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Nigerians Are Ungrateful People
By Hakeem Babalola
Why are Nigerians behaving like the ungrateful heirs? Why is it impossible for them to show
gratitude once in a lifetime? Why are they becoming more and more haunted by the stupid riddle – of
their leaders? Why are their expressions becoming more progressively troubled? Why are they
characterised by disorder or insubordination?
In other words, why do Nigerians hate their past leaders with such physical energy?
“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child!” (William Shakespeare)
Past leaders are expected to be widely known and esteemed like a glorious harmattan morning. But in
the case of Nigerians, they have assumed an attitude of thankless towards their leaders. They often
perform the ungrateful task of comparing cases of failure among their past leaders. Nigerians have
wilfully turned their past leaders into villains. Ironically, they believe every preceding regime is
always better. What’s the matter with Nigerians?
Nigerians should listen to the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) which drummed support for one
past leader, saying “rather than the avalanche of criticisms which trailed his eight-year rule, Nigerians
should commend him for adding value to the nation’s economy”. Perhaps what the NBC is saying in
essence is the fact that the prophets are not respected in their home towns.
I can not remember one out of the past rulers of Nigeria who actually received genuine praises from
the citizens after leaving office. Perhaps it is such lassitude that has reminded one of them to lament
the rubbishing of his track record, saying “I am sorry for Nigerians”. Are Nigerians jealous of their
rulers? Or are they trying to destroy their past leaders as a sweet revenge?
No Nigerian past rulers have been turned into a canon fodder for attacks on everything that went
wrong in Nigeria other than His Highness, Emperor Olusegun Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo.
Since he left office, the Ota farmer and God spokesperson, has been receiving consistent bashing
from every segment of the country – most especially from the media. They want to destroy
Obasanjo because he refused to share the national cake with them! They want to rubbish the father
of modern Nigeria’s achievements! They want to soil his name by all means. Why is it difficult for
Nigerians to see a messiah in this man who loves them passionately?
Critics, including yours truly, have exploited every aspect of communicative method such as essay,
satire, parody, poetry, and article – to portray Obasanjo as a false democrat whose inordinate
ambition is to rule Nigeria for life. Although the man has repeatedly denied being well-knowing for
his political manoeuvring, his deportment has always given him up. A typical example of course is
the infamous third term which was eventually aborted. But third term was/is part of Obasanjo’s love
for his country. Didn’t they get it?
It is obvious that Obasanjo detests critics just like Ahab did not like Micaiah, because he never
prophesied good concerning him, but evil: probably he liked the sycophant son of Chenaanah better;
yet might Ahab have escaped a bloody death, had he but stopped his ears to flattery and opened them
to faithful counsel (1 Kings 22).
Obasanjo probably would have realised his third term ambition had he listened to “one man whose
words are not framed to tickle delicate ears: who to my thinking, comes before the great ones of
society, much as the son of Imlah came before the throned Kings of Judah and Israel; and who
speaks truth as deep, with a power as prophet-like and as vital – a mien as dauntless and as daring”.
But for his greed Nigerians would have searched for him – again. There’s no one like him and I don’
t think there would ever be. This is the reason I sympathise with him (although he says he doesn’t
need anybody’s sympathy) concerning the way Nigerians are treating this rare gem. They booed him
everywhere he went since he came down from his high horse. I think someone like Obasanjo who
has been sacrificing his life for the benefit of his country deserves a modicum of appreciation.
After all, Obasanjo helped Nigeria defeat Biafra, a country I believe would have prospered had it
been. In fact I strongly believe that any nation out of Nigeria would have arrived somewhere. It was
Obasanjo who saved Babangida’s life, another maradona who loves his country so much. It was he
who gave Nigeria a Shehu Shagari in 1979 and a Yar’Adua in 2007. Both men turned to be dynamic
rulers.
When the military goons were terrorising the Nation in those days, it was Obasanjo who stood up
against them. Obasanjo has always been in the forefront of fighting for the masses. For instance, he
introduced Land Act decree and Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) without which Nigerians would
have starved to death. Meanwhile, his comrade, Ahmadu Ali, introduced exorbitant fees beyond what
parents could afford. And when the students protested, they were shot and many killed.
How could Nigerians be so ungrateful to a man who gave them Mallam Ribadu, a young man who
fought and got rid of corruption? They are so mean to the extent of turning his son against him. It is
the only reason why Gbenga accused his father of sleeping with his wife. Nigerians did not even
stop at that. They pursued the former first daughter, a serving senator until this pretty woman
jumped the fence; they maliciously accused her of fraud when in fact she generously shared the
booty among her co-workers.
Do Nigerians understand what is called respect? But Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello should not worry, for her
papa don hire that ogbontagiri lawyer called Afe Babalola (we no be family o). Soon the EFCC would
leave him alone like it left Mohammed Babangida alone after the initial gragra. No be Nigeria we dey
talk about?
I mean if there was no Obasanjo, there wouldn’t have been a great Nation called Nigeria. Nigeria
wouldn’t have had the best hospital, good roads, constant electricity, adequate drinkable water,
qualitative education, maximum security, and other social amenities they are now enjoying. See,
Obasanjo is right when he said that Nigerians are ungrateful people. They are simply ungrateful and
“I am sorry for them”.
