By Dele Sobowale
“What experience and history teach is that people and governments never have learnt anything from history; or acted on principles deducted from it.”
George Hegel, 1770-1833, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 92.
Babangida read a lot of history. I know that because I spent weeks in his library at Minna and saw the books he read; the notes he wrote on the margins of great classics.
Obasanjo hates history. He abused his Presidential powers by having history removed from schools curriculum. No greater crime can be committed by a leader against his people. Some philosophers have argued that the opposite of love is not hatred; but, indifference. In that case Buhari is indifferent to history. In six years as elected President, he has demonstrated that his decisions are not guided by any reference to historical precedents and their repercussions. He and his closest aides, especially spokesmen, have repeatedly fallen into the same man-holes as governments before their own. Enter Wada Nas.
WHO IS WADA NAS?
“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
George Santayana, 1863-1952, VBQ p 93.
You are forgiven, if you are less than 30 years old, if you don’t know Wada Nas. But, those over 40, and who have been reading these pages since General Sani Abacha’s draconian and extremely corrupt rule, should remember Wada Nas. He was Abacha’s Senior Special Adviser for Special Duties. In less than two years, after his appointment, I have changed the name on this page to Wada Nasty. We, Wada and Dele, were regular customers during the murderous Abacha years. Wada was known for one thing while in Aso Rock. He could detect plots to overthrow the Abacha regime hatched on the moon by unnamed men without leaving Abuja.
On one occasion, Wada called a Press Conference to announce that the Federal Government had uncovered a plot by some dissidents who met for three days in Ghana at a hotel he named. Nigerians were asked to be careful; otherwise Abacha’s transition to civil rule could be aborted. I was only two years on the Sunday paper. But, I had a job to do.
Sensing that Wada was lying, I went to the Ghana High Commission in Lagos and asked the lady at the Tourism desk how to book accommodation at the hotel mentioned when I reach Ghana in a week’s time. She brought out a Directory of Hotels in Ghana; looked several times and then informed me “There is no hotel by that name in Ghana”. Next Sunday, on this very page I informed Nigerians that Wada has lied to us about a meeting in a hotel in Ghana which does not exist. The next day, I was at Awolowo Road being grilled by Security Officers. “Are you saying the Federal Government is lying?”
“No, I am saying there is no hotel by that name in Ghana; and here is a photocopy of the names of hotel starting with “P” in Ghana which I got from the High Commission”.
After four hours in an isolation room the call came. “You can go; but, stop writing nonsense about government.”
Wada Nasty continued with his tall tales about coup plots against Abacha until the General was Divinely removed from office. I continued to address him as Wada Nasty.
FAST FORWARD TO 2021.
“History does not repeat itself; man does.” Prof. Barbara Tuchmann.
The African seldom wrote his own history. Incidentally, I am just putting the finishing touches to The History of a Community in Omuo-Ekiti. It is my first attempt to try and help a Nigerian community write its history up to 2021 as a foundation for future updates. Perhaps, if we write and study our own history, governments will stop repeating the same costly mistakes – which impede our progress. We simply cannot continue this way.
More than two weeks ago, a very senior spokesman for the Buhari administration made this press release:
“Further unimpeachable evidence shows that the disruptive elements are now recruiting the leadership of some ethnic groups and politicians round the country, with the intention of convening some sort of conference, where a vote of no confidence would be passed on the President; thus throwing the land into further turmoil.”
Wada was not an Editor or the President of the Guild of Editors before he started issuing rumours and outright lies as official report. But, today we have professional journalists, working for Buhari an elected President, writing the same sort of stuff as Wada Nas, a spokesman for a dictatorship. Their own is even worse. At least, Wada forced me to hot-foot it to the Ghana High Commission to expose the falsehood. These guys have produced no real evidence in two weeks to substantiate their bogus claim. The recruiters have not been arrested; those recruited have not been apprehended and the recruiting agents are still at large – apparently free to create havoc with FG’s permission. What is wrong with us? Or what is wrong with the people in governments?
THE IN-LAW AS OUTLAW
“Man wanted for $65m fraud no longer Buhari’s son.” Presidency.
Just as I was wondering what Nigerians have done to enter into this “one chance” entrapment called Buhari administration, this heart-rending bit of bad news arrived to end a dreadful second week in May. This time, it was another Presidential spokesman who was addressing us. His comments are reproduced first – because that is fact and sacred. My comments will follow.
