Prof S.O.E Ogbogu – a Professor
of Power Electronics, is a good and funny teacher. He taught me Digital Control
System (EEE 307) and Applied Electronics (ECE 316) respectively during my
university days, FUTO precisely. He knows how to accompany lecture with
humours. At times, his humorous utterances made us missed his lectures greatly
when we didn’t have him. Though it is often stated that it is not healthy to
mix business with pleasure, but lately I realized that sometimes such practice
could be consequential.
One who is of the view that
Nigeria is tremendously blessed is never in any way mistaken, because Nigeria
which is the most populous and popular black nation is no doubt richly blessed.
But just as anything under the sun is comprised of merits and demerits, Nigeria
is not exceptional. The demerit side of Nigeria remains that, virtually all her
subjects are opaque in nature.
Let me throw more light regarding the opaque nature of a typical
Nigeria. If you take a painstaking study, you will notice that, on the average,
a Nigerian is not transparent. Even one, who seems not unlike a Saint, must
possess a bit passion for secrecy or insincerity as the case may be. This is
the reason, the more you try to study an average Nigerian, the more you get
confused. It’s a fact.
Few days ago I was opportune to be present in a wedding ceremony that
was organized in Port-Harcourt – the Garden City, Rivers State. the moment I
arrived at the venue of the event, I was reminded by the Master of the Ceremony
(MC) that I had earlier been called to the High Table, probably in absentia;
but I didn’t make it to the High Table as requested owing to a fishy attitude I
observed as soon as I walked into the arena, thus I gave an excuse that I was
comfortable where I was seated. Though, at a point I made up my mind to ignore
the dishonest act, which was exhibited by one of the female ushers, since it
was a usual idiosyncrasy of a typical Nigerian alongside other densely corrupt
African nations.
Barely few weeks ago, most Nigerians both home and in the Diaspora, were
apprehensive prior to the just concluded polls, mainly Presidential, that took
place in the country. During the said era, most concerned Nigerians would tell
you that the polls were likely to result to another Civil war. Taking reference
from the prediction of the United States’ Security department – CIA, virtually
everyone resident in Nigeria almost concurred with the aforementioned mixed
feelings.
Today, the election, which has made the All Progressives Congress (APC)
to become the order of the day, has successfully come and gone. As regards the
scenario, it is no longer news that Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR would become the
next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come Friday May 29, 2015.
Suffice to say; the man in question has succeeded in proving to millions of
critics as well as convincing several sceptics, that, he is indeed a great man
for having defeated the incumbent President. Since he emerged victorious at the
polls, thousands of congratulatory messages have been coming to his desk; but
the worrisome aspect of such gesture is that, most of those ‘goodwill’ messages
are not sincere or transparent, which is not unconnected to the tradition or
mentality of an average Nigerian politician, or Nigerians in general.
It is obvious that currently
almost every politician on the Nigerian political platform wishes to become a
member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has degenerated to the
alarming pace of defections witnessed recently. Concerning this anomaly, a
concerned and patriotic Nigerian may ask if this set of defectors are really in
their sane state. Yes such manner of question may not be out of place, because
if all the Nigerian politicians in the opposition eventually defected to the
APC, how would the polity of the country function, or what would be the fate of
the respective political parties they have dumped?
From my perspective; cross carpeting, which is widely known as
‘Defection’, is not just self-centred, childish and immoral, but dastardly, criminal
and barbaric. In other words, a defected politician deserves to be tried by a
court of competent jurisdiction for a criminal offence. Cross carpeting is an
act of betrayal; not just to the affected political party but to Nigeria at
large, because its implication tells profoundly on the wellbeing of the nation.
Apparently, in a system where
there is no opposition, there won’t be criticism. And I put it up to you that,
constructive criticism is invariably needed for the growth and development of
any nation or individual. For instance; if one did something wrong or evil but
never faced any iota of criticism, definitely he or she would assume that the
act is acceptable. Needless to say; a strong and uncompromising opposition is
healthy for any political system irrespective of the country involved. So those
who are planning to introduce ‘One-party’ system in the country should desist
from such irrational and disgusting act.
Thus, those law makers, either elected or incumbent, that are defecting
to the incoming ruling party – APC, ought to note that they are indirectly
betraying this nation as well as their respective electorates. And those
defecting for the sake of one anticipated political appointment or the other, I
ask you; do you really have a vision or are you just embracing
self-deceit? Let me seize this
opportunity to notify us that, Nigerians have become knowledgeable enough,
that, they cannot be deceived again. I thank God right now, most Nigerians can
contrast between the right and the wrong.
Of course, going by the outcome of the last elections, we need not to be
told that the majority of Nigerian citizens, regardless of age or status, are
now politically and socially aware of the happenings around them unlike what it
used to be. Surely, before now or in the past, an average Nigerian pays less
attention to issues relating to politics or socio-political events. Presently,
everyone seems to have keyed into the system wholeheartedly. Indeed, it is a
way forward.
I cannot conclude this piece
without reminding the potential defectors that they were not part of the
structure that founded or built the party they intend to move into, therefore
they shouldn’t expect to be treated like ‘first-class citizens’. This implies
that, they may be kept behind those whom they have mentored or nurtured in
politics; that is the irony of life. In other words, humiliation must surely
set in.
Besides; taking a glance at the current or ongoing political situation
in Nigeria, we will comprehend the fact that it is high time any right thinking
politician in the country started looking beyond personal aggrandizement, else
he/she would live to cite ‘Had I known’. Frankly, these humorous gestures being
mixed with business by our politicians are totally inconsequential and
preposterous. Think about it!
COMR FDN
NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)Founder, Docfred Continental Social Clinic (DCSC) - Owerri
_________________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