Copyright 2008 mysmallvoice@yahoo.com
By Hakeem Babalola
Why are Nigerians behaving like the ungrateful heirs? Why is it impossible for them to show
gratitude once in a lifetime? Why are they becoming more and more haunted by the stupid riddle – of
their leaders? Why are their expressions becoming more progressively troubled? Why are they
characterised by disorder or insubordination?
In other words, why do Nigerians hate their past leaders with such physical energy?
“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child!” (William Shakespeare)
Past leaders are expected to be widely known and esteemed like a glorious harmattan morning. But in
the case of Nigerians, they have assumed an attitude of thankless towards their leaders. They often
perform the ungrateful task of comparing cases of failure among their past leaders. Nigerians have
wilfully turned their past leaders into villains. Ironically, they believe every preceding regime is
always better. What’s the matter with Nigerians?
Nigerians should listen to the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) which drummed support for one
past leader, saying “rather than the avalanche of criticisms which trailed his eight-year rule, Nigerians
should commend him for adding value to the nation’s economy”. Perhaps what the NBC is saying in
essence is the fact that the prophets are not respected in their home towns.
I can not remember one out of the past rulers of Nigeria who actually received genuine praises from
the citizens after leaving office. Perhaps it is such lassitude that has reminded one of them to lament
the rubbishing of his track record, saying “I am sorry for Nigerians”. Are Nigerians jealous of their
rulers? Or are they trying to destroy their past leaders as a sweet revenge?
No Nigerian past rulers have been turned into a canon fodder for attacks on everything that went
wrong in Nigeria other than His Highness, Emperor Olusegun Matthew Okikiolakan Aremu Obasanjo.
Since he left office, the Ota farmer and God spokesperson, has been receiving consistent bashing
from every segment of the country – most especially from the media. They want to destroy
Obasanjo because he refused to share the national cake with them! They want to rubbish the father
of modern Nigeria’s achievements! They want to soil his name by all means. Why is it difficult for
Nigerians to see a messiah in this man who loves them passionately?
Critics, including yours truly, have exploited every aspect of communicative method such as essay,
satire, parody, poetry, and article – to portray Obasanjo as a false democrat whose inordinate
ambition is to rule Nigeria for life. Although the man has repeatedly denied being well-knowing for
his political manoeuvring, his deportment has always given him up. A typical example of course is
the infamous third term which was eventually aborted. But third term was/is part of Obasanjo’s love
for his country. Didn’t they get it?
It is obvious that Obasanjo detests critics just like Ahab did not like Micaiah, because he never
prophesied good concerning him, but evil: probably he liked the sycophant son of Chenaanah better;
yet might Ahab have escaped a bloody death, had he but stopped his ears to flattery and opened them
to faithful counsel (1 Kings 22).
Obasanjo probably would have realised his third term ambition had he listened to “one man whose
words are not framed to tickle delicate ears: who to my thinking, comes before the great ones of
society, much as the son of Imlah came before the throned Kings of Judah and Israel; and who
speaks truth as deep, with a power as prophet-like and as vital – a mien as dauntless and as daring”.
But for his greed Nigerians would have searched for him – again. There’s no one like him and I don’
t think there would ever be. This is the reason I sympathise with him (although he says he doesn’t
need anybody’s sympathy) concerning the way Nigerians are treating this rare gem. They booed him
everywhere he went since he came down from his high horse. I think someone like Obasanjo who
has been sacrificing his life for the benefit of his country deserves a modicum of appreciation.
After all, Obasanjo helped Nigeria defeat Biafra, a country I believe would have prospered had it
been. In fact I strongly believe that any nation out of Nigeria would have arrived somewhere. It was
Obasanjo who saved Babangida’s life, another maradona who loves his country so much. It was he
who gave Nigeria a Shehu Shagari in 1979 and a Yar’Adua in 2007. Both men turned to be dynamic
rulers.
When the military goons were terrorising the Nation in those days, it was Obasanjo who stood up
against them. Obasanjo has always been in the forefront of fighting for the masses. For instance, he
introduced Land Act decree and Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) without which Nigerians would
have starved to death. Meanwhile, his comrade, Ahmadu Ali, introduced exorbitant fees beyond what
parents could afford. And when the students protested, they were shot and many killed.
How could Nigerians be so ungrateful to a man who gave them Mallam Ribadu, a young man who
fought and got rid of corruption? They are so mean to the extent of turning his son against him. It is
the only reason why Gbenga accused his father of sleeping with his wife. Nigerians did not even
stop at that. They pursued the former first daughter, a serving senator until this pretty woman
jumped the fence; they maliciously accused her of fraud when in fact she generously shared the
booty among her co-workers.
Do Nigerians understand what is called respect? But Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello should not worry, for her
papa don hire that ogbontagiri lawyer called Afe Babalola (we no be family o). Soon the EFCC would
leave him alone like it left Mohammed Babangida alone after the initial gragra. No be Nigeria we dey
talk about?
I mean if there was no Obasanjo, there wouldn’t have been a great Nation called Nigeria. Nigeria
wouldn’t have had the best hospital, good roads, constant electricity, adequate drinkable water,
qualitative education, maximum security, and other social amenities they are now enjoying. See,
Obasanjo is right when he said that Nigerians are ungrateful people. They are simply ungrateful and
“I am sorry for them”.
Copyright 2008 mysmallvoice@yahoo.com