NIGERIAN AND AFRICAN LEADERS AS THE ALI-BABA & THE FOURTY- THIEVES OF THIS ERA
September 24, 2020 | News
I recently saw again, a short video interview of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari {supposed leader of the so-called Niger Delta People Volunteer Force (NDPVF)}, where he boldly described Nigerian and African Political Leaders of our time, as the Ali-Baba and the Fourty-Thieves........
NIGERIAN AND AFRICAN LEADERS AS THE ALI-BABA & THE FOURTY- THIEVES OF THIS ERA
I recently saw again, a short video interview of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari {supposed leader of the so-called Niger Delta People Volunteer Force (NDPVF)}, where he boldly described Nigerian and African Political Leaders of our time, as the Ali-Baba and the Fourty-Thieves that have continued to fleece and misappropriate the collective wealth and resources meant for our development, for their personal gains. Though, the said short video interview is quite old, but it still seems very relevant in describing the appalling situation in Nigeria and most parts of Africa.
Firstly, while I would not want to associate myself with the likes of Dokubo-Asari because of his ideologies and deceptive disposition as regards the struggle in the Niger Delta region. But that would not stop me from picking the few sense/reasoning he might make here and there. Though, I personally do not like his style and one-sided talk about the disturbing corrupt practices demonstrated by the supposed political and public office leaders/holders across all levels of the Nigerian Government and indeed Africa, but some of the things he said in the stated interview is worth mentioning here. This conclusion about his person, and others like him, is hinged on the fact that often times, when a South-South Niger-Delta person steals public funds, like we saw recently in the NDDC/Niger-Delta Ministry, these so-called Niger-Delta Activists turn a blind-eye and deaf ears to the corruption practices of their own. But if it is a Northerner or South-West/South-East leader, these same South-South Activist/Elites will come out to condemn and even mobilize others against them. I don’t buy into such sentimental style of judgement when it comes to exposing and condemning evidently corrupt persons within the public space.
Now, back to the said words that I picked from Asari-Dokubo’s shot video interview. In his words: “These leaders are like Ali-Baba and the Forty-Thieves…. They are heartless and wicked people. All of them.” He then narrated how he flew over the Emirate via Abu-Dhabi to Iran, in 1989, and the highest building he saw then was not more than a five-storey building, no much road network, not much. Then in 1991, he went there again. But he did not go to the Emirate until 2008. And what he saw, the level of development cannot be described with words. He said: “Since then, I have been going to Dubai. If you go to Dubai today, you will see things, and if you go back again, you will yet see greater things. During the global economic crises, Dubai needed only $15 Billion bailout. And Abu-Dhabi gave them the money. How much has the Lagos State Government budgeted from the time Fashola started? They have been budgeting nothing less than $3 Billion Dollars. How much has Rivers State budgeted since when Amaechi came in? (This was at the time these two were still Governors). They’ve been budgeting more than $3 Billion. Times that by six or eight years. We are looking at over, and between Eighteen to Twenty-Four Billion Dollars.
“Yet, while Dubai is today like a paradise that cannot be described with words but best seen with the eyes, the situation in their States and in Nigeria, is nothing to write home about... As at 1991, it was said that Qatar had just one major road in the whole of the country. Today, Qatar is a paradise. It’s good to go there and see things for yourself. I went there, and also in Vietnam. I cried when I saw the disparity of their level of development compared to ours in Nigeria. Yet, you see our leaders with their arrogant grandstanding, saying they are doing this and doing that. And people will praise them that they are trying. And I say shai! What a shame. There is something really wrong with the Blackman. It is only Black people that are backward in the world. All others have left us light years ahead. Imagine all the money in Dollars ……. our leaders’ yearly budgets. Yet, what they show us are few projects here and there. Most of whom and usually left uncompleted…
“These people are criminals, they ought to be shot. It is so heartrending when you see these people talk, grandstanding. We have the Federal Government, the 36 State Governments, and not to mention the Local Government Councils. They all receive funds. But what are they doing with the funds? These people are just reaping us off, and then others are busy praising them. Then somebody will say it is APC, PDP. What is the difference between these people? They are all the same Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves…”
It is also surprising that the same Asari-Dokubo who said all of this in this old video interview, is still the same person recently defending our South-South leaders who are stealing funds meant for the NDDC and the Niger Delta Ministry to develop the region. One cannot be seen blaming others and at the same time then turn a blind eye on our selfish leaders in the region.
