When the musical video featuring Nigerian past heads of government went viral recently, my first reaction was probably it was a photo trick or prank of some sorts. But when some television station started using it and making news out of it, quoting some government functionaries, I understood it was real.
The idea was noble, no doubt about it. I learnt they were all invited for the national end of the year thanksgiving church service at Abuja. The sing song aspect came after this. In attendance were General Yakubu Gowon (Retd) who ruled Nigeria for nine years, General Olusegun Obasanjo (Retd), who ruled Nigeria for almost eleven years, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who was Alhaji Sheu Shagari’s vice when he was the president for about five years, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, who served General Ibrahim Babangida (Retd) briefly as Chief of staff. Also in attendance was General Oladipo Diya who was the second in command to the late General Sani Abacha before they fell apart.
Their host of course was Professor Yemi Osibajo, the vice to the incumbent General Mohammadu Buhari. All these singers were understandably Christians and the song was taken from the church’s hymn book.
Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was conspicuously absent during the epoch making occasion. Why? Was he not invited? Was he out of the country? Did he reject the invitation? Has he been banned or barred from state official functions? No official reason has been given yet.
The lyrics of the song were meaningful, instructive and prayerful. The irony of it all is that all the singers without exception have hands in the present gory and recessive state of Nigeria.
Almost sixty years after crude oil was discovered in Nigeria, its exploration is still in the hands of multinational companies. We export crude oil with all its derivatives and import petroleum at exorbitant prices. Where is our nationalism? As I am writing this piece, I doubt if any of our refineries is working. The quest is to import and import so that some few cabals could benefit from it.
We neglect and abandon all other sources of national income and concentrate on petro-Naira. What you see in the ministries are pot belly contractors holding brief cases parading the corridors of power. They are not interested in executing any contract, their interest is to get the contract, pay the givers and sell the contract. That is why we have abandoned projects all over the place. That is why our roads have remained death traps. Instead of Roads safety officials to see to this, their interest is in issuance of driving license, number plate, speed limit, fire extinguishers etc. That was why somebody asked if they were Roads safety or vehicle safety?
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