Israel A. Ebije
I have always respected Dr. Reuben Abati as one of the greatest in the field of mass communication in Nigeria. That is why his claim in his article titled “Rituals, Blood and Death – The Spiritual Side of Aso Rock” wont slide past me without a second thought especially now that the private and public affairs of President Muhammadu Buhari are under public scrutiny.
The former presidential spokesman said my mind but in a slightly different way. I have always silently ruminated over the level of comedies of error that has culminated the way and manner governors, presidents and public office holders go about affairs of governance.
The recent diatribes coming from wife of president Muhammadu Buhari, alleging “cabals” "hijack”, expressing fears of “revolt” and threatening not to “support” a Buhari re-election in 2019 are all pointers that something is going off course somewhere beyond the ordinary. Mr. president in his (needless) response “jokily” said she “belongs to the kitchen, living room and the other room”, further sparking off reactions.
For those who are having a lot to chew on regarding Aisha Buhari’s position, I want them to see it beyond what appears like a family feud. That woman is only a woman probably sad over being denied “freebies” enjoyed by wives of presidents. She is also probably not happy she can’t influence things around corridors of power (that is indeed the change we all hoped for). However, the spiritual aspect set to further distract the president cannot be overlooked.
It is indeed a déjà vu, tilted towards opposition from Aisha. For Dame Jonathan, she did not confront her husband but the way and manner she “assisted” her husband quickly brought him down politically (the era of impunity). It is indeed arguably true that she was one of the weak links which led the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a disastrous general election in 2015.
I hate to be aligned to issues that border on spiritual machinations except for the doctrine of my Christian faith. However reluctant I am, I feel it is time we took issues of “dark” activities operating at the corridors of power seriously. Abati is convinced that the Presidential Villa is bewitched. I am however of the opinion that the forces are everywhere set to strike people vested with the responsibility of managing affairs of governance with “clueless or aimless” adventures.
The more than frequent distractions, plummeting goodwill and roaring economy back-turn only leave me with no choice but to agree that an invincible force is projected to change expectations, create distractions planned to open window for a few to loot our commonwealth, control power and keep Nigeria perpetually on its kneel.
While I am not making excuses for administrative, policy gaffes noticed in the Buhari-led administration, I am impulsively obliged to call on reasonable Nigerians to examine situations properly from an orthodox perspective. We have had our fair share fighting from the divides of “Hailing Hailer and Wailing Wailers”. We must subject our leaders to evaluations devoid of sentiments towards achieving a Nigeria of our dreams.
We must ask ourselves why most administrations at all tiers of government are often hated while on seat but loved when another comes on board. We must ask ourselves why former presidents, governors are better than the incumbents? I recall Abati’s position that no matter how nice the policy was, a sitting president cannot be right. In his words, “When the president makes a speech and he truly means well, the speech is interpreted wrongly”.
We may recall that during former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathans Administration, students were taken from Government Secondary school Chibok by Boko Haram terrorists. The first reaction from the then president was complete denial. As the truth continued to unfold, a whole Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) was indeed oblivious of happenings under him (no wonder he removed the toga of C-in-C). His wife, Dame Patience Jonathan was in tears upon the grave realization to the contrary - her famous statement, “na only you follow come…there is God oooo".
If we cast our memories back to assess successive administrations since 1999, it is sickening to realize that a lot of poor decisions have been taken which resulted in economic stagnancy, social strife, militancy/terrorism/kidnappings/robbery to fester in the country. For former president Olusegun Obasanjo, a third term agenda was muted, which nearly marred his administration.
For late Umar Musa Yar’Adua, his health plummet, and while he was struggling to stay alive, cabals took over government, plundering our commonwealth. Jonathan was characterized by brazen looting by public officials. He plunged to an all time low when his gaffes of Security malaise in the North appeared to have gone beyond his control.
In the area of health, Stella Obasanjo died before that administration expired. Yar’Adua died while he was just two years into his administration – and the rest is history. According to the account of Dr. Abati, Aso Rock and its occupants were bedeviled by ailments and deaths. Dame Jonathan almost died, Abati also intimated on how he suffered from whizzing (breathlessness) for six months adding that he also lost motor senses in his legs for two months.
If developed countries like USA, Russia, France, Britain can study extra terrestrial lives (we call them evil spirits in Nigeria), then we must find solution for the voodoo powers limiting good governance. Our president “knew it all” before the 2015 victory, now he is seen staggering blindly trying very hard to remain focused. His curse has been limited to a starving Nigerian populace (reliving his era as a military Head of State). We need prayers, we need to carefully research towards emancipating Nigeria of all forms of evil altars against our leaders.
* Ebije was the Chief Press Secretary/Director General Media and Public Affairs to former Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mua’azu BAbangida Aliyu of Niger state.
