I was one of those who took President Muhammadu
Buhari’s assistant on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina practically to the
cross when he referred to the Nigeria main opposition party, PDP, as wailing
wailers in May this year. I took that position for many reasons; one of which
is name calling has no place decent democracy.
In very sane climes, oppositions are meant to put ruling administration
on its toes towards viable and tangible developments. But same appears not the
story here, Nigeria.
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had the honour to
lead (if you like rule) our nation for 16 years without interference. The party
held sway with a stamp of being the strongest political party in Africa nations. During this period, needless to remind you
that there were opposition parties among which the current All Progressive
Congress emerged. So, there was never a
time any members of PDP referred to opposition party members as wailing
wailers. I stood against Femi Adesina
for these and other reasons meant for another day.
But recently, the events among the two major
political parties, APC & PDP are making me think Femi Adesina may be right
after all for referring to his arch enemies as wailing wailers. Femi took over the media assistant job from
yet another competent, vibrant and dogged media warlord, Dr. Reuben Abati. His touch of professionalism to presidency’s
activities will be reported on this page another day.
Opposition, like I said earlier, is meant to be an
alternative government in waiting. Hence, providing quality and well thought
out directions on policies would be positive moves. Sad to say that just less
than four months as a leading opposition in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, has failed to maintain decency. From internal rumblings to national show of
shame, the recent news from the Wadata National Headquarters, Abuja of the PDP
confirms the party has been injurious to us collectively in the last 16 years.
Or please how do you explain a party in power for almost two decades unable to
pay staff salaries under four months of losing power? An allegation of internal
corruption is disheartened. It amounts
to pure charade having such jokers running the affairs of our country for this
long.
Back to basics. The wailing
wailers now have an academy with a serving governor in the south west as
provost. The same guy picked issues with
President Muhammadu Buhari during the electioneering campaigns. He was bold
wishing him dead. Like Japheth Omojuwa
puts it “The governor cursed and abused Muhammadu
Buhari during the campaign, Buhari said nothing. He has been on PMB's neck
since he became president. Again, silence. I am sure when Buhari begins to
bully him, let no small wailers wail”.
Up till now, the funny governor
has not relented. Hear him: “If
President Mohammadu Buhari knows exactly where the stolen funds are kept and
who looted the funds, he does not need all these public announcements. Rather,
he should make public names of the looters and bring back the purported stolen
funds, location of which he has identified. It is when he is able to bring back
the money that he should make announcements of recovered funds.
“You don’t announce a process to
the public; rather, you announce the results because that is what is of
interest to the people. It is like you are announcing that you know where armed
robbers reside, won’t they change their location?
“What the All Progressives
Congress spin-doctors and their collaborators in the Presidency are doing is
simple. It is such that when there is nothing to tell the people as per the
rising Boko Haram attacks, dollar and other foreign currencies exchange rates,
petrol pump price and other seeming failed promises of the APC Federal
Government, they will accuse former President Goodluck Jonathan and his men of
corruption, insult Peoples Democratic Party and make noise about fighting
corruption.” If this not wailing, what is it?
Surprisingly, the governor with
almost a year in the office without any tangible, concrete and visible
achievement in his state but takes pleasure in attacking the president. He
started by begging the president to allow him nominate a minister from his
state when in actual sense such is not the story under his immediate past “hero”.
I sincerely think the people of his state have to rethink him as a governor or
they will live with the consequences of their decision pending his exit.
While I speak not for the
presidency, the body language of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s towards
corruption is clear. He had said both members of his party and any other party will
face the music if found guilty of corruption. Was this the same under the
immediate past administration? Can this provost point to one case of corruption
fought by his boss to a logical end? Why shouldn’t this man be patient to allow
President Muhammadu Buhari fail on his promise? Can the elites in his state
call him to order to save the state from these national embarrassments? I think
as a forward looking governor, he should find some alignments with the federal
government for the overall benefit of his state rather than standing as a clog
on the state’s wheel of progress.
Just today ( August 10th)
the same governor has lashed out on President Muhammadu Buhari over the
appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as acting Chairman
of the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying that her appointment
does not conform with the 1999 Constitution. When did his man become a lawyer
leaving his state crucial matters to suffer? He further stated that Zakari’s
appointment “was dangerous to democracy” because she is an in- law to the
president. How low can a state executive go to stay relevant? Leaving state
matters to address non essential matters speak volume of the governor’s priorities.
Yet another wailer note for
mentioning is the embattled National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Oliseh Metuh. From
the visit of PMB to USA and yet to be appointed ministers, this spokesman has
defiled every sense talk. He sees nothing right in the administration despite
the no scandal enjoys so far by PMB’s administration. Little wonder why he lamented recently on an
online TV show: “It is cold out here. It is cold because people that have
been with you for the past 10 years now decided to change because we are no
longer in power. It is cold out here because people allowed themselves to be
used against the party. It is cold our here because you are subject to the
machination and conspiracy of the ruling party. But in terms of service, being in
the opposition renews your commitment.
“The
week that we lost the presidential election, some members changed. They are no
longer committed and even the staff of the party are no more disciplined
because there is no benefit to get. This has, however, separated those who came
to reap from the PDP and those who want to really serve. Politics is about
service. Those who want to serve will remain.” Wailing on the anti-corruption
programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari, Metuh maintained that the government
was selective. He described recent probes embarked upon by the government as
political lynching. It is clear that most Nigeria politicians feed fat on the
people. They barely can make a living outside government. Other wailing wailers
are rife on social media parading ignorance.
To
the presidency, it needs to be restated that power belongs to the people. The
power that brought these set of men there will be invoked and deplored
accordingly if the right things are left undone. The quality of lives must improve.
Our decayed educational system must be revived with needed speed. Just today,
West African Examination Council (WAEC) released May/ June 2015 results with
almost 70% failed core subjects. For a thinking government, this should not
only call for immediate actions but declaring emergency in the sector while
reprioritizing our curriculum better. It appears the current academic
curriculum in our schools do not reflect the realities. With the current trends
in our educational system, the future is blink for Nigeria. Governments, at all
levels, must give a clear stand on this.
Our politicians should get it straight that the
era of stealing us dry is forever over. Accountability is the word. Every
citizen is alive and sensitive to government policies and programmes. Every
policy not beneficial to the entire citizenry will be resisted, refused and
rejected. The current shenanigan at the National Assembly must be halted as
soon as possible for proper administration to begin. It is rather dishearten to
hear some elements are already scramming for 2019 elections as if they hold
their lives.
The
mission to rebuild Nigeria has started and must increase in speed. The train of
progress has no party affiliation. The idea of new Nigeria should be inculcated
into our school curriculum for the sake of our children as these old structure
cannot sustain the house called Nigeria. The question will be when will these
wailing wailers stop? I am sure the answer is until President Muhammadu Buhari
stop to do the right things and join the band wagon of how politicians and
corrupt civil servants used to do things for the past 16 years. Until then, I
wish the Wailing Wailers Academy of Nigeria (WWAN) “Ijeoma” on their journey to abyss.
Sunday Osanyintuyi
Twitter: @SundayOs
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