National Unity And Stability
OpenLife Nigeria reports that in a word of caution, Public affairs analyst and former Director, Information and Education, Ogun State, Mr. Oladipo Oluwole has called out Chief Bode George and Senator Shehu Sani on the basis of fueling instability through unguided public utterance.
In a piece made available to OpenLife Sunday afternoon, Mr. Oluwole drew anecdotes from doctrinal and administrative orientation wherein divisive and ethno-religious sentiments were among the reasons for past military interregnum in the country.
He however cautioned that such should be statesmanly guided to avoid a repeat of inglorious past.
His thoughts are reproduced below
Human ability to objectively learn from the past mistakes, often leads to appreciative breakthroughs in future endeavors.
But, politicians could, sometimes, sacrifice such fruitful, and red flag, learning experiences, for their own personal political vendettas and interests, which have always been the bane of our collective yearnings including interests, till date.
However, this is to the detriment of the entire masses, and country’s progress.
Military interregnum, tends to bring about lopsided governance, with the leadership domination of one ethnic group over the others, because of the military command structures.
This is unlike civilian rule with its democratic institutions, like the political parties and individual party internal mechanisms with structures for necessary political leadership recruitment exercise, at all levels of governance.
Hence, since, bad leadership and incompetent governance have always been the reference-point of excuses for military interregnum.
Therefore, all efforts should be made not to truncate our fourth Republic and 25 years of uninterrupted democratic process which began in 1999.
The truncations can be avoided by not allowing some politicians, yet again, to lead us to committing the same mistakes of using negative narratives, such as ethno-religious sentiments, emotions, prejudices, wrong perceptions, personal interests, political vendettas, propaganda and lies etc.
This is essentially so, at this perilous time of a nation on the edge of a precipice, in view of 2027 where citizens are expected to make choice in national political leadership in order to avoid further damning consequences!
It is, therefore, a costly mistake, very disheartening and a great disservice to our growing democracy for the respected duo of Senator Shehu Sani and Chief Olabode George to have restarted tutoring, in the media, the failed and retrogressive ethnic divisive narratives as gimmicks and public distraction towards the 2027 general elections, for whatever reasons.
Incidentally, both are PDP staunch members, or former products of the opposition party.
Their attitudes are most dangerous , judging by the nation’s present untoward experiences.
In the affairs of men, no ordinary mortal can play God.
Chief Bode George had once vowed to leave the country, if Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election.
But today, Tinubu is the President and our highly revered Baba George is yet to learn and realize the Creator’s awesome power to use anybody for a purpose, especially, in a rescue mission in the life of an individual, group, or a troubled nation, (all of which abound in many scriptures.)
Hence, Baba Bode’s latest proclamation, or ‘decree’ on account of age with a fiat that His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, would not become the president of this country, come 2027, and that Atiku should, therefore, wait for 2031 is worrisome.
Disqualifying the Turaki Adamawa ahead the election is more worrisome
But, then, “Tani mola”…”Tani to Olorun”- who knows tomorrow…who is equal to God…are the two Yoruba wise sayings !
Human beings’ occasional failures and gnashing of teeth, will always be recurring decimals.
This is because of human beings’ continuous use of minds, emotions, sentiments, vendettas, wrong perceptions, idiosyncrasies, and a great deal of misinformation, to decide either personal issues or socio-political judgments.
These unguided decisions come dire consequences on us, necessitating a call on God as an alibi, thereafter.
Any individual, group, society, or nation, that always fails to learn from the avoidable past mistakes, (having exhausted the Creator’s Special Grace), will eventually programme itself for doom, (which is not God’s deed.)
May we not be doomed, or consumed, by ignorance, self inflicted pains, and sorrow.
But as a country or people, we can’t continue to do the same thing in the same way, for whatever reasons, and still expect different results.
Oladipo Oluwole, Public affairs analyst and former Director of Information and Education, Ogun State can be reached via [email protected]. 08033598528
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