REFLECTING ON THE PROPHECY OF ZIK OF AFRICA “LET IT NOT BE SAID OF US THAT WE STRUGGLED ALL THOSE YEARS TO WIN INDEPENDENCE FOR OUR PEOPLE AND WHEN WE HAD CHANCE BUILD HEAVEN ON EARTH FOR THEM, WE MADE A COLOSSAL MESS OF OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE OF OUR SELFISH MATERIALISM. WE ALLOWED OR PRIVATE PREJUDICE AND PARTIAL AFFECTIONS TO DISTORT OUR INTEREST TO OUR MOTHERLAND”
The Anglican bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt Rev Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma at the interdenominational commendation service for late Dr Alex Ekwueme came down hard on Nigerian politicians. His eloquent and fastidious oratorical submissions have encouraged lots of Nigerians that at least we have fearless lions who can face these politicians who out of their selfishness and poor leadership behaviors have nosedived the economy of Nigeria to the detriment of the citizens. It is obvious that we have unrighteous/ignorant politicians at the helm of affairs of Nigeria that is why there is so much gnashing of teeth. The scripture clearly informed us that the people must rejoice when the righteous is on the throne. Again, it is said that the world will not know peace until philosophers become kings. Then what can we call the case of Nigerian leadership structure from time immemorial? Is it that we have ignorant leaders on the throne? Sometime ago I did a detailed researched piece with a title “If education translates to development; how educated are Nigerian leaders?” Bhagavad Gita once postulated that nothing is more purifying than wisdom. On that premise I am ask, what has gone wrong with our leaders? Funny enough, one among us saw all these coming and he was quick to say, “LET IT NOT BE SAID OF US THAT WE STRUGGLED ALL THOSE YEARS TO WIN INDEPENDENCE FOR OUR PEOPLE AND WHEN WE HAD CHANCE BUILD HEAVEN ON EARTH FOR THEM, WE MADE A COLOSSAL MESS OF OUR COUNTRY BECAUSE OF OUR SELFISH MATERIALISM. WE ALLOWED OR PRIVATE PREJUDICE AND PARTIAL AFFECTIONS TO DISTORT OUR INTEREST TO OUR MOTHERLAND” This was Zik’S Independence message 1st October 1964. It is very unfortunate that since 1960 no problem has been completely solved in this so much blessed country be it electricity, efficient and effective education, access roads, effective means of transportation, efficient medical, productivity, transparent leadership etc. We are being called naughty names left, right and centre across the globe and it bothers them not.
Mounting the podium facing Nigerians and the world at large, Archbishop Chukwuma said,” Thus says the Lord ‘Set thou house in order for thou shall die and not live’, this is what the Prophet told Isaiah. If I should come to you, The Excellencies now and tell you to set your house or state in order for you would die, you would send the SSS behind or after me but if they come the Angels of the Lord would defend me. Some people would tell me Arch Bishop I don’t believe in 70yrs because it is not the age to die but I want to tell you it is the year of retirement. Politicians are you hearing me? It is the age you get your passport to heaven, 80 you get your visa, 90 you get your tickets, 100 you get your board pass and 120 you fly’.”
“And the Federal government said Fly him to London to get oversee treatment which again I will say is a good idea but it is a shame to Nigeria because many of you Big men cannot be treated in Nigeria, flying abroad is a disgrace to our Health sector. We ought to do something about it not continuing carrying our presidents, vice presidents when common Panadol is not in the Federal government or state clinic and I hope there is panadol there now? I hope the X-ray machine is working because that is the first way to fight corruption.”
“I want politician to listen to this ‘This man has something doing before joining politics because many of you don’t have anything doing hence you are recycling yourself day by day. He was a Technical Consultant to the World Bank Educational Project. Ekwueme does not believe in bribing. He does not believe in rigging. Today when conventions are made in any of the parties people carry Ghana Must Go around to make campaign and get themselves elected and that is why Nigeria is corrupted even this present government came by corruption so it is difficult to fight corruption because I once confronted the Head of state that those that stole the state money to campaign for the presidency of Nigeria are given 3 ministries that is corruption. This is one of the legacy you would learn from ‘ He entered politics and left it with poverty, some of you have nothing, even Local government chairman because I know some of them who have nothing but before they left have built 2 houses. Governors must begin to look at these chairmen who embezzle the local government treasury.”
“President Buhari today has made a tribute to Ekwueme unfortunately 32 yrs ago Buhari put Ekwueme into prisons and 32 yrs after Ekwueme is dying in Buhari’s government. I want to also say that you in National Assembly should be very careful and propagate a law to stop this cross carpeting of politicians moving from one party to another. it is called Political Prostitution, you must stop it, it is a disgrace. It is selfishness because I cannot imagine someone who gains Electoral post into Senate coming down at a point to desert that party and crossing over to another. It is not right and if you should leave that party you equally loose that post that is our own submission.”
“South East would not tolerate any Colony, No Colony for any Fulani herdsmen, any Governor that would bring any colony here would be resisted by CAN, and we don’t want any colonization. Audu Ogbeh should take them to Daura, Sambisa forest because it is a private business. The python dance we have here is enough and they must go. Also as far as we are concern we Igbos are hardworking we must be recognized not to be vandalized. Our governors must be united, let us all stand as one voice as Ekwueme stood for us. Who again will stand as our unified figure Ojukwu has gone, Ekwueme has gone, Zik of Africa has gone. ONYE NIME UNU GA ANOCHI FA? ONYE NIME UNU GA ANOCHI FA? ONYE NIME UNU GA ANOCHI FA? (WHO AMONG YOU WILL REPLACE THEM?) This is the questions we must continue to ask because the politics you are playing now is the politics of selfishness, materialistic tendencies and aggrandizement and this is the time we must begin to think selflessly on how to eradicate poverty in our land’ AGUU DI NO OBODO! AGUU DI NO OBODO!! AGUU DI NO OBODO!!!. Hungry dey for town’. Unemployment is really disturbing our youths. Let us begin to think that if you have money you create employment for youth and there will be no agitation, recycling yourself into politics with the money you have is a big disgrace and if you have money show it by investing and let us have more employment. Anybody in position should please for God sake remember those who are low around you and you should know that one day you would leave that position. I saw an ex-governor who retired or was voted out that would never allow people around him at the airport and nobody was ready to help him with his bag but when I came down people were struggling with mine and I said to myself ‘ I usually help people that is why they want to help me’. Governors and all those in politics please always make yourself accessible and available even though you finish your second term nobody will run away from you. “
“And please stop blowing this siren. Is it for us or your own selfishness, time is coming if you don’t take care of us we would block you and your siren and you would not move because we elected you there and you must go back to your constituency . May God help all of us in Nigeria and we must be ready for a New Nigeria and a New Nigeria needs people who are new in brain not expired and analog brains. Let all those who are 70 years in politics go and retire and anyone who is above 65 yrs should not be president of Nigeria, let them become consultants and advisers to those who their brains are hot because Nigeria needs a New Brain and New Spirit. “
