Many interesting events have happened in the nation in recent weeks. All of the happen to developments of monumental proportions that require one or two comments. The confusion in PDP arising from selfishness has intensified and from the way they are going that party may soon become extinct. Within the period the nation also lost three quality personalities: Professor Obumselu, Generals Adebayo and Ogbemudia. Each of them deserves a commentary in their own right. There is also the controversy about the Customs’ retroactive duty on cars. Within the period the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in his capacity as the Acting President gave the nation a glimpse of the kind of leadership we wish to see. I heard some people make reference to the book “48 Laws of Power”, which postulates in one of the laws that a subordinate should not outshine his master. On this score, they expressed fears of a possible frosty relationship between the President and his deputy. This is a reckless pick, mischievous distortion and misapplication of the art of intentions.
Those who took recourse to this book should know two things: the first, not everything picked from a book represents the truth, some authors and the books they write are from the pit of hell. The author of “48 Laws of Power” who is same as the author of “The of Art of Seduction” is one of them. Don’t outshine your master is a refrain from a warped mind which is not fit for a civilized society like ours; it is a position that is clearly anti-progress. The second issue would be, if a man sets up an organization and employs capable professional hands, of what benefit would be their presence, if they don’t give more than the owner. The truth is that only mediocre leaders feel threatened by the competence of their subordinates, a capable leader sees capable and efficient lieutenants as additions. I think President Muhammadu Buhari is one of such leaders. One of the points that detractors held against him before he became civilian President was that his deputy, General Tunde Idiagbon, ran the military government of which Buhari headed. Now he is doing so again with Osinbajo as his deputy and mischievous people are making reference to “48 laws of Power.” These are satanic agents who want to sow discord where there is none and should be none. Every patriotic citizen should be delighted with the manner the President has handled his post-return activities; he spoke well and exhibited the right disposition.
The President’s return is heart-warming; it has improved stability. The reception he got, in spite of the kind of politics we play, has shown that majority of our citizens despite the hard times appreciate that the President means well. Men and women of goodwill in our nation should begin to acknowledge that we need Buhari to stay a little longer in the nation’s politics. If for no other reason, his discipline is beginning to rub off on our developmental processes. Under Buhari we have come to know with concrete facts that corruption has indeed reached cancerous levels. Yet for me that is even not as worrisome as the level of impunity that was ravaging the entire nation before he came back a second time. Things were beginning to get to the point that unless one went to the house of a political office holder, particularly the governors or the president, one couldn’t eke out a living. The coming and presence of Buhari has dramatically altered that scenario for good and if we are decent citizens, we should be glad. There is an issue, which we Nigerians are not giving the prominence it deserves. This has to do with the handing over and taking back of power. The way it happened under Buhari has taken the growth of a sound political culture further; we ought to note and applaud this development, it should stand to the President’s credit. As I have observed in the past, the All Progressives Congress (APC) should be giving this nation governance anchored on the theory of social democracy.
Osinbajo’s 49 days exemplified the above and Nigerians across the political party divide applauded the development and would wish it is sustained; one of the issues he handled so well was the administration’s peace initiative for Niger Delta region. Before Buhari returned, Osinbajo had visited Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, Akwa Ibom and Edo states. His effort to get into Ondo State was aborted by bad weather. I have commended the new initiative and in doing so I drew inspiration from one of America’s greatest presidents, George Washington, who said “there is nothing”, mind his word “nothing”, “is likely to produce peace as to be prepared to meet an enemy,” the positive effect of this constructive engagement is glaring such that nearly all of us can attest to it. But some serious concerns are also developing around the initiative and the most potent is coming from Abia State. There are fears especially in the one local government area, Ukwa-West, which currently harbors all the functional oil wells for which Abia is known as an oil producing State, whether they are part of the ongoing dialogue on peace in the Niger Delta.
Two states are remaining, Abia and Ondo but in the case of Ondo the presidency had indicated publicly that it would reach there but in respect to Abia no word had even been mooted. I hail from that local government and can confirm the trauma which the non-disclosure is causing the people and their concern is accentuated by what they know, their past experiences, government attitude and policies which have resulted to the highest level of marginalization ever visited on a people. The area lost their political potency when the federal government, shortly after the civil war, through the Justice Mamman Nasir Boundary Adjustment Committee balkanized the area into two and ceded one part which included Obigbo now known as Oyigbo and environs to Rivers State, other areas were carved into adjoining local governments in Abia State, Following that unfortunate development, the area became the minority of the minorities. Because they don’t have the voice, successive state governments have seen little need to play actively in the nation’s crude oil politics. The effect of the Derivation Fund is not felt in the area; the intervention agencies set up by the federal government earmark projects, leave them abandoned with full payments made; some of the best projects from these agencies are found in areas that have nothing to do with oil. Recently, leaders from the community wrote the Minister for the Niger Delta requesting for audience, he wrote back to say he had no time except if he would be opportune to visit the state. More than 18 months in office the people are yet to see his shadow. These and more are issues this progressive regime under Buhari should know and possibly address and that is why the president or his able deputy is to come and see. An Igbo proverb says: “Treat a woman the way others are treated and she will ever remain happy.” The Abia oil producing community deserves a presidential visit. If for no other reason, for the fact that such a visit would confirm that good behavior pays.

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