Reflections on October 1
In his inauguration speech, President Alhaji Shehu Shagari pledged to support and uphold the constitution, unfolded his party's cardinal programmes and promised Nigerians a new lease of life. Most importantly, he promised to hold Nigeria together for "though tribe and tongue may differ and though political camps and beliefs may differ, in brotherhood we stand." A new coalition of conscience was born and with heads held high, Nigerians marched on with clasped hands. Five years later, the kindled dream of hope, of a new vision is no longer there.
The hitherto vibrant, ebullient people called Nigerians have, with one proclamation by Sanni Abacha, been reduced to a mesh of human vegetables. The freedom train they have been riding has been derailed and in its place are purges, vaporisations and decrees. On empty stomachs, they are viciously drilled to attention by over zealous zombies. From the wombs of pregnant women the voices of children yet unborn cry in rebellion, praying God to return them to Him rather than risk being born to a nation run by a bunch of maniacs. There is wailing and gnashing of teeth in all nooks and corners of Nigeria. From the scorching heat of Sokoto in the far North to the riverian areas of Port Harcourt in the deep south, it is the story of a people in torment.
In Dodan Barracks, the only visible thing in Buhari's agenda as the D-Day approaches is whether or not to change Nigeria's international passports. This is how callous and inhuman these people have become. As if there is food for everybody to eat, as if there is freedom for the individual, as if there are jobs for everybody, as if there is nothing else to talk about. How many Nigerians carry international passports? Out of over one hundred million people, about half of this population have never even known that something like that exists. Imagine the enormity of this diversion!
There is something Buhari and his military colleagues have to tell Nigerians on the 1st October, 1984. Tell the people that you betrayed the Nigerian constitution and the people's popular will and mandate when you staged a coup against constituted government and authority. Tell the people that all their present problems are part of your own personal inadequacies and incompetence in handling the people's resources. Tell them that you have failed and are therefore prime candidates for the guillotine. Tell them you are sincerely sorry and plead guilty and wait for what mercy the people will render unto you.
Anything short of that will amount to another act of treachery on your part, and when finally the people's wrath catches up with you, as it surely will sometime, the quality of mercy will be strained.
