part by allowing malicious, false, and libelous attacks on innocent writers just because a reader may not necessarily like the position being advocated.
Not everyone is endowed with journalistic prowess. There are true journalists and true columnists, and there are moonlight writers. However, if one is endowed with the talent of being able to articulate views that stimulate reasoning or reshape actions, views that have profound effect on the activities of others, then unintelligent personal attacks and libelous accusations -- that have absolutely nothing to do with issues being presented -- should not and must not be allowed, condoned, or tolerated on a serious website.
I thank all the readers who took out precious time from their daily activities to read my positions; not only that, they even sent me emails. Some registered their rightful opposition to some of my views; others agreed with me. A few called me barbaric names; yet, the fact that they registered their opposition directly to me, and engaged me in an exchange of emails, showed remarkable maturity that is lacking in others who choose to fabricate and fan lies across the miles in a vain and vile attempt to intimidate.
WORDS AND MATTERS MIRRORED In choosing the title of this presentation, “The mirror and reflection,” I looked into my previous writings, which are kindly catalogued and given a pride of place at www.kwenu.com\publications\max\frame.htm and also retrievable from the abovementioned sites). I weighed what had happened in Nigeria in the past, what was happening, and what would probably happen in future. I don’t lay claims to being a future seer, past seer, or even present seer. However, events of the past and the present have allowed us a peep into future events.
‘Mirror,’ according to Webster’s dictionary and thesaurus, Geddes & Grosset, 2002, is defined as, “a smooth reflection surface; a faithful representation; an example, good or bad; to reflect as in a mirror.”
In my days at WTC Primary School Enugu, I witnessed the headmistress give a young rascal a resounding flogging. His crime: he had surreptitiously installed a mirror under the staircase to enable him catch a glimpse of girls’ underwear while they climbed up the stairs to their respective classes. When he was taken to the headmistress, the young man asserted in his defense that it was merely a reflection of the underwear -- he was not looking at the real thing! As funny as this may sound, the issue here is the power of the mirror and its reflection.
The mirror, according to some historical information, was mentioned to have been used by Europeans to barter for slaves in the early 1500s. Assuming this is true, imagine the deep impression it created when a certain African king saw his handsome face reflected on this magnificent object; imagine the intensity of must-have urge that ultimately compelled the ill-advised chief to let some of his people embark on a boat voyage of no-return.
OF LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS As I reflected on Nigeria, I took a moment to call my personal physician to find out if in any manner, form, or shape my physical exam results showed any symptoms of schizophrenia or other forms of mental abnormalities. He came back with a resounding NO. Then he asked why? Well, I told him: a car salesman based in Germany recently diagnosed me as “mad” in an article published on the web (not here). The very patient physician muttered audibly: “Car-salesman doctor?” Then he thanked me for wasting his time.
The German-Nigerian car salesman claimed to have known me many moons ago at the time we both, supposedly, attended secondary (high) school at College of Immaculate Conception (CIC), Enugu. Though I don’t know this individual, his attempt to discredit my position on issues of national importance was lost when he chose to accuse me falsely, defame me, and maliciously libel me. He boldly claimed to have known me as one who was considered by the whole school as somebody who would not amount to anything good in life: a true lie, but a courageous assertion.
My crime for deserving such trashing is simple: my unwavering loyalty, faithfulness, and dogged support of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and his possible ‘mirror-reflected’ return to serve Nigeria as President again. If this “crime” seems to deserve the punishment, then it is a crime I am proud to commit along with the three newly registered political parties and millions of Nigerians who love the man and are calling on him to return. Of course, my dogged support for IBB does not stop anyone from stepping out and contesting; the more the candidates, the merrier the contest.
I will not dwell on non-issues raised by the “car-salesman doctor,” but a salient point is that he was indeed fortunate to have attended CIC. Whilst he claims to be fortunate, I was destined to attend the hallowed institution, After all, my father attended same; he was one of the founding fathers of the schools’ old boys association, and he was its president for thirty-five years.
The motto of CIC is ‘Semper Fidelis’ (Always faithful or Always loyal, depending on who is translating). The highly esteemed Catholic school was designed to build strong character amongst men, forthrightness, integrity, obedience, truthfulness, leadership, excellence, and above all faithfulness or loyalty -- as the motto implies. Though created for the children of upper and middle class, the school also made sure that ten percent of admitted students came from the lower class of society -- provided they have the intellect and grade to be so admitted (some sort of affirmative action). Based on this concept, the school has produced all sorts, from German-based ‘car-salesman doctors,’ probably, to top engineers, real physicians, governors, legislators, ministers, and ordinary law-abiding citizens like me. Perhaps portraying his youthful exuberance, these facts were lost on the salesman, hence his attacking of my person for exercising my faithfulness and loyalty to my good and dear senior friend, IBB. I will never be intimidated to ridicule or insult my friends.
