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ugoe65@yahoo.com

ANYIM, THE PRESIDENT OBASANJO GAVE THE NIGERIAN SENATE

lease, for the sake of all that is decent and healthy, let someone just go and look out for Mr. Pius Anyim, that young Ohozara lawyer of the other day and Obasanjo’s Greek gift to a senate and Nigeria he has little or no regard for, and ask him to just go and face Mustapha Akanbi’s “Independent” Corrupt Practices And Related Offences Commission (ICPC). What he is being accused of accumulating and acquiring, and the money he is being accused of stealing and squandering are so much and so mind-boggling that his present arrogant and pigheaded attitude and response to his most horrendous offence is unspeakably detestable and grossly offensive. How can a sane being primitively accumulate so much, indeed, much more than he would even need, in so short a time in office? Just what kind of country is this? ! ; Sometimes, one is grossly tempted to shout and pray: Oh God, why are you sparing this evil nation? Why don’t you just rain down fire and brimstone on this evil-soaked nation and in one breath ensure that every human being and every beast is burnt out so that this world you created could be spared the tiniest particle of these vile beings called Nigerians? Indeed, anything that is worse than Nigeria must be the devil himself!

Who has ever heard of a nation where people are continuously eating and drinking poison and yet wanting to live? Which nation invests so much intellect and energy to prosecute its self-destruction?

Now, Pius Anyim aside, there is also a most offensive fellow called Mr. Arthur Nzeribe of Oguta, who until recently was Anyim’s friend and mentor. The unedifying history of this man is written with blood, yes, the blood of innocent Nigerians who have been at the receiving end of this man’s evil pastimes. Just under a decade ago, Nzeribe ganged together his like-minds and named them the “Association For Better Nigeria” (ABN). And with this gang of fellow evil-minded and irresponsible creatures, he callously ignited a most horrible political and social crises that consumed thousands, and displaced and impoverished millions, leaving a severely battered nation bleeding at all corners. And what was his reason for this inhuman act? Simple: he just wanted to prove a simple point, he says. Years later, even as the nation still smarts from that very! unsettling event, Actor Nzeribe, has still not found the tiniest morsel of grace in him to be remorseful. Now that both Anyim and Nzeribe, men with stinking reputation and tattered fame, are confirmed friends and partners of Obasanjo, it can only vindicate the trite point that foxes of the same hue necessarily stalk together.

Indeed, is it not inconceivable that in nation where the citizens are clearly and practically living below poverty level, where some beloved Nigerians actually scout for food from dust-bins, that this Nzeribe, from whose hands the innocent blood of men, women and children still drips ceaselessly, has announced to a bewildered and shocked world that he had obtained more than 300million naira to bribe his fellow senators to drop their impeachment move against Emperor Obasanjo. From where did Nzeribe obtain these millions, because from what everyone knows about Nzeribe, he never offers free lunch?

And how many millions more are being deployed to compel Nzeribe to keep his mouth shut about the predictable source of those millions? And why has the “righteous” Justice Mustapha Akanbi of ICPC not invited Nzeribe for a chat? How independent is Akanbi’s nation-cleaning commission? At least Nzeribe, rather than deny his condemnable and subversive act, is going about, dissipating enormous energy, seeking to prove that he did actually obtain the now infamous millions and did dole them out to the senators as instructed! At his age and given his much touted reputation for honesty, strictness, thoroughness and dedication to the highest ideals of justice and impartial adjudication, can Justice Akanbi afford to tread the predictable path of all Obasanjo frien! ds and errand boys, namely, the path of infamy and disrepute? Can he? And at what cost? What really can Obasanjo give him to compel him to drag to the slimy, putrid gutter of ugly politics a name and reputation he has assiduously built for many years? Is it worth it?

And now, also, think about my young brother, Mr. Akin Osuntokun. So after all he has written and proclaimed about decency and good governance, has he now ended up on the seamy side of history as not only the marketer and promoter of the re-imposition agenda of the clearly most confused and inept president Nigeria has ever been afflicted with since 42 years, but equally an eager, enthusiastic partner with Nzeribe (of all people) in the bid to re-impose Obasanjo? So, all these no longer matter, or even never mattered? Can a handsome salary, no matter how fat, ethnic conquest, and high visibility be enough motivation for joining forces with an Nzeribe after all he did to MKO Abiola’s clear mandate, culminating in the man’s death, to democracy, and even the South-West?! How indeed does Akin Osuntokun, Gbolabo Ogunsnwo and some others whose funny posturing we have observed in the recent past, feel each time they sit in nocturnal meetings with Nzeribe and Anenih to plan and compare notes on winning strategies for Obasanjo? Am I preaching non-forgiveness? Not in the least. Indeed, Nzeribe’s singular action led to the death of many Nigerians, and it is widely accepted and agreed in decent and civilized climes that all crimes against humanity must be summarily punished by first isolating their perpetrators, moreso, when they, rather than show remorse, are graduating from evil to more evil. Has the Oguta man now been sanctified just because he is now one of Obasanjo’s foot soldiers? But the real question to ask is: assuming an opportunity suddenly presents itself today to Nzeribe to sell this nation to the lowest bidder, will he relent? Will he scruple to do so?

