|
Decode This By Sonny Okogwu, the ex unsuccessful deejay and in-law to Ibro is having a good laugh. Only in Nigeria kids, where else would a character like Sonny introduce a word into the political lexicon of a country. Decode, decode he insists. Mouthy Reuben Abati of the Guardian has picked it up. Wrote he: "That is a coded message" on Gani Adams insistence that "if he is guilty then the whole Yorubas are guilty". Who cares if Gani Adams is guilty? My problem is the lack of professional ethics amongst our babalawos, marabouts and dibias. How can one spend a fortune preparing otumokpo for his protection or against his enemies only to have it negated by another professional for half the cost? Afenifere holds a rapport with the Arewas, Gani gives himself up. I am not saying that milk grows hair but have you ever seen a bald headed calf? Decode…
Decode, decode…why do I have to be saddled with all these clumsy operatives. I heard good things about the Director of the SSS, Colonel Are but now I am not so sure. Ibro was invited for a chat before traveling out of the country. He went. That was the visit he paid to Aso Rock. Ditto for Abdulsalami, who paid his visit to Defense Headquarters. Decorum was respected. In case of Aikhomu, he was asked to go to the Benin office of the SSS. The cross of the minority! Don’t forget the whole SSS is headed by a retired colonel. Tell me, for a country whose internal conflicts lies between stagnation and imagination. Why do our security services lack imagination? The SSS should have arranged for Aikhomu’s passport to be stolen or the operative who collected his passport at the airport could simply have walked off the premises. All attempts and complaints by Aikhomu would have been treated with the proper noises and the promise to look into it. Now, what have we got? Colonel Are shot off and invoked national security. National security? Who has been publishing all those tasteless things about the president’s wife? Omo Iya, that denial that the presidency was not aware is infantile. No wonder armed robbers are now drinking tea at OFN farms. Are you trying to tell us that the National Security Adviser who was your mentor has stopped reading intelligence reports. Please spare us. Aikhomu outflanked you. If his passport was stolen, snippets of information would have been dropped with the press boys as to how he also lost millions of dollars that he intended to smuggle abroad, by now Aikhomu would have been reeling. See, you have now made him the champion of south-south presidency all because you thought you could bully him. Decode..
Speaking of bullies, Is Oputa also a general? I know a general to be a soldier who goes to battle without a gun. Justice Oputa go home. Ha ha ha. Decode, decode, isn’t it the same Oputa who sent out a warrant compelling General Ogomudia to appear in his presence? The curse of the minorities! I know Buhari. He is my personal friend and I tell him here and now. General, do not go to Oputa Panel. If those beriberis want to go, let them. Who is Obasanjo to put up an illegal panel and ask you to appear? The same Obasanjo whose townsman ordained him an ‘institution’ and thus prevented him from appearing before a Panel. In the annals of political extra judicial killings in Nigeria, who has killed more? Has anybody asked about the family of that Plateau colonel who was not involved in Dimkas’ coup., but was found guilty and executed. A letter promoting him to brigadier, was later sent to his house. Please. Times Magazine [1976] called it ‘Drumhead Justice’. Was Fela Anikulapo Kuti paying taxes to Kalakuta Republic or the Federal Government of Nigeria? And what of Odi? General do not go! Biafra… Sharia … biafra… sharia …of the mind …decode …decode….
Of gamblers and bookmakers...Gambling and bookmaking are governed by different philosophies. My godfather Senator Nzeribe is a bookmaker and Dr., the honorable Orji Kalu is a gambler. The true gambler acts impulsively, risking his load to win immediately. The bookmaker hedges, shifts the action, avoiding the hazardous decision if possible. One defies chance and throws his pile into one pot. The other seldom taps out unless the percentage guarantees the result. The gambler is reckless and challenges fortune, winner takes all. The bookmaker settles for a small gain, if his solvency is threatened. Needless to say, the poorhouse is filled with gamblers. Decode , decode…. Ga ikpa ya akpa …. 2003 is going to be a two horse race, with both horses coming from the same stable.
There is a one term pact. Ignore it at your peril. Decode….decode… Nwa Asaba urges you. Please don’t take his message as a private opinion that makes enough noise to attract converts. The pact has to be honored. We know in third world politics, there is a strife of interests masquerading as principles, but in Nigeria you start out as a bricklayer and then end up a contractor.
Decode…decode…
Orok Edem August, 2001
|