Sahara reporters: Who Leads The Revolution? By Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye Constitutionally or conventionally, revolution is incontrovertibly regarded as the last resort amongst the instruments of social change. It is a radical weapon of change being used by the socialists to dislodge and dethrone leaders’ perceived to be oppressive and tyrannical from the seat of power. Revolution is an attempt by a large number of people, to change the government of a country, especially by violent action. In the words of Solomon Akinboye (2013), “Revolution takes three forms: firstly, protest and war leading to total paralyses of virtually all government formations and institutions; secondly, strive for power and return to masses and people oriented system of government, and thirdly, rebuilding of the collapsed and warped government formations and institutions.” Indeed, revolution has been prescribed as the most wanted panacea to Nigeria socio-economic and political quagmire in an incontestable, irrefutable and indisputable manner by some political pundits against the exploitative dominance of the Nigerian capitalists and bourgeoisies. Recently, a renowned and universally respected Prophet, Temitope Bartholomew Joshua of the Synagogue Church of Nations exploded without any fear of intimidation that revolution is fast approaching in Nigeria; but I wish to ask, who leads the revolution? Who starts the revolution? Where will the revolution start? Can this long awaited revolution start in mosque or church, when most of the churches and mosques have formed unholy coalition with the looters and maximum rulers (politicians) sabotaging our resources in the country? Churches and Mosques have long-lost their values. In Nigeria, politicians rig themselves into office and immediately after the proclamation of their victory by the already induced electoral umpires, they swear with holy bible and Quran that they will govern without any fear of favour, but reverse is the case. Next thing they do is to go into churches and mosques for jamboree called thanksgiving. Religious leaders in Nigerian visit looters standing trial in the prison custody to pray for their release because they need them to boost the treasury of their congregation. Pastors now rape and impregnate church members at will. Alfas now kill and maim perceived enemies satanically. Most Church conventions in Nigeria have been turned to political campaign grounds. Nigerian Politicians, out of their looted largesse, now pay pastors and alfas for fasting, prayers and fortification. Hence, it is mere effort in futility to think that the much awaited revolution will start from the church or mosque? As for me, I doubt it, because the difference between most of the present religious leaders and political actors/office holders is simply that same difference between a goat and a sheep. No doubt, our spiritual temples have sacrificed values and virtues for riches and vices. Can the Nigerian Activists, Labour leaders and Civil Societies lead this revolution? The critical analyses done below best captured little about the true idiosyncrasy of Nigerian Activists. Sometimes in February 2009, a former Nigerian Labour Congress leader (NLC) and the Incumbent Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomole, according to media reports, expended about N200million on one man, one vote rally that was held at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin where he gathered those he believed are true democrats at the stadium to chastise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Federal Government in relation to the poor conduct of the 2007 general elections and advocated for the total overhauling of the Nigerian electoral system. The rally was attended by the many bigwigs of his party, the Action congress of Nigeria (ACN) now All Progressive Congress (APC). Also, last year, precisely on the 14th of July when the Edo governorship election was in progress, Adams Oshiomole angrily lampooned the INEC Chairman, Professor Atahiru Jega because of the late arrival of election materials. Oshiomole christened Jega an embarrassment to Nigeria. He was thereafter his vituperation, declared the winner of the election. However, according to reports from citizen reporters, the April 2013 Chairmanship and Councillorship elections in Edo were the worst since the advent of democratic rule in Nigeria. All the tenets and the essential ingredients that characterize a democratic state were allegedly jettisoned for rigging, ballot box stuffing, multiple voting, killing and a never-seen-before intimidation of opposition leaders; what a contradiction? The present opposition parties in Nigeria are the most hypocritical in the world. Their products are better looters than the products of the lack of creativity, ingenuity, and non-efficient ruling PDP. Nigerian opposition preaches value and virtue but practice vices. A.C.N (now APC) told President Goodluck Jonathan to fire his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, for allegedly defrauding the good people of Benue State to the tune of N600million via an abandoned road contract, but defended the continue staying in office of the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji. What an irony? Pathetically, some of the activists that Nigerians are expecting to lead revolution for them petitioned and dragged some former South Western PDP Governors to court for awarding a kilometer of road for N67million, but are currently defending A.C.N Governors for awarding a kilometer of road for N1billion. The Activists and Governors that chastised INEC and FG for not giving Nigerians credible election in 2007 