2007: “Many are called, but…
By Okongwu D.C Ogbonna
INDEED, there is an aged long adage which says, that any one who lives long on this earth, must surely see so many things. Again as long as one lives, he wo not doubt anything.
Moreso in the two holy books, namely the Qur’an and the Bible, the Almighty God tells us that every of His words shall come to pass. In addition, none of the prophecies in the two holy books, shall not be fulfilled.
Without any doubt, every believer, whether he is a Muslim or a Christian faithful who agrees with a single promise or prophecy of God, knows that it will never go unfulfilled. Therefore, the Christian’s holy book, the Holy Bible told us that “many were called, but few were chosen”. And after this parable (if I may be permitted to say so) was first made over two thousand years ago, every Christian always pray for two things.
One, every Christian faithful and believer alike, always pray that he or she, should be among those to be chosen. Also, any Christian hopes to see that day.
In fact, this parable of “many are called but few are chosen”, is connected with or signifies the day of the ‘Rapture’ by our Lord and God. And, this is why every Christian believer always want to be among those to be chosen and counted.
Meanwhile it seems that this parable is beginning or has even started to manifest itself. And, this manifestation is deeply noticed in our political scene today.
Undoubtedly, anyone who is a keen follower of the political events in our nation in recent times will surely agree that the parable is almost a prophecy fulfilled. For instance, our politicians mainly political office seekers and aspirants, no longer admit that they come into any political race based on their own decision and self determination.
In fact it has become a common thing amongst all political office aspirants, to tell the public especially pressmen, that he or she is called upon to come and serve his community and fatherland. Really most of the political office seekers have made this deceitful statement as an excuse tool, through which they could win sympathy of the ignorant masses.
Even those who have in one way or the other and in one time or another deceived and cheated the masses, still shamelessly come back to the aggrieved masses with this deceptive slogan of being “called to duty”. For example, it has become noticeable, that in order to quickly woo and win the sympathy and support of the common masses, politicians have maintained that they are called to duty by the masses.
Right from the local government levels to the federal level, the political aspirants have ceaselessly informed us, that he or she has not taken a personal decision, in contesting for any political office.
Going by recent record of those contesting the presidency, there were over 50 and none among them ever admitted joining the race based on his wish.
In addition, across the 36 states of the federation, the various political parties have so far received or sold forms to more 100 party members who have indicated their willingness to contest governorships, positions.
Moreover, the sales of forms by the various political parties to those vying for other political and elective offices, are not left out. And, some of these are elective offices which comprise both state, local and federal levels, including governorships, state and national legislatures, local council chairmanship and lots more.
On a serious note, our politicians today see the rest of us as novices and ignorant. Also, these political gain seekers always believe that they could easily deceive most Nigerian electorate with rhetoric statements and other forms of deception.
Going by the list of political aspirants who have so far declared their intentions to vie for the various elective positions in the country come 2007, one must quickly agree that those people are nothing but political masquerades.
Moreso, it is believable and quite convincing, that all those who claim so far that they were invited to serve their fatherland, by the powerless masses of this country, are men and women without any good record. In-fact, their past track records are nothing to write home about.
Nonetheless these political aspirants might not be making any mistake, because this nation is amongst the best in the world. Yes, the masses of Nigeria are rated among the best in the world, not because of their good living standards nor their benefits from the so called, dividends of democracy.
Rather, the common man of this nation is rated high in the globe just because of his patience and enduring attitude and ignorance which have subjected him to naked poverty and brutal hardships imposed on him by the leaders of this country.
Certainly, Nigeria masses have forsaken their rights and privileges, at the expense of few Nigerians who call themselves rulers. Moreover, the powerless masses of this nation who form the majority of the population, have even lost their rights to existence.
Therefore, one would always wonder how a common man of this country who since birth has not benefited anything from the leadership of this nation, should now be so sympathetic and forgetful, to invite a lion to replace a wolf as his leader.
Furthermore, it must not only be amusing and mocking but rather disheartening for any common man of Nigeria to woo or invite someone who has turned his joy to sadness, to come and become his leader.
On the other hand, these few disgruntled elements called rulers, have forgotten that, they could only make a living by what they get, and enjoy life by what they give. Even those who have terribly and forcefully ruled us before, did not realize that, the moment might be temporary and, this is why they have shamelessly come back to the abandoned masses, seeking for their support and mandates.
In a nutshell most of the political aspirants, especially those who claimed that they have been invited by their people to come out and vie for respective positions were truly the sponsors and initiators of these calls and agitations by some few disgruntled politicians in our society. For instance in Kano, Governor Ibrahim Shekarau since February 2004 set up the newly formulated elongation of power bid popularly known as “Allah ya maimaita”. According to him the masses of the state and the nation at large were those that asked him to do so. He said people mainly the pensioners asked him to re-contest the position of governorship.
Other examples included that of ex-Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Saidu Dattijo Adhama, Magaji Abdullah, Umar Ganduje and a host of others. While some of these people and many more claimed that they were invited by either party supporters or the masses, others said that they answered the divine call to duty by their friends and well wishes.
Even at the national level most of the aspirants, blatantly and shamelessly, told the masses of this nation, that their candidature and aspirations to Vie for various political officers were basically on the requests of their people.
While Dr. Chimaroke Nmani whose indirect dictatorial administration is witnessing the end of its second term, has opted for the senatorial seat of Enugu Central senatorial zone, Perry Ajunwa, Odili, Gen. Gusau and Makarfi just to mention but a few are sought for the presidency and the preteded that they were invited to join the race by their various communities, ethnic groups, regions and even the nation.
Indeed, as earlier mentioned, these people always and ceaselessly claim that they were invited by the powerless and helpless masses. This might be so, however, there are many facts to consider.
Most of these wolves hiding under the goats skins, have ruled the masses of this nations one time or the other and in one position or another. Now the big questions are.
Have they forgotten the evils they meted against many voiceless people when they were in power? More so what good progress and achievement have their leadership in the past, brought to the common man or the entire society?
We don’t have to blame them because Nigerians due to ignorance, illiteracy and poverty always forget the evils mated against them by these yesterday enemies but today’s friends.
Finally my assurance to these enemies of the common man is that posterity will not forgive them. They can only succeed in fooling the few masses sometimes but not all the masses at all times”.
OGBONNA is a Kano-based freelance journalist.