By Onjefu Okidu
Apart from sarcastic writers like Nwosu, it is sad that some aggrieved anti-Jonathan partisan elements have inconsiderably taken over the tragic situation to push for political mis-conversations not also minding the collective pains that have engulfed the victims’ families, the ministry of interior and Nigeria. For instance, Fani-kayode, the former Minister of Aviation paraded the following outburst via his opinion on the subject on page 12 of Leadership published on Wednesday, March 19, 2014: “When I saw the early morning pictures of the crowd of youths at the Abuja stadium my heart just sank because I could almost write the script of what would follow. And so I waited (expectantly?) and wasn’t disappointed. Would anything come out of it? No. Would life go on? Yes. Do they care? No. And the moron of a Minister had the gall to say that candidates died because of ‘impatience.’ Meanwhile the so-called aptitude test was just a ruse. They had handpicked their preferred candidates weeks ago. The crowd alone told me that we have a serious problem of youth unemployment, yet Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala would come out and be reeling stupid figures. Please tell her that she’s not fooling anyone.”
It is painful though perfectly understandable that these kinds of uncultured and unkind words at a time like this are paraded by a former honourable minister to buttress his views. It shouldn’t be surprising, for the Nigerian political scene has always been a jungle of warring failed political actors and actresses seeking relevance to elongate their failure. President Jonathan’s recent theoretical postulations have greatly helped to explain the predisposition. The theory postulates that, “if former political officeholders had done their duties well while in office the people will not be yearning for what they have already put in place.”
The real question is: in the current general struggle for good governance in Nigeria can Nigerians count on former ministers like Fani-Kayode as an ally? The answer is that former political officeholders like Kayode gives sensible expression to a tendency which Nigerians have craved for almost four decades in order to curry absolution or some other motive. It is therefore clear that the recent high-sounding principles enunciated by Kayode and his likes, though apparently “ordinary” people-oriented are essentially pretentious. They stand not for the “ordinary people” but for the adoption of more subtle systems of oppression and exploitation. The evidence is there for all to see.
Beyond the tragedy, the minister ofiInterior’s predisposition apparently points to his willingness to learn from the lessons. To be sure, the Minister said so many things when the incident occurred. But the only words recognizable among the many by those who want him crucified are “impatience of candidates.” For those who may be in need of further information, the Minister also said, “the deaths and injuries weren’t deliberate. It is regrettable and heart breaking. I appeal to the good people of Nigeria to show understanding in the circumstances to help us overcome the sad development.” How else can a man be more remorseful? How else can a man express deep pain? How else can a man accept official mistakes? Despite the fact that the Minister genuinely and openly expressed deep pain over the incident, and with tears in his eyes moaned the unintended outcome, some still prefer to follow the path of extreme emotionality couched in selfish motives to darken his fallibility by implying deliberacy and incompetence.
Although devoid of semantic sarcasm, the submission of the All Progressive Congress (APC) tends to be contradictory. The party is demanding the sack of the interior Minister and at the same time canvassing “criminal investigation” into the incident. Logically, which should come first? – the sacking of the Minister or the investigation? And why not allow investigation to determine the criminality? To be fair, though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ruling, the party’s charge for detailed investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the stampede appears more procedural, civilized and helpful. The fast movement to crucifixion may amount to jewish barbarism of the old. It is clear from the APC’s semantic contradiction and prejudicial language that the concern is not about the tragedy that has enveloped us all but purely a negotiation for political space. Well, some may say that is politics. To begin with, it is bad politics when we abandon the realm of human fallibility – when we ignore the good intention of an action; when we discuss tragedies only in the context of blame. Taken together, this inclination hamper progress. It robs a nation of genuine and sustainable solution to deep rooted problems that generate unexpected pains.
While the various vituperations on the Honourable Minister of Interior, the Controller General of Immigration and the President may suggest a satisfaction of various motives and values, they, however deliberately become unyielding to the understanding of the huge gap the ill-fated immigration recruitment aimed to bridge. Hence, the Controller General of Immigration, the Minister of Interior as well as the President are continuously and consistently labeled as heartless and uncaring. It is not unreasonable, therefore, to suggest that ministries, departments and agencies will continue not to take genuine interest in employment exercises that are open and inclusive.
Frankly, the parameters of this discourse have been shortened by the tragedy. In other words, however succinct, no discussion at this point in time concerning the on-going secret and exclusive employments and the advantage of the open and all inclusive ill-fated immigration recruitment will suffice. As the Deputy Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Abdul Ningi has soothingly pointed out, times such as these call for deep reflections on the state of our nation and genuine feelings for the departed souls and attentive care for the wounded. Concluded.
Dr. Onjefu Okidu is [email protected]