I have often wondered and asked: who will save and cure Nigeria, and indeed Africa? This is evidently because of what has been happening in the country and Black continent in the last five decades. A situation where, in Nigeria for instance, those within and around the Government space and its agencies/commissions, who are the ones that are supposed to judiciously use our collective wealth to better the living standards of the general masses, and transform our infrastructural demands; are still the same set of persons mindlessly stealing the public funds under their care with reckless abandon and impunity. A situation where the sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region, have turned the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which ought to be a channel through which they are supposed to improve the economic fortunes of their very own people and have the region transformed to be like Dubai; into a conduit pipe for the easiest pilfering of the nation’s fortunes into their private pockets. A situation where the very same people in Government, who are supposed to be responsible and accountable Custodians of our collective wealth, have become irresponsible men and women without integrity, and who cannot be trusted by the people. A situation where those meant to fight corruption, are themselves suspected to be stained by the very same thing they are supposed to be fighting. I can go on and on. But it simply paints a picture of hopelessness and despair, as to what would become of the future of this country and continent - Africa, if things continue the way they are going?
The insensitivity of Nigerian, and most African leaders is unimaginable. Yet, the citizens of the most populous Black nation in Africa, as well as other African countries, have largely remained silent. Well, for me, I will keep on raising my voice in the wilderness until the change we all seek becomes evident. But as expected each time I raise these issues; our brothers and sisters will always say: “wetin sef? Na only our people dey steal sef? Leave them! Others dey steal, so why we no go allow our people to steal public funds meant for development.” However, can we really develop if we continue to sing the praises, pamper and encourage these political leaders that are engaged in wrongdoings? They would say Zik Gbemre too like trouble. But what trouble is Zik Gbemre making, other than say things the way he sees them from the layman’s point of views. Just trying to make sense out of the confusion often thrown at us. And if truth must be told, if we sit back and do nothing, posterity will never forgive the current generation for not fighting back to address these societal ills in Nigeria, and indeed Africa.
Zik Gbemre.
September 24, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
I recently saw again, a short video interview of Mujahid Dokubo-Asari {supposed leader of the so-called Niger Delta People Volunteer Force (NDPVF)}, where he boldly described Nigerian and African Political Leaders of our time, as the Ali-Baba and the Fourty-Thieves that have continued to fleece and misappropriate the collective wealth and resources meant for our development, for their personal gains. Though, the said short video interview is quite old, but it still seems very relevant in describing the appalling situation in Nigeria and most parts of Africa.
Firstly, while I would not want to associate myself with the likes of Dokubo-Asari because of his ideologies and deceptive disposition as regards the struggle in the Niger Delta region. But that would not stop me from picking the few sense/reasoning he might make here and there. Though, I personally do not like his style and one-sided talk about the disturbing corrupt practices demonstrated by the supposed political and public office leaders/holders across all levels of the Nigerian Government and indeed Africa, but some of the things he said in the stated interview is worth mentioning here. This conclusion about his person, and others like him, is hinged on the fact that often times, when a South-South Niger-Delta person steals public funds, like we saw recently in the NDDC/Niger-Delta Ministry, these so-called Niger-Delta Activists turn a blind-eye and deaf ears to the corruption practices of their own. But if it is a Northerner or South-West/South-East leader, these same South-South Activist/Elites will come out to condemn and even mobilize others against them. I don’t buy into such sentimental style of judgement when it comes to exposing and condemning evidently corrupt persons within the public space.