Those who recall my existence at CIC knew me to be very social, combative in asserting my rights, never intimidated by anyone, good footballer, member of the debating society, and a maverick with ladies. But to associate me with unchristian antics or failure is condemnable. While thanking those that sent me emails condemning the unnecessary attacks and lies, I must say that it is very bad for some of these sympathizers who know the car salesman to allege that he is sad for not making it to the United States or that he is known to be involved with shipping ‘substances’ -- not just cars--- and also with ‘money management’ activities for “Thai tycoons” -- using the car dealership as a legitimate cover. Thanks for the information, my friends, but you are wrong for sending such information to me; I neither work for the Nigerian SSS nor for the German Gestapo, or SS, or whatever they are called these days.
I reveal a bit of this to show where website publishing might be headed if we don’t stick to issues. I am not remotely interested in what people make of their lives. Also, as a CIC alumnus, I am bound by honor of loyalty not to criticize another possible alumnus publicly, especially when I can obtain better result by doing so privately. All said, as a Catholic Christian who believe in our Lords’ Prayer, I forgive men for trespassing against me, and I pray that God will equally forgive me for trespassing against others.
I sincerely thank God for blessing me through both my paternal and maternal families to know many of the actors and players who make the policies that shape Nigeria and the United States to an extent. I have been in close contact with them on both personal and associational basis. My quest for solution to issues as they affect my fellow man will continue to propel me to cultivate the friendship of people with whom we can make things happen. Those that ask what happened, and those that watch things happen, will always be blessed abundantly with the talent to insult those who make things happen.
STICKING TO ISSUES As we reflect on my previous writings, I also remember how Dr. Tonye David-West attacked my position on the late General Sani Abacha and General Ibrahim Babangida. In fairness to the political scientist and to give honor where due, he did not attack my person. However, David-West actually attempted to reduce the facts presented to theatrical Broadway. He failed to impress on his readers that the things I alluded to were wrong or misstated facts. His approach can only be credited to a young man welled up in anger probably because of the treatment meted out by the IBB regime to his kin, Professor Tam David-West, a renowned and world-acclaimed virologist, and two-time minister in Nigeria.
I still vividly remember meeting the distinguished Professor Tam David-West in New York in 1996, after being released from prison and pardoned by General Abacha. We met in the City apartment of His Excellency Professor Ibrahim Gambari, another highly respected Nigerian who was then the Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations, and who was at the time hosting my Godfather and arguably the most sincere and honest civil servant from Nigeria, Alhaji Shettima Ali-Mongunu. At that meeting Professor Tam David West gave me a 64-page paper he wrote and presented to the United States Congress and to all who had eyes to see and ears to listen. The paper extolled the virtues of the now late general; it even condemned Ken Saro-Wiwa as an opportunist and one who ordered the killings of four innocent prominent sons of Ogoni, whose only crime was simply differing in opinion with the late Ken Saro-Wiwa.
I remember asking the exulted Professor Tam David-West if he was under duress by the prevailing government to support it. He said no. I say this because I have come to respect the fact that two relatives have the rights under the freedom of expression to have divergent views on very highly charged issues or in emotional situations. The respect I have for the Professor compelled me to condemn the actions of current PDP Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, for not investigating the staged attack -- allegedly by his (governor’s) thugs -- visited upon the esteemed Professor. The attackers were later alleged to have been armed robbers! (See Intimidation + Gangsterism = PDP Democracy of Tuesday, November 20, 2001). To this date, no arrest has been made. Does the professor deserve to die because he criticized the bad policies of the governor? The answer is a definite no.
Very recently Professor Tam David-West, in a paper (Nigeria: The state of the nation: See www.kwenu.com\lectures\davidwest_gamji.htm) delivered at the 2002 GAMJI National Conference on June 12, 2002 at Arewa House, Kaduna, averred that the claims made by all and sundry that the North dominates Nigeria is a myth. Whether you support such assertion or not does not call for a verbal demolition of the man. Instead, we must sit down and dissect his position, and, if found to be counter to our belief, say why we feel so. Whatever our take on the issue, we should please refrain from insulting one who is considered a prestigious institution in the Nigeria of today.
At the same forum, Chief Clement Akpamgbo, SAN, in his own paper (see www.kwenu.com\lectures\akpamgbo_gamji.htm) called for the “hands across the Benue” in addition to the other “hands across the Niger” and for the revamping of the natural Arewa/Ndiigbo trust. Here is an erudite scholar and unarguably one of the best legal minds in Nigeria, the attorney general of the federation during the days of General Babangida, a man his fellow colleagues call ‘the man who decreed all the decrees’ used then. It really makes an interesting read, and he is surely entitled to his views.
BACK TO BASICS As I have said once, and I will say it again, given the structures on the ground and as a participant in the present democracy navigating Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) still stands as the only credible candidate, should he agree to contest, who can crush the Obasanjo/Atiku, Obasanjo/Anenih, Obasanjo/Ciroma, and Obasanjo/Anybody candidacy in 2003. IBB detractors are many, especially given their views as expressed through the media; however, his supporters are overwhelmingly more, and they are like water that takes the shape of every container into which it is poured. Like water, the supporters can seep through anything; like water they can equally crush any supposedly insurmountable structures. Yet, they cannot be grasped by two hands. Like water, IBB supporters feel that he is the only person capable of bringing succor to them, and ultimately quench their thirst or hunger for true leadership.
