Peace mission, not electioneering

There is too much wickedness and back-biting in our socio-political life. This is my impression after the deliberate ploy by some detractors to drag my name in the mud last week. They alleged that my recent friendly tour to parts of western and northern Nigeria was purely for political purposes. There was no basis for the allegation since the reason for embarking on the tour was quite explicit ab initio. I have never left anyone in doubt about my desire to work for the unity and peace of this country.
I can claim without any fear of contradiction that I have played a pivotal role in the development of our present democracy, which is why I have done everything within my powers to work for its sustenance. Even as governor under the umbrella of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), of which I was a founding father, I made occasional visits to non-PDP controlled states to preach unity and indivisibility of Nigeria.

Those familiar with my natural ways of doing things would agree that I do not brook dichotomy, ill-feelings or malice. I believe in live and let live, and in the principle of equitable justice. This is why some people may see some of my actions as antithetical and bizarre. Visiting non-PDP governors did not depict any political waywardness or insensibility. After all, are they not Nigerians and serving colleagues? I reserve the right under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and as a true Nigerian, to visit any part of the country or any person, for that matter. And nobody has the right or power to question or rationalise this right.
It was share lugubriousness for these armchair critics to attempt to put me and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on collision course. What has INEC got to do with a private visit I undertook for the benefit of our nation? The happenings in our country today demand nothing short of the kind of visit I made to the South West. I was very sincere when I made a clarion call on this column two weeks ago for Nigerians to get involved individually or collectively to deal with the menacing insecurity in the country. I stated it unequivocally that there was no way the government alone could fight insecurity. And I meant every word of it.
What should concern any serious-minded Nigerian at these perilous times is how to unite Nigerians and push development. There are more serious problems to engage our time and energy than ego-tripping by some jobless and hopeless people who masquerade as urban champions.
Those who followed diligently my visit to the South West would agree it was a very successful one. The reception we received from the governments and people of the affected states was heart-warming. It was quite surprising to see what I initially intended as a private visit turning into a big event. The open-mindedness and comradeship of the governors and their people were electrifying. Each of them showered my entourage with love, and received our message of hope and unity with open arms. They did not mind that we belonged to different political divides to receive us with such affection.
The visit was also very revealing. It afforded us the rare opportunity to feel the pulse of governance in the states we visited – something we could not keep back, but express.  Contrary to the insinuations in some quarters that the visit was political, I wish to state the umpteenth time that it was private and mutually-beneficial. And the governors I visited can attest to this fact. I know deep inside me that all of them would be laughing their hearts out over the Tomfoolery by these detractors.
I know the source of the criticisms against my visits. They are the usual disgruntled and faceless critics who pretend to be patriots and champions of good governance when in effect they are trying to cover up their ineptitude and divert attention from what is real. They find pleasure in criticizing me and hardly find anything good in whatever I do. These are the same people who have nothing to show for their efforts in governance.
It is a very bad thing for anybody to engage in the destruction of the reputation of another person for no just cause. Those who lead this kind of life forget that as they point one finger at another person the other four fingers point at them. Nature is so beautiful that it pays back each person according to his deeds. The Holy Bible affirms this much when it states in Galatians 6:7-8 that whatever a person sows, he shall reap.
Let me reaffirm, without any prejudice or ill-intention, my position during the visits that the governors of the states we visited have performed creditably. Yes, they have proved themselves worthy of praise. It was what I saw that I said. As somebody not given to inanity, I have no tolerance for idle talk. I saw development at an impressive pace and that was what I uttered openly. Would being a card-carrying member of PDP have stopped me from speaking the truth? Not at all! I believe in speaking the truth at all times, no matter the price I am made to pay. What would it profit me to speak ill of the governors when there was no justification to do so.
For the benefit of hindsight, I wish to make it known to my critics that the governors took out time to take us to some of the projects they executed or were executing for us to see. So based on what we saw we made our proclamations. Ordinarily, they would have pretended to be busy with other state assignments and avoided the guided tours if they had not performed. So, I recommend such visits by highly-placed Nigerians occasionally. This will afford them the opportunity to ascertain first-hand all the information they need about the states and their performances.
It may be important at this point to ask my critics a pertinent question: would they classify the President’s nationwide unity tours as electioneering? Definitely not! What the President is doing is what he deems proper and fit at this period the nation is passing through the crucibles. It was almost the same intention that I had, while making the trips to the South West states.
Though the South west is reasonably stable politically, but that does not foreclose the need for occasional camaraderie and friendship. It is by consolidating on the gains of the existing peace there that we can eliminate rancor and infiltration by evil persons. The northeast zone is engulfed by crisis, because we did not do what we ought to have done. We took things for granted from the outset. We are all aware of the large presence of Igbo in the South west. This calls for regular bridge-building effort to solidify the bond of brotherhood between them and their hosts. That was also one of the motivating factors for our visit.
Again, it afforded me the chance to return the visits some of those I visited made on me in the past. For instance, the Soun of Ogbomoso conferred on me the prestigious title of Aare of Ogbomoso as far back as 2005 when I was still the governor of Abia State. Nevertheless, I could not be present for the conferment on the due date until the latest visit I made to Osun State.
I am almost certain my critics did not take into consideration the age-long friendship I have had with the people of South West. Even the critics saw the way the Ooni of Ife received us when we visited his palace. He received me like his son. He has always done this on every occasion I had visited the palace. It was the same thing for the Alaafin of Oyo. So, the critics dwelled in the past in their blighted criticisms.
Did the critics not see me in Niger State and the comradeship between me and the governor, the Chief Servant of Niger State? Did they not see me when I visited my boss General Ibrahim Babangida – one of the finest military officers Nigeria has ever produced? My relationship with Babangida dates back to the period before he became Head of State. Even his late wife, Maryam Babangida, was like a mother to me. So, do I owe anybody any apology for visiting them?
I wish to make it abundantly clear to these lousy critics that I will visit Babangida, or anybody else for that matter, many times over whenever I choose to do so without feeling any qualms about it. It is my fundamental right.
I have had the pleasure of pushing out this rebuttal, because of the unnecessary fuss detractors make out of an innocuous and brotherly activity. In other climes what my action would have attracted were encomiums, and not tantrums.
I chose to embark on the just-concluded tour of parts of Southwest and North Central, as earlier stated, for the promotion of the mutual bond between their peoples and my people. And the benefits of the visits have been wonderful.
What do the enemies of progress stand to gain by maligning and denigrating one another? I see politics as a game, not a do-or-die thing, as many politicians would want us to view it.  My impression of politics is a means through which somebody can serve his people diligently and transparently. This was why throughout my eight years as governor I never expropriated anything to myself. Rather I used the meager resources available to build infrastructure, which today stands as a testament of our eight years of relentless and selfless service to our people.
We made our state a Mecca of sorts as people from different walks of life visited us almost on a daily basis to share in our experiences. Some of them wondered how we managed to keep the ship of state afloat with the scarce revenue accruing from the federation account then. I recall with nostalgia our first three months in office. It was unsettling. I remember the first allocation we received from Abuja in June 1999. It was not enough to pay salaries, let alone the arrears of workers’ pay for three months inherited from our predecessors. I did not include the arrears of unpaid gratuities and pensions. I knew what we went through to have successful eight-year tenure. It was such experience that I shared with those I visited. I also listened to them and cherished the passion and zeal they bring into their jobs.
Frankly speaking, governance in Nigeria is indeed a Herculean task. Despite the enormous challenges presented by decayed infrastructure, insecurity, unemployment, and environmental degradation, the governors we visited have done well. I think what they need is maximum cooperation from their people to achieve more for their well-being.
I would like to use this medium to appeal to our politicians to demonstrate love, restraint and good faith in their politicking. They should avoid bickering, unhealthy rivalry and character assassination, while bearing in mind that some day they will leave office and rejoin the society without the usual security details and resources available to them now. It is the goodwill they garner now they will fall back on when the day of reckoning comes.

