We have reached a stage where we cannot put people in one box and conclude that, that it is the way it should be. Ideas are working in the global world where people are on the same wave length of thoughts in ideology and development. If we want to move fast with the world, we must be what we are now with the push back of Magu’s deviant way of discouraging economic development. It is a sad story for Magu to enter into a territory that is not within his operational jurisdiction. It could be that he had a hidden agenda to destroy what could bring economic synergy to Nigerian populace. Could it be that it is a vendetta against a political zone that he wants to be dead forever without knowing that what he did was affecting the whole Nigeria and not his perceived enemy?
At this time when everybody is crying to high heavens for a better economic condition, he comes to distort the economic equilibrium of an Industrialist who meant well to help his country. Does it mean that he has a simplistic view of what Nigerians want now? Can we say that Magu is there just because of his boss? This is because the Senate has rejected his appointment but his boss refused to listen to what the enlightened masses were saying about this political errand boy. Do we say that his sins were absolved by his boss? At this age of global economic competition, will Nigeria continue to sink below and reject what will profit the masses due to selfish political or regional interests?
Donald Trump said “Economic security is a National security”. Look at what China went through before being where she is now. China and America are running neck to neck in the world economy. Will Nigerian economy continue to be in a state of flux? Can politics survive without economic sustainability? Sometimes we get people who are naïve, derogatory, insular, and petty in governance. The problem of Nigerian politics is big players in Nigerian politics who feel that they are anointed and that they are politically infallible and they can use someone to create a disorder in Nigerian economy. Can we say that what Magu is doing is a mere political calculation with a hidden motive? Is it to create tension in an already heated polity?
When will Nigeria come out with one voice to tackle the political nemesis haunting all of us since the military regimes? Nelson Mandela once said that the tragedy of Nigerian situation is that there is nobody good enough to substitute Abacha. Up till now, Nigeria is still looking for a political messiah to calm their economic nerves and bring them to participate in world global competition.
Nigeria is still looking for a voice; the voice that will heal the people that will make Nigeria relevant in the international fora, the voice that will not make the international leaders see the so called voice that represents Nigeria, with a skeptical smile especially when it is not a par with the global view of things. Nigeria does not need somebody who will just add to the numbers of international leaders but match the quality of other reputable international leaders who mean well for their citizens. Nigeria needs leaders who will make positive international headlines but not local. It is Nigeria that will liberate herself by working on her ethnic bigotries, Proper political education and not backing people who come only from their own ethnic lineage, but men of integrity and lovers of their father land and not men of political greed. At this very time that Nigeria is trying to have a sense of optimism because politics has shattered our hopes. We have experienced hell and what have you.
What Magu is trying to introduce, is it a terrorist thought that brings political divisiveness or a thought that would bring a rapid growth in Nigerian economy? The Industrialist Innocent Chukwuma; the CEO of Innonson Group of Companies was indiscriminately arrested by EFCC headed by Magu without showing no regards for his economic positivity and contributions to Nigerian economy. Though he was said to have issues with a bank which is purely civil and does not warrant EFFC involvement but just playing out a political script Magu delved into what he has no skill in but now he has received backlashes from prominent Nigerians beginning from the Senate with Ike Ekwerenmadu damning the consequences, condemned the dubious action of Magu. Many from the North and west condemned the act that would bring divisiveness in Nigerian Polity and discourage those who wish to come up and help their father land.
With Innonson being the first indigenous car manufacturer, creating over 50,000 jobs for the citizens, he should be encouraged without making him loose credibility in the eyes of his international business partners. Though a statement alleging a fraudulent transaction in the Stock Exchange has been released but no one knows whether it is a sabotage ploy. Even if he owes a bank, do other business men and even politicians not owe banks? So banks are part of Nigerian problems. Many foreign business tycoons including the indigenous ones have folded up because of injustices from the banks. They later regret doing business with banks. Did this serpentine tactics start with Ibeto and some young Nigerian entrepreneurs? Is it not a case of power game? People now ask that if it were Dangote, Adenuga or Otedola, could the case have been different.
Different narratives of the issue from Sahara Reporters and one James Osaremen went viral on the Social and Digital media space which faulted Innonson but a recent concise true report of situations with attachments of documents as evidence has been published by Premium Times Newspapers showing that the earlier reports were fabrications. Now, who is fooling who?
We thank God many Nigerians are standing up to condemn this rot. This is what happened when Arewa Youths gave the Igbos in the North a quit notice but when everybody condemned it, they were forced to shift their stance and blamed it on misinterpretation. This is what happens when all voices speak out to condemn what will negatively affect Nigeria. Nigerians speaking with one voice, condemning what will affect the whole, would help to meet others in the global world instead of worrying about pettiness and tribal jingoism or what will not profit us. Nigeria is coming out from the conspiracy of silence to work hard and liberate the nation that is politically hemorrhaging.
One thing Nigeria should not forget is the improvement of Nigeria’s social sustainability. What is the relevance of the senate if they cannot stop what is illegal? Is Magu the only person in this country? Are there no other people who can do that job? With all these political messes, what is the aim of Government for Nigeria? Should Nigeria be a perpetual receiver from the colonial masters? Can Nigeria not be creative and innovative to help herself overcome poverty? Can Nigeria continue being an errand boy to the developed world? Is that what Maguis teaching us? If Buhari means well for Nigeria, he should stop people playing hypocrisy with Nigeria. Does Buhari not know what it cost Nigeria for him staying over one hundred and five days in the United Kingdom with the presidential jet standing by unused? Nigerians didn’t bother to question how much it cost the Nation. Can Nigeria continue to be politically timid without asking questions? Can we continue to consume inferior ideas that create divide?
Why must we oppose what would benefit the whole country; restructuring? Why can’t we follow what will lead to national development instead of focusing on emptying the treasury? After that what next? We run a Banana Republic!
Very Rev. Monsignor Livinus Ukah is a social justice and peace crusader, the founder of Levine Reflections (www.levine reflections.com) and the Parish Priest of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Aboru, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.
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