The implication of this show of disdain is that these four army men did not contribute anything to the development of Nigeria but brutally through their jackboots destroyed the fledglings that were taking roots in a democratic Nigeria. Icheoku also could not agree any more with Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed, who said that the 50 personalities being honored are for their contributions to the development of the country. But conversely looking at the sorry state that Nigeria is today, a concomitant question naturally follows, is it even ok to vouchsafe that these people contributed any development in Nigeria, otherwise where are they? But hey, at least they did not like those four armed and dangerous bandits, muscle their way into power and for this among other things they stand out to be counted as the shinning stars on Nigeria's beacon.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
NIGERIA'S GOLDEN JUBILEE INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY, THE 50 AWARDEES!
Icheoku asks were former heads of state Muritala Mohammed, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha excluded from the distinguished Nigerians who are to receive the golden jubilee awards due to their destabilizing roles in Nigeria through their coup-plotting? Or was it a result of politics of bitterness as is gradually becoming the preferred politics of President Jonathan; the recent shut-out of pro-Babangida Igbo Political Stakerholders at a hotel in Owerri Imo State taken into advisement? Whatever be the case, Icheoku commends the audacity of President Jonathan for placing these rascals in their proper place within the Nigerian political history - the political dustbin. It is only in Nigeria where criminals are celebrated leading to these four despicable Nigerians being erroneously celebrated in some quarters as statesmen? The same impetus enables 419 practitioners to find their way into the Nigerian senate as well as some traditional institutions as their custodians. What President Jonathan just did by shunning these four human-beings is proper and Icheoku believes that such public disavowal, scorn and odium will go a long way in stemming the tide of criminality in Nigeria when criminals know that they will be so publicly shunned or fingers pointed at them as the reason Nigeria is standing on its head today. Way to go President Goodluck Jonathan!
However Icheoku must observe that conspicuously missing from the list are Ebam Eda Fela Anikulao Kuti for his music as a weapon for change and societal upliftment, he was also a great ambassador of Nigeria introducing the world to Nigeria through his world-famous brand of Afrobeat; Chief Gani Fawehimni for his human-rights activism and fine legal mind; Chief MKO Abiola for his democracy credentials; Reverend Father Tansi the first Nigerian to attain a sainthood; Austin Ilodibe of Ekenedilichukwu Transport for a successful conglomerate that employed so many and provided commute to millions of Nigerians; our music maestros Ebenezer Obey, Osita Osadebe and Sunny Ade for providing food for our desolate souls. These people projected Nigeria to the world in various capacities and created tangibles one can really appreciate. But whatever be the paradigm for the selection, Icheoku surrenders to the superior reasoning of the committee that did the selection; but sure is glad that the criminal coup-plotters of Nigeria were well humbled through their exclusion. These jackals contributed nothing to Nigeria development except sorrow, blood and tears!
IBB Not Moved By Exclusion From Award – Brother
ReplyDeleteSUNDAY, 03 OCTOBER 2010 03:52 ABU NMODU, MINNA
Amidst controversy over the non-inclusion of some former military leaders in the 50th independence anniversary award list, brother to former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Alhaji Datijo Aliyu has said that Babandiga is not worried by its non inclusion.
Datijo, a member of state executive council between 1999 - 2008 posited that the only thing that worries Babangida now is how Nigeria will be delivered from its present stage of economic degeneration to the hillcrest of prosperity.
The brother who was speaking exclusively to LEADERSHIP SUNDAY said there is no way the history of Nigeria will be written without General Murtala Muhammed, General Muhammed Buhari, General Ibrahim Babandiga and General Sani Abacha, maintaining that they all contributed in one way or the other to the overall development of the country.
He explained that all the former leaders excluded from the award list had at one time in the history of Nigeria put their lives on line for the survival of the nation. "There is no reason that justifies the exclusion from the list, but General Babangida is not worried about any recognition. He built the Federal Capital Territory, established Federal Road Safety Commission, created states, established universities, built third mainland bridge Lagos among others".
"Even Abacha created states like Bayelsa, Nasarawa, etc and established PTF that brought smiles to the faces of many Nigerians. Murtala is one of the most disciplined General that Nigeria ever had and questioned what qualified Obasanjo to be in the award list, saying that it was a pure act of vindictiveness orchestrated by Obasanjo to get at the former leader.
On the bomb blast he said it was highly unfortunate that some people can take the life of their fellow human beings, adding that despite the recent changes in the leadership of security outfits, kidnapping, bomb explosions were still threatening the lives of Nigerians