By Adetunji AyoBrown
Conflicts of ideas brought about the founding of our highest citadel of learning, the university system. As written in history, it is the basis of all human inventions and discoveries. This points out clearly to the fact that directions are matter of facts, while ideas are matters of verifiable opinions. For these, evaluated experience is the best teacher, Buhari should have allowed the Obasanjo’s pleasure of seniority to advice him about the recent happenings in the country. If he want to be remembered as good statesman, same also is expected of him when he becomes former.
There is a lot about this government Nigerians don’t know and many more about the country, the current leadership don’t know. Fascinatingly, as it doesn’t change the fact that these things are happening to us all without our consciousness or awareness. What am trying to say I that the country is changing
It is rather unfortunate that some are paid to talk, while others are paid to write even against their own conscience. What a pity? That they can be better than the burden of their employer, but unfortunately, only very few of them are aware of this. Katsina or Kaduna, which of these states that Buhari and Shehu belong to respectively are safe? Has any of this duo ask this question. Then consider how safe the 34 others would be, and not even the FCT, where Boko Haram fighters are said to be seen openly gathering and planning.
Except Buhari has now become the Comedian-in-Chief, how do you explain this? When other countries of the world are giving palliatives, his government is giving non as palliatives. Instead of acting like in overreacting, many have condemned the Presidency for berating former President Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) over his comment on the state of the nation. It is known world over that in time of crisis, the wise build bridges however, use of bludgeon build only barriers. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu berated the former president in a statement titled ‘Obasanjo is Nigeria’s divider-in-chief’ is rather a comedy in tragedy taken too far.
One wonders I’d Shehu Garba believes President Buhari can do it alone. If so, then we should expect less national advancement and lot of limitations which are individually self-imposed. Except for a comedian of the highest, comfortable in own style.
Fighting desperately for a lost cause is not admirable but we should instead fight for a winning cause which is more rewarding. For everyone know that an armless man without family needs all the help he could get, Nigerians are not blind.
In some line of work, it not good to be non conversant with history. The several millions of Nigerian can see the difference between Buhari and Garba and unmistakeably know the difference between white and black. Unfortunately, our leaders don’t seem to care about the truth, especially when they see that the richness of the truth is greater than the lie.
He who knows and knows that he knows is a wise man. As no one surpassed Plutarch in writing subtle psychology and witty quotes, so is OBJ Known to have valuable knowledge and that is ever ready to share these wits and wisdom any day.
Describing a former president as a ‘divider-in-chief’, is to say the least rude but to this government, it is not hateful enough of a speech.
Shehu said in his reaction that the former President’s comment, which he described as unfair attacks on the President Buhari and his regime, has made Obasanjo descended from the lofty heights of a commander- in-chief.
The road to success is always under construction, Nigerians suggested a bit of humility when attending to national issues because we are all stakeholders. Draconian policies that are only worsening the woes of the citizens are now this administration’s best. For these, many took the president on for choosing to haul insults on all Nigerians through some of its policies.
Reactions of patriotic counsels on our nationhood show clearly that the Buhari Presidency is bereft of the fundamentals of governance and is overwhelmed by its own failures and burden of guilt for the disunity, bloodletting and anguish that have enveloped our nation in the last five years.
That is not the first of such letters from OBJ, almost same issues of security and economy has been his major focus but Buhari is neither heeding to such good advise nor has he improve his performance chart. Our country, which was founded on good principles and great ideas is heading for the rocks and ruins, we either take the options or we adapt to this situation.
To be more is to know more and there is much yet to be known. A pragmatic person will always opt for the future and leave the past behind him. A good example to a giddy junior of the importance of senior’s counsels. If you think it is not necessary to listen or take to good advice, making significant progress may be very difficult. Everyone needs help sometimes. Asking for help in dignified way implies equality between two, the fact is that only one just happens to be in better position.
As the way to the throne room is through the servants quarters, so also is the way to maintain the throne, not even servants relevance must be ignored. But some people really hate being preach to, lectured or encouraged to think better, not to talk of telling them that what they are doing is not good enough
No one would tell a madman that it is raining; the cold will explain itself to him in the harsh mode. Whether Buhari had performed well enough or not, pictures and live events are ongoing, as no one needs to explain to the pan-northern socio-political group, the Arewa Consultative Forum the security situation of the north. OBJ advice is nothing but that Obasanjo should stop presenting himself as a saint, was the ACF’s best stance.
Subject to statistic, among the duo, who is more accused of dividing Nigeria along religious and ethnic lines, OBJ or Buhari? Reactions are still trending on the social media. But whether or not Obj is more pan-Nigerian than Buhari will never put food on any of our tables. People are only interest in your performances, but who will explain this to the government which is fighting tooth and nails crying over name calling.
There are lot that can’t be forgiven, considering the lofty heights of a Commander-in-Chief to be degraded to as low a level as a divider-in-chief, using the coinage of Buhari’s aide.
How would the Nigerian Security Forces look at this bastardisation of our highest military and national rank, is a story only time will tell.
What OBJ said in his letter, if followed will save lives of both the military and civilians in the country. Intelligence will not put down others, everyone know this.
One of the arts of mantra of a statesman is to be involved in his nation’s problem-solving agenda, among which is pointing out grey areas and instead of them calling him names, his suggestions should be look into and act upon.
The President through his aide think Obasanjo is not doing enough in accordance with his mantra as a statesman, who gets more involved with problems solving in order to prevent the mushrooming of a poisonous atmosphere of ethnic and religious bigotry bedevilling the land.
The country can create better values from many options, which includes OBJ’s many thoughts, but instead, name calling seems to be more important to this government than acting and solving any of the raised issues. If OBJ offers some helping hands, it is rather not out of fashion to ask and drink from his wealth of experience. After all, Nigeria wasn’t this terrible during his administration.
But being unable to bear the ineptitude of present reality that envy is pointless, we can learn from the invaluable wisdom of others.
*Ayobrown, Senior System Analyst, National Pilot Newspaper, writes via [email protected]
