Cowardice asks the question, "Is it safe?" Expediency asks the question, "Is it politic?" And Vanity comes along and asks the question, "Is it popular?" But Conscience asks the question "Is it right?" And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
I have often used the Martin Luther quote because it everyday reflects the attitude I take before I dabble into any issue that bothers on the existence of this nation of ours. I also ponder on it, as try to give motive to the actions of our leaders. In the last few weeks I have sought to understand all the arguments concerning the Ettehgate matter.
I have listened to all the pros, cons, the for and against. Equally I have read some of the most analytical minds when it comes to commentaries and this is not just an additional voice but also one that feels the hurt of a people that is constantly maligned by her leaders. The passage of time only distracts us from the real issues and it is sad.
Some people have said that it is all politics, politics at the expense of the ordinary man, politics of renovation of a personal residence, politics of one (s)elected individual. Politics that cannot provide housing, healthcare, politics that denies the masses quality education and enhances the lives of a very few. I have taking a layman's view at the residence that was renovated and the more I look at the property the more I burn with anger.
Interestingly I stand to be corrected or better informed, the Woman Etteh did not steal money, she did not kill, she did not do this nor that. So what did she do, she lied, she lied to her conscience, she could not take the right decision in the face of criticism. Etteh lied to all the pledges she took only a few months ago by renovating a house at over three times the cost of the house and it is not acceptable.
Whether it is the defence of the House Committee Chairman on Information or that of Eziuche Ubani, the PDP South West or West South, the fact is that this woman threw caution to the wind. Ordinarily there is nothing wrong with the items of renovation but the undeniable fact is that the figures expended on these items is vanity. I do not care whether the woman was a hairdresser or a dresser of hair the fact is that we are all to blame. Very few listened when the capability of this woman to lead was questioned by some of us.
We got carried away in the euphoria of a woman speaker, today if there is a constituency she has so betrayed by her action and inaction it is the womenfolk. I do not see how Iweala, Oby, Akunyili and other women that have cut a presence for themselves would have goofed like she is and has done. The painful fact is the sit tight effort, but off course it is not surprising, Nigeria blessed with everything, unfortunately cursed with leadership. I was informed that Mr. Etteh is an architect, how did this renovation escape him, if today he is asked to comment would he be able to justify such amount on mere renovation.
Sometimes I make a lot of sense out of the very little and some occasions, the very insignificant, like while this scandal has raged I sought to know what exactly does it mean to renovate..to restore, refurbish, revamp, recondition, rehabilitate, overhaul, redevelop; update, upgrade, refit, bring something up to code; informal do up, rehab. One assumes from all these words that the house had to be made new again, to bring to a good state of repair. All these for alledged N600M plus and rather than take action we say it is political, we say because she is a woman, because she has a relationship with former headmaster Obj…when do we hope to grow up?
If early in the morning Etteh will do this and not think she is wrong, and not think she owes the nation an apology and not think that she should take a bow and a seat in the crowd, then there is 'wahala'. In a quick take I was forced to call the last Speaker of the House a scavanger and destroyer for leaving a house in a state of disrepair that would require such millions in renovating. But then as more facts emerged it became obvious that it was just a case of a lack in discretion, a lack of circumspection in taking an action by Etteh and her guard of advisers.
Maybe there is no big deal in renovating a house for that much, maybe we are over-reacting. Maybe it is just because they don't like her that somebody blew the whistle, afterall that was how the press turned a health visit to a birthday bash. Maybe it was not up to N600m, but just a little over N200M. The truth is that there are no positives to draw from the entire episode.
To imagine that as usual the ethnic card has come up,only portrays us as the ethnic jingoists that we are. You can steal if you are politically correct, you can steal if it is your ethnic groups turn, after all it is turn by turn, until the nation crumbles.
I am informed that the Presidency has advised her to resigned, well I recall those days in school, being advised to withdraw does not mean that you leave school. Let the fight continue, the mud should be thrown all around. The pain is that we learn slowly, we forget quickly, we defy every known law, a nation without a shadow. A nation where anything happens, a house renovated for twice its costs, mansions, cars, luxury et al for one person in the light of crawling poverty.
With issues like this not properly handled, not put in the right perspective, one wonders the kind of future that we build. Speaking on the importance of the issue, Representative Farouk, same member that nominated her said that a probe was the only way out.
Sadly, while I agree, often I say it is only in Nigeria we probe the same name we gave our children.
Again let me remind us that there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must do it because Conscience tells him it is right. Etteh should resign, if not I wonder how long would she be able to live in that renovated house. The more this lingers I question our mentality, our morality. I pray the Almighty Allah to save us, we are learning, is it slow, is it worth it, is it for the purpose of self cleansing…there are questions, little in answers?
Prince Charles Dickson, Jos, Plateau Nigeria
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234-0803 331 1301, 234-0805 715 2301
