By Okolo Chimennma
Since the July 1966 counter coup, the successful plotters have been in total control of the affairs of the Nigerian State. From that time they have so entrenched themselves that they determine the direction of our economic trajectory, political movement and social relations. They have become determinants of how we think, view situations and accept conditions. They do this solely for their selfish interests. It doesn’t matter that our people die daily from poverty In the midst of plenty. They care not that our roads are poorly or that our economy is comatose, or that our hospitals are nonfunctional consulting clinics so long as their interests are served.
From 1966 till date is 50 years and in all that time they have seamlessly transferred political power within and amongst themselves such that these crop of people have held power directly for 38 years of our 56 years of independence. The remaining 12 years political power have been domiciled in their civilian friends (Shagari 4 years, Yar’Adua 3 years and GEJ 5 years).
In that time too they have found it convenient to throw out their civilian friends for flimsy reasons usually anchored on allegations of corruption. GEJ for instance is more corrupt than Obasanjo, Abacha, IBB and Buhari put together. The truth however is that GEJ deviated from the plan and began to believe in his transformation programs, (this is a story for another day).
How have they been so successful?
They first used force of arms then they craftily and cunningly corrupted everything and bought off every one. For those they couldn’t buy off they prepared dossiers to keep them on the leash.
You think those intellectual colossus who once called Buhari the most brutal dictator after Abacha (a government for which Buhari was an integral part) would suddenly see the same Buhari as messiah? Or the activists after rabidly fighting military dictatorships will freely support a civilian dictator?
They own the media and the economy. They know how to manipulate our cleavages for their own selfish interests. That’s why they could sell Buhari as an harbinger of change and Nigeria’s latest messiah.
Ask yourselves how can a Buhari who has been part of the system since 1966 and has been in government serving in various capacities in all military regimes except for the IBB years be the saviour of Nigeria?
They then divide us on ethnic basis and use religious differences to keep us malleable. That was why our northern counterparts would vote against GEJ in 2015 on the basis that he was an infidel irrespective of his achievements.
They make youths feel at 40 years that they are still too young for serious responsible political leadership whilst they were barely in their 20s when they struck in 1966.
They know that they can’t defeat a united Nigerian people so they manipulate us, they manipulate the way we think, the way we view ourselves and even how we should relate to each other.
Let me state that the Nigerian people must first unite, then push out these greedy self centred buccaneers parading themselves as messiahs of Nigeria.
For those who are wants to argue please let’s not argue disproving what I have said with counter facts.
I am not your enemy, your enemies are those who have held you in bondage whilst making you feel others like you, are the problem with Nigeria. Take a step back, relax think it through whether I have lied here. Let’s begin to use our heads!
It is against these true enemies of Nigeria that we all must come together to effect change and transform into realities the Nigeria of our dreams.
The true enemies of Nigeria are those men who since 1966 have held our nation down.
The Nigerian people must wake up to their true enemies only then can they effectively stop them.
God bless us all.
Okolo Chimennma, is a lawyer, youth activist and an environmental rights campaigner.
