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In the past few weeks, we have examined a series of events that made December 2013 an unforgettable one both for Nigerians and for those who have made it their business to mind Nigeria’s business. The events were the exchange of unconventional public communication between the incumbent president and his predecessor, the sudden benevolence of our judges especially after one of the candidates had served his term, the billions of USD ‘missing’ from the NNPC as ‘exposed’ by no other person than the out-going CBN governor and the off-side majority acquired in the NASS by APC. These events have actually laid the foundation for what to expect in 2014, at least in Nigeria. Generally, there shall be more political signs and wonders and the River State will not only continue to smoulder, the scenario will continue to replicate itself here and there. More and more groups would want to save Rivers while Mbu will continue to assure them that they are safe already. And while some continue to call for Mbu’s removal, others will swear that he is the best man for Rivers of today. Some will not see anything wrong in the budget being presented, passed and signed in the government house within a few hours or the unnecessary go-slow in the appointment of the chief Judge while others will not find it strange that the Save Rivers Group will always find it impossible to meet in peace! That is politics Nigeriana and that is the permutation and combination for 2015 in practice
As the macabre dance between the police, the RVSG and the SRG continues, methinks the police authorities have already made the point that they can’t just remove the CP because an ‘enemy’ says so. Mbu may be innocent and they do not have to remove the hard-working CP; he should just go to NIPSS, Kuru, go on leave or on a mission to Central African Republic or something else! In 1966, Major Ifeajuna lamented that those who caused the trouble were prepared to rule even if only one man survived.. and while our people were fighting and dying, those who ruled and had but to say one word or raise a finger and peace as well as and justice would return, merely looked on…’ Let our people not die to one man and let those ‘polithiefiens’ on both sides-in Rivers and elsewhere- stop this madness in the name of politics. Meanwhile, the APC integrity group has emerged; there are cross-carpeting and counter-carpeting and for sure, this is a season of signs and wonders, until May, 2015.
The Musical chair in PDP continues and this will be a year of musical chairs. Some commentators have argued that Tukur was sacrificed to satisfy the blood-thirsty rampaging demon which the PDP has become while others argued that he was thrown overboard because the sinking ship was overloaded. Whatever the case, it has been like this and it will continue to be like this. Muazu, the new PDP boss, was once the governor of Bauchu state while the current governor was an Abuja politician. The battle between Abuja and home politicians got so hot in Bauch that the present governor had to decamp to another party to take over by force while Muazu could not win even a Senate seat. The new governor then set up an inquiry, found his predecessor guilty, and banned him from holding public office for a decade and to refund N19bn. The matter is in the cooler but one day, it will surface. Already, there are reports of whether EFCC is probing Muazu or not! Meanwhile, the APGA chairmanship tussle is an ever-present reality while that of LP is simmering. There are also other parties with permanent chairmen or sole administrators and as the struggle for structures, automatic tickets, second term, nominations and anointing intensify, the volcano within these dormant parties will erupt while the existing parties will become more turbulent as is already happening in Ogun APC and many others. The implication of all these signs and wonders is that there will be no governance this year; the budget that had been hitherto poorly executed will not even be executed at all and if APC has its way, may not be passed. But I don’t know why the President’s advisers are slow to adopt progressive templates. Invite loyal party men to Aso Rock, entertain them stupendously, add intimidating ‘transport allowance’ and they will just pass the budget! At least, APC will not complain.
The new chief of defense staff has declared that boko-haram will be a thing of the past by April. I thought that diplomacy is a part of defense/strategic communication. Anyway, I wish him luck and pray that it becomes so. But, whenever this kind of statements were made in the past, the blood-thirsty demons in human forms always increased their tempo. Well the same has happened again. In any case, what about the killing fields of plateau where some people are bent on obliterating the Beroms from the surface of Nigerian earth? And what about other parts of North Central where so called Fulani herdsmen murder and main at will? Surely, security challenges, including the so-called oil pilferage and pipeline vandalism [a syndicated and well-paying criminal venture] will continue to stare us in the face unless those who share the proceeds of oil stealing change their mind and the security agencies change their tactics. That change of tactics will start from knowing what to be relayed to the media and what should not be and understanding the elementary fact that in guerrilla warfare, stationary and sluggish men and machines neither win the battle nor the war!
Democratic signs and wonders are not limited to Nigeria, where we have democracy without democrats and where PDP democrats wanted the chairman out without an election. In Thailand, the progressive demonstrators want the President out because of the sins of her brother and she offered them an opportunity to vote her out. But rather than rejoice and grasp the opportunity with both hands, they got more violent; they would rather discuss the modalities for an un-elected interim government rather than accept an election. In Ukraine, the protesters argued that the country was not being well managed and they were asked to come and manage the country; they were offered the Prime-Ministership. But they refused. In Egypt, the general who came in to help douse the tension has suddenly become a part of the equation. The music now is ‘run run run, general, ruuun!’! 2014 will be a year of wonders across the world and the world will continue to be in turmoil caused by natural factors collectively termed severe weather and man-made factors like wars, strife, rebellion and official high-handedness
In effect, I have looked at my crystal ball and rather than tell you that some people will die, rain will fall and Ik Muo will always attend village meetings, I have decided to tell you the truth, which is, that this will be a tough year. It will be tough not because God has abandoned us but because our ‘dealers’ have sold their souls to the god of covetous do-or-die politics and we the people have acquiesced. ‘Then they will look to the earth and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; they will be driven into darkness (Isaiah, 8:22). May desperate politicians not drive us into anguish, gloom and darkness in their unquenchable thirst for power and rent in 2014 and beyond. Once more, happy new year and I hope to enjoy your fellowship this year, as always!
By: Ik Muo
