Praise and worship is a well-known phenomenon in religious gatherings especially in Christianity. It acts as a catalyst in spiritual consultations
with God almighty and there results are always very soothing and relieving to the troubled and worried souls in our quandary. In fact, in some cases
instant healings and miracles take place to the glorification and attestation of the son of the most high. Surprisingly, man has in one way or
the other turned this efficacious process into distraught and dubious complicity.
Nigeria has produced so many praise worshippers in the last decades that have deliberately undermined the progressive and cohesive path finding of a
people so deprived. Some of them are real while some are nothing but imaginary with a convergent evil purpose of self-enrichment and
voraciousness. These groups of people have succeeded in plundering the country into a state of melancholy and deceit while they smile to the banks
with "cursed money". And do you know what, they are still there eagerly waiting for an opportunity where their sycophantic dexterity can be hired.
They seem have to forgot that we are in an era where in the words of their former patron - Sani Abacha, "Enough is enough".
Professor Bolaji Akinyemi was reported some weeks ago as extolling the virtues and excellent governance of Gen Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) at a book
launch held in honor of the former custodian of militocracy. I found those lines of praise and worship annoying and insulting to the people of Nigeria.
This is a former Minister of External Affairs, NADECO chieftain and Professor of known repute in his academic discipline. It becomes intriguing
when one remembers that he was at the forefront of those fighting for the June 12 democratic restoration whilst cowardly fighting the Abacha regime
from a distance. It also becomes more of a paradox to analyze especially when one had fought a dictator in power only to idolize a former political
tyrant. I wonder where his sense of reasoning lies when we all acknowledge the stupidity in fighting the ideology and worshipping the idealist.
It has always been my wish that people like Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi should be permanently ostracized and quarantined as political lepers and nothing else
because they are the kind of people blow two trumpets at different times of the night. They have no self-esteem or pride and their intellectual ability
is completely devoid of elementary logic. Nevertheless, he is not alone in this double standard crusade. Do you remember Gen Abdukarim Adisa (rtd) who
was somehow framed for a coup plot by the Abacha regime? Here was a man who was running the ministry of works and housing as his public property with native intelligence and military might. He spent more time destroying the
painful and hard earned properties of just people as if he was untouchable. This same Adisa was on one hand praising and canvassing for Abacha's eternal
reign in God's own country and on the other hand, was speaking spitefully about the latter. As God will like it, this flatterer was rounded up and
thrown in jail because like honest and fearless Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd) rightly said "Beware of such praise worshippers because they never keep to
their words till the very end".
The list continues with people like Arthur Eze, Felix Lebarty and Sam Mbakwe. I candidly rekindle those days of where people publicly displayed
placards like "Up Abacha, Down Satan" before and during the sickening two million man march in Abuja two years ago. Arthur Eze and Felix Lebarty even
threatened to commit suicide if Abacha did not remain in power. The latter (Felix Lebarty) went as far as composing a song for this purpose. Today, I
would have been very happy if the said two were dead even though this goes against my religious code of ethics. How can a normal human being with a
thinking faculty consider death as an option if their leader of choice fails to remain in power? I would love to remind them of that senseless and
irrational pronouncement at the slightest chance and make them understand that a good name is better than false riches.
Chief Sam Mbakwe was until his appearance at the "Abacha Must Stay" one of the few leftover June 12 apostles who could have probably been amongst IBB's
lists of Gani Fawenhinmi and Col. Abubakar Umar (rtd). He forgot that winners don't quit even when it's dark despite victory being uncertain and
when I saw him for the first time at the International wing of the Murtala Muhammmed Airport in Lagos two years ago, he looked visibly hunted by his
last past with all the aroma and charisma of progressiveness shaken off. Yet again, the leftover eulogizing bigots who probably were undergoing
apprenticeship under the tutelage of the mentioned are at it again this time urging Uncle Sege or IBB for a second term. This time around I can
categorically state that they will fail because we have had enough of these toady personalities. When they rise, we shall all rise and crush them beyond
recognition and this time they will not escape humiliation and mortification. I know that God will be on our side...
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