I agree with Mr. Ocheremo Nnanna that Akanbi’s ICPC has become an issue of politics, but while we wait for it to also become a victim of politics, let Mr. Anyim first go and answer to the grave charges against him. Even if he is being victimized, the simple question is: did he criminally acquire the mansions and millions his friend, mentor, promoter and confidant, Nzeribe, is telling us he has acquired? Speak, ‘saint’ Pius, speak. The matter is so straightforward.

Please, Mr. Pius, when then you have taken the pains to successfully prove Nzeribe wrong about the mind-boggling allegations he has leveled against you, and Obasanjo still goes ahead to use Mr. Akanbi and his so called Anti-graft Commission to harass you, then we will all rise up shout at him on your behalf. And until you have taken the pains to do just that, whatever defence and protestations you would continue to be making would only be sounding like the exasperating and irritating sound of a cracked record.

Now, just as I made to commence writing this piece, I saw a student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on the screen during the nine p.m. network news of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA). The young man has gone blind. His studies and high hopes as his father’s only son have been rudely shattered. He needs to go to the United States for surgery in order to regain his sight. Who will help him? Indeed, the tiniest bit of Nzeribe’s “millions of bribery” will give him his sight again, and he will find meaning in life once more. But will anybody help him? Can Pius Anyim rise t! o the occasion and help him with just a tiny morsel of his loot? Will Stella Obasanjo who is presently mired in the most shameful Miss World London after-party funds scandal with Miss Angela Onyeador just be merciful enough to give out just the tiniest bit of her cosmetics and make-up allowance to this hapless young man? No doubt, what that “tiniest bit” would amount to will certainly exceed the amount the poor boy is looking for. That is Nigeria for us.

It is fashionable these to label Abacha the only thief Nigeria has produced just because the man was foolish enough to die when he did. But hasn’t our new crop of leaders surpassed late General Sani Abacha in thieving and brigandry? How much is Mr. Ghali Na’aba, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and his deputy, Mr. Chibudom Nwuche, have in cash and acquired property? How much were they worth before assuming office? How much does Mr. Tony Anenih, former Minister of Works and Housing, put aside for himself from the boundless pool of resources at his disposal to upstage Obasanjo’s real and imagined enemies?

These days, I see more and more preachers on television prophesying good, success, prosperity and bounties for our leaders. Who is inspiring these prophesies? How can we bless the people God has cursed? How can men who have shown such unspeakable capacity for evil and callousness be blessed of God? We have come to the same stage as Prophet Jeremiah was, when God asked him not to pray for the people of that time. The only rightful prayer needed now from all men, women and children whose prayers God answers is for them to rise up every hour and tearfully call upon God to speedily and devastatingly judge all those who mismanage and misrule this country. Let Him not s! pare them. If there is anyone among them who is righteous let him be spared. But let swift judgment come down heavily on the callous looters of our money, ruiners of our nation, their accomplices and cheerleaders. Let us endeavour to say this prayer every morning, afternoon, evening, night and midnight. Say it every minute and every hour. God must surely hear us and fight against our oppressors and not show them mercy!

As for Mr. Pius Anyim, who was sired into the senate as its president by President Obasanjo, he has indeed acquitted himself well as a true son of his ‘father’. The Assemblies Of God Church would be doing Christendom some good if they will immediately isolate and dis-fellowship Anyim until he proves clearly that he is not a common thief in a “born-again” robe. They should reject whatever largesse he would want hand out, until he cleanses off the reproach he is attracting to Christendom.

As for Justice Akanbi (rtd.) and his Commission, if and when Anyim has successfully proved himself clean and innocent, the Senate can then quickly dispatch the witch-hunting and blackmailing panel and its bearded Chairman to the ugly side of history, reserved for all men and women who had allowed some unhealthy pressure and contaminated gain to induce them into discharging great national assignments put in their hands with pitiable unwholesomeness. And as for Obasanjo and his expedient friend and partner, Nzeribe, what more can we call them that they have not called themselves by their conduct? That Anyim is one of Obasanjo’s best gifts to Nigeria today goes a long way to prove how much this president wishes his nation well. The other day, at a service at the Aso Rock Chapel, I saw and heard Obas! anjo praying for “God’s intervention” to save Nigeria from evil and evil men who ruin this nation. All I can add is, Please Lord, do it this minute. Weed out ALL ruiners of Nigeria and spare them not, so that this nation can at least retain hope of ever breathing the breath of life once more. Amen.