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Tuesday the 21st of July 2020 was another day of plenty drama and a big show of shame at the national assembly public hearing of the case that involved the ministry of labour and one of the agencies directly under it; the NSITF.
A similar but shameful drama had occurred a day before, involving a former senator, governor and a serving minister of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. This one involved either a voodoo play, ill-health or a classical Nollywood act.
I had in all honestly taken my eyes away from the tragic imbroglio, focusing instead on my beautiful wife of a decade and the matron of our boys’ hostel. Like a popular Yoruba adage says: “ igbe kinkin leti awo gbegiri, boju ba kuro nibe, se okan ma kuro nibe ni”? Simply means that when you see a little poop on the tip of the plate of your bean soup, even if you take away your eye from it, can you take away your mind?
I have keenly watched the back and forth dramas been acted by our men and women in power these days, from the Abike Dabiri, Chairman/ CEO of Nigeria Diaspora Commission versus Isaa Pantami, the Minister of Communication, to the Edo APC crisis which journeyed upward to the National APC level and which also consumed the two gladiators on the scene; Adams Oshiomole and Governor Obaseki.
Then to the eventual dissolution of the APC NWC by Mr President after a lot of foot-draggings, to the Ondo governor and his deputy’s crisis and attempt plus counter attempt to impeach him or not, down to the primaries in Ondo where winners and losers have emerged.
The pitiful drama did not cease! Then comes the NDDC Samaritan woman, Joy Nunieh who was met by the saviour Senator Akpabio beside the well of NDDC, “give me out of the water of this well to drink for I am thirsty, for if you give me, I might show you the riches of life” declared saviour Akpabio, “I am not in the position to quench your thirst sir, but, I do not mind to be shown the riches of life for life”, the Samaritan Nunieh enthused. “Go bring your husband, that I may bless your household”, again saviour Akpabio retorted. “I have no husband”, Nunieh answered. “You are right, for you have had four husbands, and the one that you cohabit with now, may not be your final bus stop”, replied saviour Akpabio. What a needless drama in unveiling the numerous warms that had eaten deep into the commission!
Who is afraid of the forensic audit of the cash cow called the NDDC?
And then to the drama of Ngige, the Lagos boy extraordinaire! I watched and read when and how Honourable Faleke accused Ngige of so many wrongdoings in handling the affairs of The Ministry of Labour and Employment, I also knew that he was invited to clear himself and prove all allegations wrong before the House panel that was handling the public hearing between the labour ministry and an MDA under the ministry, what I wasn’t sure of was if the house had indicated that the hearing will be based on age, state of origin and who mentors who.
For the cerebral ilk of Babatunde Fashola, Babatunde Irukera, Rotimi Amaechi et al, it would have allowed them to not only school the panel but also the public. It would have made them open up on facts and figures, it will make them bring up data’s, and it will allow them to analyse, re-analyse and proffer a solution or projections for the future.
Instead of clearing his name and that of his wife, and also setting the record straight, the white long goatee Ngige chose to dance naked in the market place at broad daylight.
Pray, tell me, what has been a VI boy, a Mushin boy, a Lagos boy or been an Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s boy got to do with the proper and efficient handling of the sensitive ministry handed over to him in trust by the President and Commander In Chief of The Armed Forces. Truth be told, Ngige’s unintelligent outburst confirmed to me that he was guilty as charged.
Although I am from the Yoruba part of Kogi state, I have lived in various parts of Lagos for more than a decade, I dare say with pride and unapologetically, that both states dwarf Ngige’s Anambra State in everything you can point to. It is despicable for a former governor and chief security of a state who was so kidnapped within the confines of his authority to even try and compare himself with a kingmaker in the guise of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. How dare Ngige, who did not win more than a term as a senator of his people and still woefully lost his constituency at all the elections that produced PMB refer to someone who not only has produced three governors in Lagos and some part of the South West after himself, has produced several senators and reps members, has made kings and has also helped PMB achieved his ambition of ruling and ridding Nigeria of corruption his age and classmate?
Where was Ngige when Abacha was ruling, reigning and raging? Without gloating, Ngige belongs to the class of late maturers, he is either few minutes late in reasoning or processing information, and hence his shameful dance in the public glare at noon.
I think it is time to single out Ngige and some of his low thinking class of ministers who will always drag PMB and his goal-getter/fighters ministers behind by few steps. Ngige and his dump class will always allow naysayers to ask if this is the change we truly bargained for.
Obafemi writes from isolation
