By Shomoye Abiodun
President Buhari and his new position:
Some days ago, I took to my twitter page via @MrShomoye to share my perceived change in the societally common shibboleth, after tweeting the opinion, I thereafter realized the 140 character provided by Twitter is not enough to portray the intended message hence I am left with the option of writing this piece. After reading this, I am certain that we all will relate it to our environments and will eventually vindicate my assertion. The tweet is quoted below:
“Finally, devil has found a replacement in Nigeria. Anything now is no longer Devil, it’s now Buhari. Forgery; Buhari, Stealing; Buhari,”
Believe me you, it is a common character in this part of the world to transact blame anytime we are found guilty of any wrong doing, we hardly take responsibilities for our actions and inactions. Though, this might not be peculiar to all but certainly a larger percentage of the population does this. It is actually acceptable if the person who the blame was directed to, was actually the motor spirit that supported the occurrence of the abysmal acts, probably as society, we can pity you but mind you, not in the court of law.
There have been paradigm shifts in the occupant of the prestigious sit titled “Who to blame”. Sometimes ago, all the blames were usually directed to either someone’s stepmother(s) (In the case of polygamous family), father’s concubine(s) or the village people at large. At that time, if anyone gets caught indulging in terrible acts, the next statement to hear is “my village people finally caught me” or “Iya Sikira has caught me”. At that time, the blame-receivers were “Village people”, “Father’s concubine(s)” and “step mother(s)”.
As years goes on, things began to change, polygamous marriage began to reduce, and village people became busier. As at that time, the key two receivers of blame seems too busy to receive those. But trust Nigerians, we must definitely create alternatives, this time Devil became the new victim. Immediately Devil became the soul receiver of blames, all bad deeds were attributed to him as the motivating factor (like he came into their souls or he was using a remote controller over them). As of this time, if a thief is caught, the next statement will be; its devil’s handwork.
Contrary to the previous situation where everyone has individual villages or step mothers receiving the blames, devil’s own was different as he was the only receiver. As expected the available space in Devil’s bungalow to receive blames got filled up, my people were left in lacuna again, the search for the new occupant of the sit began.
Unfortunately for President Buhari, he was sworn in as at the time the search game was serious. President Buhari being unaware of the search game concentrated on closing two doors (anti-corruption door and counter terrorism) in his own apartment, what a careless one from the President. The other doors that were left unclosed made him vulnerable and expectedly gave room for the blames to pour in millions. President Buhari is now the current occupant of the prestigious sit, now the devil is free to leave in peace for the time being.
What do we now have after Buhari’s emergence?
When caught stealing; Buhari o
Even when tax clearance was forged prior to becoming governor; Buhari o
Senate order was forged; Buhari o
Economy; Buhari o
Kidnapping; Buhari o
EFCC doing performing its duties: Buhari o
Those blaming Buhari for economy woes are still on track but what concerns Buhari with tax clearance forgery case? Is it Buhari that aided the forgery of senate order? For God’s sake!!
In order to leave the “who to blame” sit, president Buhari has given mandates to six-months-studied “saints” to man the doors and ensure no blames comes through them again. Saint that doesn’t sign cheque got a 3-in-one door to man but unfortunately, he has done nothing tangible to make differences, his door remains one of the best extending Buhari’s stay as the blame receiver. Most of the “saints” are even on sabbatical leaves, it’s very appalling that nothing tangible is coming from them for now. Their ineffectiveness is making President Buhari remain as the occupant of “who to blame” sit, I sincerely hope President Buhari will consider sacking some of them after this current fiscal years.
Lest I forget, what made me write this? Buhari o
Ambode: The Creator of Decree before Design
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode seems to have enacted his first law as a governor, majority has been waiting for the governor’s first law as his predecessor Fashola was known for lots of such, and one of fashola’s laws remains the ban of Okada riders on highways. Fashola’s decision back then generated lots of debates, Ambode’s own seems to have tow the same direction as he has made known to all that street hawking is an offence in Lagos state. Actually, the decision might be considered good as no one wants to be on the street hawking but the decision will metamorphosed into full grown anti-masses decision if at the end there is no provision for the disengaged masses as no one wants to be jobless.
Governor Ambode while making the decision apparently forgot some salient issues; he forgot he is governing a state where large amount of people (even with hawking business) can’t afford accommodation for themselves, he forgot he is governing a state where good number of people are currently jobless (now he is adding to the population), he ultimately forgot there is only one liberty in Lagos (liberty to earn a living)?. As is it now, governor Ambode has taken away the only liberty Lagosians enjoys with nothing to replace it. Rather than providing alternatives for them, the governor went ahead to impose jail term and penalty just to scare away the poor masses, is this the best to do after taking away their means of survival? Is governor Ambode aware of the fact that this population constitute large percentage of his board of employer? Definitely he forgot all before taking a decision that makes his employers looks like his employee.
In a sane society, before such decision will be made public, alternative provisions to assimilate the disengaged would have been put in place to assimilate them. Oh! That is for sane society anyways.
Now that governor Ambode has taken the decision as expected in an insane society, I personally don’t want him to reverse it. All I want from Ambode now is to correct his mistakes by providing a non-hawking environment which at the same time will be favorable for trading opportunity.
It will be an imposition of lifestyle, if craft is the only alternative route at the end. Every human has passion and interest, some’s own might be craft while some’s might not. Some are structured to be traders (which hawking is a means), some are not. The best for Ambode is to provide the two (Craft and Trade). We have bus stops across Lagos, creating mini stops for them won’t be a bad idea.
I just have to pity Lagosians now, as their burden is plus 10. Those who leaves their various beds as early as 4am to beat traffic gridlocks are the secondary victims of this ban. No more 50naira snacks and drink to bail you out. Your governor has prioritized banning hawkers ahead of ending traffic gridlock which is supporting its (hawking) existence.
Eku se se be re ni o.
Shomoye Abiodun can be contacted @MrShomoye
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