In my posting of February 4, 2002, titled ‘IBB: The Nigerian enigma’ and published in the abovementioned websites, I posited how the man would win the elections when the time comes. Detractors may call me all they want, but the fact remains that even their parents and brethren, uncles and aunts, Emirs, Ezes, Obas, Igwes, Obongs, Amanyanabos, Christian leaders, Islamic leaders, intelligentsias, and the common people who make up the bulk of electorate would welcome IBB back. Just like water, the rank and file of his supporters will continue to swell with every tide. We do not all have to like it -- that’s expected, but that’s the fact on the ground.
It’s not by accident but by simple act of reasoning within the realms of certainty that psephologists are crediting his tentacles to all the new registered parties. If you ask the most ardent member of the ruling PDP party, they will affirm secretly that they would want IBB to come and lead the party. Why? Simple: As Alhaji Abu Fari, the interim boss of the newly registered National Democratic Party (NDP), rightly asserted: IBB put General Buhari (rtd) in power, put himself IBB into power, almost installed the late Chief MKO Abiola, but, at the urging of Abiola’s friends and kinsmen and with the blessings of the then Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) and the wishes of God, he annulled the election to bring in Chief Ernest Shonekan into power -- making it possible for General Abacha to take over. At the death of Abacha, Major Hamza Mustapha consulted IBB immediately -- long before any other person knew what was happening. Again, IBB installed General Abdulsalami Abubakar. IBB advised the same Abubakar to release Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) and to pardon him. And then he installed OBJ as the current president (the second time). The rest is history in the making.
I was not paid by IBB or any of his other supporters to express these facts. Any follower of events as they unfold in Nigeria will agree that IBB is indeed a ‘proton’ in the entity called Nigeria. His detractors and those who ostracize me are simply pusillanimous pocket politicians without the facts; hence, they attack my person, and they do not debate the issues. But the facts are out there: naked and indelible.
OF DELE GIWA AND OPUTA Detractors hailed when the popular Chief (Alhaji) Gani Fawehinmi accused IBB and two of his service chiefs of killing Mr. Dele Giwa, but I refer them to my article titled ‘Dele Giwa: The Silent Fact’ published in African Newsreel, November 2001 issue, and on these websites on or about Thursday, November 1, 2001.
During the Oputa panel hearing, Gani turned himself into a circus lawyer, and the facts he presented were flimsy. I was there. If the esteemed Oputa Panel felt comfortable in asking that the case be reopened, they have cast doubt on their ability to be fair and to do justice. They failed to summon Rev. Chris Omeben, who actually investigated the case, and is a well-respected man of God and, as such, has nothing to hide. At the same Oputa hearing, it was revealed to the Nigerian people by MKO Abiola’s trusted police attaché that the acclaimed tea MKO drank was allegedly brewed and administered by no other person but Dr. Susan Rice of President Clinton’s Administration. Why accuse General Abubakar, who was not there and who didn’t interfere with the autopsy and the investigations?
Read Professor Wole Soyinka’s description of the late Dr. Adeyemi Ademola’s death in his book titled ‘The Man Died.’ General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) is not being harangued as the killer. Even the most recent and dastardly killing of Chief Bola Ige is not being blamed on the current tenant of Aso Villa. All these killings including the killing of legislators in Osun State, Rivers State, the recent killing of Chief Udo Akpan, a serving commissioner of NDDC, and other wanton killings by hired assassins around the country should and must be condemned as acts militating against our democracy. Mere finger-pointing reduces the plight and vigor of investigators charged with the duty to find out the truth. “Wit has truth in it; wisecracking is simply calisthenics with words.” (Dorothy Parker).
IBB: MIRRORED AND REFLECTED Nigerians everywhere have agreed in toto that the economy is in shambles, that they need a leader that can unify the nation, and that they need a leader with great ideas. They feel that PDP and its leadership have failed the people; otherwise, why are they thirsting for new leadership. With a mirror, they have looked at themselves of the past, the present, and the future, and they have come to the conclusion that the man who will lead them out of this mess is IBB. Don’t blame their wish on me. All you need to do is read the papers or go to Nigeria and ask those that matter very simple but relevant questions.
Victor Hugo said: “An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come.” It is now IBB time; it was, and so it shall be again -- God willing.
If IBB refuses to come out and serve his people, then whomever he supports will carry the day. Please don’t cry over this, just embellish it: It is the whole truth, like it or loathe it. Your views may of course be very divergent, but the consensus view of all the registered parties and even the already functioning ones is that the man should come out of retirement to clean the mess. If he created the mess, according to some critics, then, as my father would tell me: “If you make a mess, you must clean the mess.”
CONCLUSION As we wait for April of 2003 to come and for the mirrored political permutation to play itself out, I urge intelligent Nigerians abroad to organize themselves and register through the United Nations and civil liberty organizations as election observers that will participate in monitoring the elections of Nigeria, to make sure that it is free, fair, and devoid of any intrigues associated with violence and rigging.
As for Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s future, thank God he has established NEPAD, which I strongly recommend that he should head, and possibly emerge as Nigeria’s candidate for president of African Union (formerly OAU) after his defeat at the polls in 2003.
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