“To set the records straight, the person declared wanted by the ICPC is not an in-law to President Buhari. While at some point in time, the said fugitive from justice had been linked to a family member in marriage, that relationship had ended some years ago. It is therefore unfortunate to bring the President’s family into this case. It is in our view, an attempt to generate views and sell copies of sensational reporting.” Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President.
Garba Shehu was also once President of the Guild of Editors. From now on, I expect the worst from any President of the Guild of Editors appointed Presidential spokesman after Buhari’s administration. These poor (and I mean that sincerely) people enter Aso Rock with sterling reputations and end up telling demon stories after losing every vestige of the esteem they took into office. Garba’s ill-considered statement illustrates all that is wrong with Buhari’s Aso Rock. Let me start with the last line.
In which country – USA, China, Japan, Germany, South Korea to mention a few – is the embezzlement of $65m not front page news? Would Garba as Editor have tossed it in the dust bin as sensational and unworthy of publication? Furthermore, what is wrong with selling copies of papers? It is unpardonable ingratitude for someone who, for years, fed on copies sold and rose to prominence to now turn around to ridicule others wanting to climb to stardom the same way. Absolutely detestable!
Meanwhile, what are the facts available to the media on which to base their reports; which Garba considers “sensational”? First, Mr Kumo, whose name Garba could not even bring himself to call, was or is a son-in-law to the President. Garba, full of pretences, knows fully well that he was married to Fatima – Buhari’s daughter in 2016. This is May 2021. So, for Garba to say the relationship “ended years ago” is deliberately deceptive. Four and a half years cannot be described that way. That, however, is a minor issue compared to what Garba knew but left unsaid.
“Even God cannot change the past.” Agathon, 447-401 BC
Was the fraud committed while the couple were still married? If so, he committed it as a son-in-law to the President. All the attempts to muddy the waters with puerile words will not erase that truth. Furthermore, who appointed Kumo as Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN? If Buhari, it is totally irrelevant whether he is or was an in-law. He is now an outlaw – who was once husband to Fatima Buhari. One might as well ask, when did the marriage end? And, was it legally terminated? Mere separation, for a few years, does not constitute a divorce. So, unless the marriage had been terminated according to Sharia Law, he is still Buhari’s son-in-law.
Garba has even opened himself up for ridicule. Without telling Nigerians when the marriage ended, how does he expect us to believe it was “many years ago”? What if Kumo disputes that there has been a divorce?
We also were not told how long Kumo was at the bank. Were the annual accounts presented to the Presidency? What was done about them? If the Presidency had ignored warnings, they might have allowed the fraud.
“Men make history, but not just as they please.” Karl Marx.
I am aware that under the circumstances, Buhari wants to distance himself from Kumo. But, it is a historical fact that he once willingly gave his daughter to a fellow who later robbed Nigerians and is now a fugitive from the law.
Garba Shehu’s press release, which is becoming typical of him, has not closed the case. On the contrary, it has demonstrated that Buhari needs a real Wada Nas – the original purveyor of rumours and falsehood as government press release. These copy cats don’t know how to do it. They were not trained for it.
ARE THERE REALLY DEMONS IN ASO ROCK?
“Abandon hope; all who enter here.”
There must be something about Aso Rock which turns people upside down. Presidents, Ministers, Special Advisers have entered with good reputations and almost invariably have emerged with their reputations tarnished. In the past, I attributed it to Aso Rock Disease – an affliction which makes people forget who they were once they got in. In a very short time, even their best friends cannot recognise them. And, they stay in that frame of mind until they step out.
Then, like people formerly fast asleep; they wake up to another reality. Only, this time, with the reputation gone. What on earth is in Aso Rock? Somebody, please, tell me. I am tired of fighting with people I once liked immensely.
DECEIVING OURSELVES; PURSING MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE GOALS.
Government is reluctant to stop fuel subsidy and increase fuel price. All governments, especially the FG, know they cannot afford to maintain their bloated civil service; but are afraid to say so. Labour wants FG to continue to support the so-called refineries and still pay Minimum Wage. All are mutually exclusive. We deceive ourselves. Something has to give. We are in deep trouble.
Only God can save us.