With Adetunji Ayobrown
Late Kwame Nkrumah once said that ‘action without thought is empty’ as it is now glaring that lying and living a double life will get one nowhere twice as fast. Don’t fly into a rage unless you are fully prepared for rough landing was not just the message but also the lesson. The Judgement Day is finally here, it seems that the D-day has come, after many months of living in denial, the Buhari regime is now faced with the truth in the form of a US visa ban on politicians who undermined Nigeria’s democracy.
Indeed, doubts are springing up on all sides; for undermining the country’s democracy, it is not only unfortunate that the United States of America is imposing visa ban on Nigerian politicians but also unthinkable effects of such as it will surely lower the integrity of the country among comity of nations. Anxiously, who are these saboteurs was the very first question that came to mind on hearing the news of the US visa ban. And like many, we all can guess who and who will be among the suppose culprits when the list of these corrupts politicians is eventually made known and brought to the public. For these, many believe that there is no difference between ‘yahoo boys’ and Nigerian corrupt politicians, especially those who are directly involve in the last 2019 general elections. Their reasons are not farfetched; if anyone doubts this, ask Unites States Government.
With impunity, some Nigerians operated at the expense of the people and undermined democratic principles and trample upon human rights. Though, the names of the affected persons were yet to be made known, US emphasised that the actions announced are specific to certain individuals and not directed at the Nigerian people or the newly elected government but some people in the government. With APC in power, it will be delusion of grandeur: US statement indicates that the 2019 general elections were rigged, proving that PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar were correct in approaching the tribunal.
US announced visa restriction on Nigerians who sabotaged the country’s democracy, in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the US Department of State, Morgan Ortagus, while commending all who participated peacefully in the February and March 2019 elections, said the United States is a steadfast supporter of Nigerian democracy and ready to work to strengthen the biggest black nation’s democratic institutions and processes.
APC thinks the bolder the lie, the better but the international community perceived the last 2019 General Elections as nothing but a ruse with strong condemnations and the US visa sanction.
Sheer audacity of the APC’s glory is forcing credibility on its winning while distracting attention from its inconsistencies and irregularities of the process. The path of pleasure never leads to glory as the end refuse to justify the means. Some who are calling themselves saints of democracy are now the master perpetrators and election manipulators, according to the US statement.
What do you expect? Retreating from the hunter; the timid hare scurries more easily into the snares, the government was quick in its denial, the response which many said is nothing but an enigma is only fit to amuse a child. Imagine the scenario, Festus Keyamo prosecuted former governor Timpre Silva for looting N19billion state fund and the duo will be sitting side-by-side at the Federal Executive meetings presided over by Mr. Integrity… indeed thought without action is blind – late Nkrumah is right holding that position, which Shehu Sani agreed with on his twitter handle.
Former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central in the Senate, Shehu Sani, has reacted to the United States government’s visa restrictions on individuals responsible for undermining the Nigerian democratic process during the last general elections.
Sani said the visa restriction by the US government is a welcome development and urged other countries to tow the same path. He said the latest decision indicates that national laws aren’t enough deterrent. He wrote, “the announcement by the US to impose visa restrictions on persons who ‘undermine democracy’ by their role in the last elections is a welcome development; other nations should emulate this”.
It is funny that US is committed to work with the APC government to realise its expressed commitment to end corruption and strengthen democracy, accountability and respect for human rights, while formation of same government is seen as corruptible. How US will be able differentiate saints from those whose garments are made of corruption as the fabric may be a herculean task. This sounds like a double talk to me because the same people that undermine democracy are usually the first or same to pretend to be fighting corruption, strengthening democracy and respecting human rights in Nigeria. As most Nigerian politicians are guilty of undermining democracy one way or the other, all should be placed on visa ban. Like US, Britain and other world powers too are expected to do same, expel those corrupt Nigerian fugitives called politicians hiding in their country.
Everything truly depends on perception, ask any Nigerian their views about the country; many will be quick to reply that Nigeria is seen as a terrible and treacherous nation. How the world see Nigeria is rather a cause for serious concern. It comes suddenly with the stealth and swiftness of a snake, while unable to adapt to the 21st technological advancements. What do you expect from elections conducted by computer illiterates? Many are not surprise at the outcomes?
It is true that a planner thinks he already knows all the answers while he sees poverty as a technical engineering problem that he thinks his philosophy will solve. And on the other hand, a searcher admits he doesn’t know the answers in advance, but he believes that poverty is a complicated tangle of political, societal, historical, institutional, and technological factors. This is a country where the office holders have different degrees from several universities but the same people are poor when it comes to the application of such knowledge for the betterment of the nation.
Great enterprise is only achieved by adventurous spirits, as seen by some, though US may be the ‘Paragon of Democracy’ as it was some decades ago but it is better to follow a wise nation even when they are wrong than to tag along with a foolish nation when they are right. US still have moral justification and authority to judge the conduct of Nigerian elections any day and anytime. Many are of the opinion that election whistle blowers should be at the US Embassy rather than the EFCC office only… because the whistles blown for US will surely be louder, clearer, quicker and more effective in helping the nation’s democracy.
Many even want economic blockade and the visa ban must be extended to their family members. The United Kingdom has to join in the scheme and possibly the European Union. US should revisit the practice of automatic permanent residency to people that invested just $250,000 in its economy, as many believe it encourages corruption in developing country like ours …most, if not all directors and permanent secretaries in federal ministries and government agencies have Green cards. If Donald Trump really meant business, he would have seized the assets of all Nigeria politicians stashed in US Banks. Ayobrown, Senior System Analyst, National Pilot Newspaper, writes via [email protected]