Now, back to the said words that I picked from Asari-Dokubo’s shot video interview. In his words: “These leaders are like Ali-Baba and the Forty-Thieves…. They are heartless and wicked people. All of them.” He then narrated how he flew over the Emirate via Abu-Dhabi to Iran, in 1989, and the highest building he saw then was not more than a five-storey building, no much road network, not much. Then in 1991, he went there again. But he did not go to the Emirate until 2008. And what he saw, the level of development cannot be described with words. He said: “Since then, I have been going to Dubai. If you go to Dubai today, you will see things, and if you go back again, you will yet see greater things. During the global economic crises, Dubai needed only $15 Billion bailout. And Abu-Dhabi gave them the money. How much has the Lagos State Government budgeted from the time Fashola started? They have been budgeting nothing less than $3 Billion Dollars. How much has Rivers State budgeted since when Amaechi came in? (This was at the time these two were still Governors). They’ve been budgeting more than $3 Billion. Times that by six or eight years. We are looking at over, and between Eighteen to Twenty-Four Billion Dollars.
“Yet, while Dubai is today like a paradise that cannot be described with words but best seen with the eyes, the situation in their States and in Nigeria, is nothing to write home about... As at 1991, it was said that Qatar had just one major road in the whole of the country. Today, Qatar is a paradise. It’s good to go there and see things for yourself. I went there, and also in Vietnam. I cried when I saw the disparity of their level of development compared to ours in Nigeria. Yet, you see our leaders with their arrogant grandstanding, saying they are doing this and doing that. And people will praise them that they are trying. And I say shai! What a shame. There is something really wrong with the Blackman. It is only Black people that are backward in the world. All others have left us light years ahead. Imagine all the money in Dollars ……. our leaders’ yearly budgets. Yet, what they show us are few projects here and there. Most of whom and usually left uncompleted…
“These people are criminals, they ought to be shot. It is so heartrending when you see these people talk, grandstanding. We have the Federal Government, the 36 State Governments, and not to mention the Local Government Councils. They all receive funds. But what are they doing with the funds? These people are just reaping us off, and then others are busy praising them. Then somebody will say it is APC, PDP. What is the difference between these people? They are all the same Ali-Baba and the Forty Thieves…”
It is also surprising that the same Asari-Dokubo who said all of this in this old video interview, is still the same person recently defending our South-South leaders who are stealing funds meant for the NDDC and the Niger Delta Ministry to develop the region. One cannot be seen blaming others and at the same time then turn a blind eye on our selfish leaders in the region.
I have often wondered and asked: who will save and cure Nigeria, and indeed Africa? This is evidently because of what has been happening in the country and Black continent in the last five decades. A situation where, in Nigeria for instance, those within and around the Government space and its agencies/commissions, who are the ones that are supposed to judiciously use our collective wealth to better the living standards of the general masses, and transform our infrastructural demands; are still the same set of persons mindlessly stealing the public funds under their care with reckless abandon and impunity. A situation where the sons and daughters of the Niger Delta region, have turned the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which ought to be a channel through which they are supposed to improve the economic fortunes of their very own people and have the region transformed to be like Dubai; into a conduit pipe for the easiest pilfering of the nation’s fortunes into their private pockets. A situation where the very same people in Government, who are supposed to be responsible and accountable Custodians of our collective wealth, have become irresponsible men and women without integrity, and who cannot be trusted by the people. A situation where those meant to fight corruption, are themselves suspected to be stained by the very same thing they are supposed to be fighting. I can go on and on. But it simply paints a picture of hopelessness and despair, as to what would become of the future of this country and continent - Africa, if things continue the way they are going?
The insensitivity of Nigerian, and most African leaders is unimaginable. Yet, the citizens of the most populous Black nation in Africa, as well as other African countries, have largely remained silent. Well, for me, I will keep on raising my voice in the wilderness until the change we all seek becomes evident. But as expected each time I raise these issues; our brothers and sisters will always say: “wetin sef? Na only our people dey steal sef? Leave them! Others dey steal, so why we no go allow our people to steal public funds meant for development.” However, can we really develop if we continue to sing the praises, pamper and encourage these political leaders that are engaged in wrongdoings? They would say Zik Gbemre too like trouble. But what trouble is Zik Gbemre making, other than say things the way he sees them from the layman’s point of views. Just trying to make sense out of the confusion often thrown at us. And if truth must be told, if we sit back and do nothing, posterity will never forgive the current generation for not fighting back to address these societal ills in Nigeria, and indeed Africa.
Zik Gbemre.
September 24, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes