"Many of us strongly believe that Nigeria won't improve when the good people keep away from political thresholds."
Malam Fantami, the present Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, has dominated many social media spaces in Northern Nigeria with vedio commentaries of his criticism of political leaders who appeared unconcerned over their abysmal failure in leadership and why religious people shouldn't take political appointments. I am not going to prove Malam right or wrong here. If I do any of that, blame the language of the post for overpowering me.
Malam is out there against the invisible but invincible Nigerian system. Many of us strongly believe that Nigeria won't improve when the good people keep away from political thresholds. When he joined this administration, many people expected things to improve. In fact, people like Malam added to the much acclaimed integrity of the administration. The recent videos aren't connected with Malam's performance as NITDA Boss or as Minister. People went into archives and cut these clips reminding Malam (intentions unknown) what he has said some years back. Many expect him to go public and ask President Buhari to address the security challenges in the country. But does the Invincible Nigerian system allow that? Let's see:
1. To start from the last question, Nigerian system doesn't tolerate criticism especially from within. Recently, SLS tried as CBN Governor and failed and MS II tried as an Emir and failed. The system expects you to keep mute when you're eating. Many cultures in Nigeria frown at eating and talking at the same time. This is where the Nigerian system got its inspiration. If you speak as you eat, the system chokes you out of your position and silences you. Shikenan! Malam Fantami isn't the only respected personality who refuses to go public against the system he serves. But that's for another day. Now, how did critics fare when they join power?
Our first African Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka lavishly enjoyed privileges of a military dictator even though he has fronted democracy since the 1960s. Under his poetic visions, we got the Road Safety. Is the Road Safety any better from other agencies, paramilitaries, or parastatls? No! (Apology to my FRSC Marshalls, I have my licence renewed last year, wallahi fa). Pa Soyinka imaginative strength isn't stronger than the Nigerian System. His Road Safety Corps is consumed by the system. It's Nigerianized!
Another example? Few years ago, there were protests in Abuja, the BBOG! After 2015, Dino Melaye found the girls in the Nigerian Senate and kept quiet. Hadiza Bala Usman found hers at the gate of the Ports Authority. Shikenan.
Another ko? I still have o. Remember, the determined Minister of the FCT who restored the city to its original plan? Nasiru El-Rufa'i (he was never a teacher, the Dikko_prism doesn't dress people in borrowed robes). He proudly wrote in his memoir how he was part of the team that got debt relief for Nigeria. Becoming a Governor, he fiercely fought his Senators for refusal to approve loans for Kaduna. He has since bulldozed them out and indebted the State. As Governor, he is more of a rabble rouser. English kawai! The system has decimated his determination. Shikenan.
Malam Adamu spent decades writing how and why Nigeria isn't developing. As Minister for education, all those brilliant ideas seemed to have evaporated. They diffused into oblivion and left him helpless in his Babbar Riga.
This bag is never empty of examples fa. Look at our Commander in Chief who couldn't command his Service Chiefs to secure our villages. Yes, President Buhari. For 12 years, he kept telling us that Nigeria is bad because he wasn't there. That PDP has wrecked the country. We put him there and the last thing we hear was, "Nigeria is a terrific country, one can only try!" Haba Baba. Why na? He was swallowed up, conqured and contained by the System. Today, PDP elements are everywhere in his Govt as Ministers, Senators, Governors etc. Baba has forgot "where they belong(ed)" before. He must think that they belong to everywhere and nowhere.
Finally, Obasanjo handed over power to Yar'adua and went to the United States. A journalist insisted that his elections were sham. Baba retorted that "even Jesus Christ cannot conduct free and fair elections in Nigeria!" Kai Baba? Yes that was what he said. Now let me put my big statement too. I won't blaspheme like the former president. But nobody is above the Nigerian system. Nobody. Not even Malam Fantami.
The Nigerian system allows lawmakers to decide their wages and salaries, it does the same for revenue generating agencies. It allows Vice Chancelors to join the list of millionaires. It gives a graduate a job of N80,000 in Abuja and expects him/her to be "faithful, loyal and honest!" It allows people to have bullion vans in their houses (I didn't say in Lagos!) It is everywhere in us. Look left to right, front and back, it surrounds us.
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