and 2011 till date have not uttered a word against the charade called local government elections conducted by the opposition parties in Lagos, Ogun and Edo state from 2011 to present. Also, I make bold to emphasize here that the Nigerian prominent self-acclaimed human right activists and pro-democracy crusaders are mere bourgeoisies and clandestine politicians masquerading themselves as friends of the commoners. They kick only when their interests are being trampled upon, but go on criminal silence in the faces of oppression and injustice once their interests are protected. Former House of representatives member, and Executive Director of anti-corruption network, Dino Melaye, vowed to stage protest against the suspended chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Education, Farouk Lawan and Oil magnate, Femi Odetola for bribery and mismanagement of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) subsidy fund, but never did till date as he could not apparently go against the interest of his former colleague, Lawan. In similar vein, Critical voice of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) were always heard in the media during the governorship reigns of Adeniyi Adebayo, Ayodele Fayose and Olusegun Oni in Ekiti state but the legal luminary has not uttered a word against the incumbent administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi despite conspicuous irregularities. Nigerian labour leaders will never be forgotten and forgiven by poor Nigerians over the manner which they backed-off from the demonstration that had trailed the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government in January 2012. Nigerian labour leaders disappointed Nigerians when they were needed most. Please what should we name a labour leader with a monthly pay of N48, 000 but have two of his children at a time in Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, paying close to N2million per session? What do we say about the 76 years old Founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), comrade Frederick Fasheun that has turned him to the body guard of the recently discharged and acquitted former Chief Security of Officer to the late Nigerian tyrant, Sanni Abacha, Major al Mustapha? Does my own leader in the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Senator Babafemi Ojudu, still has moral/locus standing to address the grassroots people having voted against their interest via the local government autonomy not to talk of leading revolution? Is it the leader of the opposition party who owns about 40% of the entire resources of his state of origin that will revolt for Nigerians? It has also been rumoured by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) do use their incessant industrial actions to negotiate for appointment and promotion from federal government. Recently, the leaders of the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) made known of their intention to embark on a three days warning strike over the rejection of local government autonomy but backed out in a dramatic and suspicious manner. Let me conclude this chapter by affirming without being immodest that Nigerian Activists and Human Rights Crusaders are nothing but human rice and beans crusaders. They kick against when money has exchanged not hands, and shout in support when the former has happened. Nigerian Activists are the hypocrites’ number one in the world! What about the youths? To affirm that most Nigerian Youths have lost their values and character is an understatement. Most Nigerian Youths have lost the whips and caprices of their integrity thereby making it impossible for anything good to emanate from their stable. The few God fearing Nigerian youths have been over-powered by the satanic-minded and vices-shucked ones. Nigerian youths, after being oiled by looters; stuff, steals and hijack ballot boxes for those looting their future. The youths act as informants for oppressors whenever protest or mass-actions is being planned against them. Nigerian youth shout for change before election but vote for the enemies of change during election once N1, 000 is enveloped for them each. More also, the youth-activist amongst Nigerian youths appears to be acting the script of some powerful people. Just like the old activists dines and wines with those with the insignia of power with their interests ably protected, young activists frequently tours the offices of Nigerian capitalists/political marauders like tourist centre, looking for one favour or the other. Dear compatriots, please who amongst the current Nigerian Youth Leaders can revolt for Nigerians? Who leads the revolution amongst Nigerian youths for the survival of Nigeria? Conclusively, as Nigerians await the actualization and coming to reality of the much-needed political and economic wild-wind called revolution, I wish to ask again that who leads the cracker? Who will lead Nigerians to the promise land the way Nelson Mandela saved South Africans from the hegemony of the Aphatied rule? Who will lead Nigerians to the Cannan land the way Fidel Castro, Mahatama Ghandhi and Chama Mao led Cubans, Indians and Chinese respectively out of oppression, economic and political boundage and perpetual slavery? Who will be the Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa amongst the Nigerian pastors? The revolution of 1776 and 1789 marks the beginning of the total-turnaround of America and France; therefore, I believe that a new Nigeria is possible with the same act, however, may I ask, who leads the revolution?
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 18:25:40 +0000
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