The making of two Pope-saints

History was made on April 27, 2014 when two Popes – John Paul II and John XXIII – were made the newest saints in the Catholic Church. The event held on the 8th day after Easter – the feast of Divine Mercy – marking the end of Easter Octave. Interestingly, it was Pope John Paul II who changed the 8th Sunday after Easter to Divine Mercy Sunday that the church chose the same Sunday to proclaim him a saint.The choice of the two Popes for sainthood – John Paul II from Poland and John XXIII from Bergamo – was well-received right from the day Pope Benedict XVI beatified them. In his letters to the countries of the new Saints Pope Francis eulogised the people for the gift of their sons. He praised the courage and selflessness of the new saints and recommended their lives for emulation by the people of God.
I am particularly thrilled by the life of John Paul II whom I had audience with on two occasions – one in Rome when I visited him and the other in Abuja on his second visit to Nigeria. Each of these occasions provided me an opportunity to relish his rich spiritualism and candour. His devotion to Mother Mary, coupled with his global preeminence, earned him the priced prize of sainthood.
It is hoped that the cause of sainthood for our own son, Fr. Francis Iwene Tansi (the Nigerian-born Benedictine Monk who died serving God and man) would be facilitated by the latest proclamation of the saints.
Meanwhile, I commend Pope Francis for his effort in repositioning the Church, which has been plagued by unnecessary scandals of recent. I urge him to keep up the good works.
I pray the new Saints to intercede for our dear country Nigeria in its present travails and lift it out of political and economic doldrums.