Opinion.
The worse thing that can happen to a nation, state or community is the bad , negative purposeless leadership. Every thing begins and ends with leadership and when a leader assumes that his followers and subjects are a conquered lot, his doom looms around him.
SARS had sustained constant killings, intimidation and humiliation of people of South South and Igbo land. Under the watch of Peter Obi, youths were killed and their bodies allowed to float on the river….Nothing happens. Okorocha used same people to. harrass and humiliate mothers under his watch…. nothing happened. Thus, youths in other parts of Nigeria taught it was about Biafra and they all looked the other way. When the fire of SARS crossed to Rivers State,being very close to Igbos with many Igbo communities who are still questioning their heritage, reactions started.
Edo youth followed..As Lagos Youths were begining to catch the real issue,and being the pot pouri of all tribes in Nigeria, they started from EndSARS to Reform Police then escalated it to proper issues, ..Reform Nigeria.
But the Fulanis in power and their surrogates whom I prefer to call slaves of Fulanis wanted to show that they have conquered the South West by Rolling out their Guns and weapons.
Governor Showolu, a puppet set up by the Jabagan Borgu, the authentic emperor of Lagos State goofed! Jabagan dethroned the performing Ambode for Sowolu in his known style.
When his deputy Governor, Chief Bello, was most qualified to get the office he handed it over to his PA , Fashola, and when Fashola had his person , a Well known Commissioner under him who also was a Law Lecturer, the Emperor prevailed and put in Ambode , but when Ambode seemed like he won’t play ball he chocked Ambode out and planted the Showolu we all know today. Poor Sowolu!
In Lagos under Jabagan and APC, godfatherism cannot never be side tracked, that was why Obeseki’s supporters told him that “Edo is not Lagos” and so it is.
Sowolu visited Buhari on the 7th day of the peaceful protest in Lagos. It was peaceful all the way and on the 8th day announced that there would be a dusk to dawn curfew on the 12th day. He said “no movements except essential services.” In the USA, and UK,essential services include major shops, gas stations, insurance services, and construction workers , etc, but it is different in Nigeria because we have tolerated insensitive inhumane and life suffocating Leadership like that of Buhari and his cohorts.
The UK that has remained the sole source of sponsorship of bad governance in Nigeria allow and applies similar rules when it comes to essential services to the USA. One wonders why they refuse to question the tribe they made “Owners of Nigeria”, the Fulani Tribe, but that is a matter for another day.
On the day of the Curfew, lights were removed from the Lekki toll gate, Camerars were removed and the dogged Protesters were sitting down carrying Nigerian flag when a Soldiers under the Command of Brigadier Amata, an unfortunate son of Igbo land, a sell out, a trained and armed slave of Fulanis, rained life bullets on Flag carrying peacefull protesters. When a soldier opens fire on a Flag carrying person he has reduced and destroyed the symbol of his allegiance to Nigeria! They did that in Lagos.Buhari who protested peacefully under Jonathan resorts to guns and killings. Buhari is older and more experienced in life than Jonathan, but the difference is now clear- Jonathan is educated, humble and to him all lives matter equally and so it is to his party the PDP.
The consequence is that TVC, Oriental Hotel and other investments of Jabagan have been been torched. Also torched are Sowolu’s family house, many Police stations, Part of Channels Tv, BRT Bus station at Oyingbo, one of the largest in Lagos, Lagos High Court, Igbosere Road, The NPA Hq Marina, plus other multi billion Naira investments and more may happen.
Jabagan Borgu left Lagos as early as 7am today to Paris, from where he may sneak into London, and his kins men will surely find him there. The Lekki toll gate is said to be under concession, to one of his companies, and the protesters may have affected inflow of Naira!
The Oba of Lagos was escorted out his palace this morning too and some youths went into the place this after noon, and removed his staff of Office!
No y .
Governor Hope Uzodinma is the first Governor of Igbo land to announce Curfew, the Sowolu style with only three days notice, one day short of Sowolu! His assurances from the Top must be the Army location at Obinze.
Well, in Igbo land we have a saying that the rat which joined the lizard to play in the rain, runs a big risk, for, when the lizard dries it’s wetness, the rat won’t and may die from it.Using Army like Sowolu did will spell doom so soon,for Hope Uzordinma.
First we are talking of destruction of Multi Billion Naira investments which Imo do not have and cannot afford lose to any irate protester. Federal presence is scarce!
Second,Instead of carrying Nigerian flag protesters of Imo may carry a mixture of Biafran and Nigerian flags and that will encourage the Soldiers to kill them without mercy and worse than what they did in Lagos.
Third, ours is the only Governor in Igbo land that was made by the Supreme Court.The position offers him an opportunity to deliver and not open up the place for Fulanis. Our Governor is essentially on his own unlike Sowolu, as majority did not vote for him. He does not carry Imo Mandate.
Fourth , if politicians can export tugs and supporters to other states for their elections,as we saw in Edo State,where an Imo man was caught by Obaseki supporters, organised protesters like we seem to see now, can do the same. Nigeria has changed for good, Imo youths before last week may not be same as we were used to. They have seen a lot, learnt a lot, and when they start, Soldiers won’t help his Excellency.God forbid.It is better to err on the side of caution.
Fifth, if a Governor can impose Curfew on Protersters to maintain the peace, what should the protesters and the people of Imo do to their Governor who in spite of all the monthly allocations have allowed Gully Erosion to wash away community farm lands in the state? In Uhuala Obibi , we have a gully that is over 200 ft deep and 100 ft wide expanding by the day and about 34 houses in the community is on its track. What Hon. Ihedioha started has been halted completely since Uzodinma was sworn in.
We have erosion in Amucha, Urualla, all over Orlu and many other areas of Imo, that need urgent attention but have been neglected by succeeding Governors of APC.
Iam appealing to His Excellency,Hope Uzodinma not to add pains of loss of Imo lives to our already endangered lives from Gully Erosion.
Clement Udegbe Esq.