We salute those about to drink the hemlock
by
There is one thing that ordinary mortals do not know about the Nigerian politician. He is a consummate exponent of the double speak. Anyone who deals with him is warned: he should not take his word for it. Rather, all the tell-tales must be taken into account and computed for a near approximate of what he may mean anytime the politician speaks.
The Nigerian politician speaks not only with the mouth - which is natural; he also speaks with his body movements, which the psychologist lovingly calls body language. Anyone who wants to understand him must watch him closely and mark him, in the manner of the football contender, closely too. Consummate practitioners of the double speak years ago in Yoruba country codified it: Boo roju mi, oo rinu mi, Demo ng mowa (if you see my facial expression, you cannot fathom my mind, I am in the Democratic Party). This was an allusion to the lack- lustre Nigeria National Democratic Party of the master strategist, Ladoke Akintola. The people did not like the new metamorphosis; but the proponents had behind them the awesome backing of state power, which they used most ruthlessly. They found themselves between the devil and the deep blue sea. They had to profess NNPD, but were looking forward to use their vote for the Action Group.
I am reminded of that state because as I write this, the issue of today has to do with the cabinet sacking and imminent appointments and reshuffle. It is not as if that kind of exercise has not taken place before, nor would it be the last.
There has always been a certainty: the certainty of change. Those who know, say, and truly believe that change is the only thing that is permanent. The man who has the power to effect a change today will be changed at a future date. The power will be taken away from him and given to another person willy nilly. That is why we are advised that we must admit that change may occur not as a result of competence or incompetence; it may occur as a result of whims and caprices. And I am not fully convinced that the impending one cannot be ascribed to the latter reason. That will be because Nigerian politics is peculiar and the moving forces or the dynamics of it are unique people and amazing graces.
Obasanjo will have a new cabinet not from the places he would love to have them; not from the classes he would want to chose from, but from the politically correct parameters. And it is an incontrovertible truth that those who make the decision as to who gets the nod do not think of the cranial content of their surrogates, but their pliability and their dispensability. Generals may need brain in the planning of their military campaigns; they lay premium, at least, around here, on brawn. With due respect to those who have kissed the goblet and those about to drink the hemlock, it is the nature of Nigerian politics that has made it so. Appointments are seen more as pay off for services rendered and not as opportunity for service to the people.
It is in the nature of people, therefore, to denigrate the services that the outgoing people have rendered, not because people want to, but because they see the next pay cheque coming from a new set of people. We must shun that kind of attitude.
The President, as has been pointed out, aims to kill so many birds with the single stone of cabinet change or reshuffle. He wants to ensure a second term (and I have no objection to that); he wants to bring a new set of people into spheres of influence; he wants to strategically curry the favour of the various segments that will decide whether he has a second term or not. All legitimate aspirations which enable us to read him like the back of our hand.
Isn’t it a classic case of the proverbial camel getting through the eye of the needles that cheeky Chikwe got away! What would have been the sin of Bunu at the FCT, other than that he might have been squaring up to Abubakar Atiku? Dapo Sarumi’s ouster may not have to do with the unfortunate incident of the auto accident that took the lives of a young and promising couple. It will be a callous and ignorant government that will punish a minister for an inconclusive case. Good systems do not condemn until otherwise proven. Graham Douglas’ sack may not have to do with the quality of his grassroots support, but the need to banish it may have dictated the necessity for change.
That Hassan Adamu ever got a cabinet position was a surprise in the first place. Atiku would rather than Adamu be thrown away like a wet rag, got him a face saving position. Atiku probably thinks he now wants to lay emphasis somewhere else.
Simon Sango’s cup probably got full a long time ago, but his sack might not have had to do with his legendary incompetence. (Afterall what was he before he was appointed?). It may have to do with those he did not allow a dip into the honey-pot.
No-one can put the tag of incompetence on Professor Adeniran. His being asked out of cabinet might have to do with laying the battle formation for the capture of the South-West for PDP - a tall dream.
Medaiyese Jemibewon has been obviously successful within the limit of time, resources and orientation available to him that one finds no difficulty in buying his theory of strategic displacement. Where he goes from there will underscore his importance and recognition.
Tim Menakaya might have taken a flak from the President. It shows the importance of his ministry and the President’s expectation of it; he might have had a running battle with Abalaka. The lapses were noted because he worked ... most others trudged along. The President or his people probably preferred another person for strategic reason. I hope no-one is inferring that those retained worked better. Their retention is merely providential.
If the President would not level with us, he should know the people will find out on their own. The trouble is that there would be more chaff than grains.
The writer is based in Lagos