A SEASON OF TESTS, TRIALS & OPEN LETTERS

AN ATTEMPT AT WHITEWASH– @kentmerriman

I must confess that I was totally taken aback by the public reply to @DeleMomodu’s Candid Letter. You will agree with me that it is unusual for prominent political leaders to write open letters. It is a medium usually reserved for communicating with the high and mighty. I would have thought @DeleMomodu’s subject would have considered himself one since he was born into prominence, been governor for two terms, now a senator on the second term and the number three man in the country.

It was however, a relief to read that he corroborates Mr Mood’s account of their relationship and that he himself had noticed his somewhat defensive tone, even though he claims not to have been bothered by it because he understand Dele’s position, nevertheless he decides to respond to him and openly too. I think more than anything, this letter is not between two acquaintances/friends. The so called Candid letter in my opinion is first and foremost for the public. I suspect it was a scheme to open an avenue for the number three man to give his own side of the story, to revel all with the aim of swaying public opinion.

This raises the suspicion that it’s not only the seasoned journalist in a tight corner, I think the weight of all the controversy and daily trial sitting is taking its toll. Mr SP obviously believes that the new media culture is not working in his favour. He actually called it a “crucifixion & presumed guilty” era. This is most disagreeable. The “new media” is a tool that can aid the people’s resolve to be proactive; a key ingredient of any successful democratic process. This is the norm all over the world. Nigeria is only just catching up. People being proactive have led several compromising leaders to quit, step-down, step-aside or resign from their positions. Guilty or not, leaders with integrity step down once the people reject their failed leadership. In any case, it is this same “new media culture” that aided the present administration into victory, the same that exposed the last for its shortcomings.

Since this article is not to discredit either of the letters, the writer would merely seek to offer another perspective to the events causing mighty men to write to us seeking our support and understanding. To start with, I’m sure I am not the only one that does not believe the SP when he says he did not strike any deal was with the old PDP. We do not believe that because he was happy to go ahead with the voting despite the absence of 51 members of his own party, under normal circumstances, that would have obviously caused him huge concern. As a matter of fact, that confidence in voting without his men is as absurd as a battalion going confidently to war with one tenth of its soldiers. It will only happen where the other party has been compromised. We see it many times in match fixing, be it football, horse racing or boxing, it’s not unheard off.

 I think the critical thing to note is that the SP had already got a commitment (whether by deliberate dealing, negotiation or implied collaboration) from 22 Old PDP pals. It is also safe to say that he may have called them to thank them for their support, therefore it wouldn’t have taken much to get the rest onboard, which is most likely the reason why he knew that he didn’t need his co senators to get it done, hence he never even attempted to attend the so called reconciliation meeting on that fateful day and as it turned out, the old PDP senators came through for him.

It is also alarming that a man taking a vote who did not envisage the absence of his party mates, did not attempt to ring his colleagues, we saw some of the senators frantically calling on the phone when they heard the frightening news that the dice had already been cast. I wonder why these 51 senators did not smell a rat when they did not see the other senators they were supposed to be reconciling with. This maneuver was of a mafia caliber execution and so the APC unity façade died an instant death.

The true convener of that meeting which lured 51 senators away from the chambers that fateful day remains a mystery, what is however clear is that Mr SP never attempted to attend that meeting, nor intended to obey the party supremacy rule and did not hesitate to disregard the President and his party members. The speed with which the Oath of Office was conducted leaves nothing to imagination. It was bare for all who stayed glued to the Live broadcast to see!

Even if the old PDP senator’s emergence as Deputy Senate President was not his wish, he must have known that by the 51 APC senators absent, it was inevitable, yet he went along with it, this is the crocs of the matter most of us have against his emergence. That he did not care about anything else so long as he got his wish, it is this blinded ambition that is our concern and the APC’s trump card

The latest Twist is the revelation that Mr SP actually knows what his initial sin is. This sounds totally false to me and anyone who critically and dispassionately thinks about this allegation. To think that anyone following the Nigerian politics or involved in it even for a single day would not know that no party has ever dared to field a Christian/Christian or Muslim/Muslim ticket. The man who the SP suspects is behind his foes and who he seeks to discredit would most certainly have known that, so once Mohammed Buhari emerged as the flag bearer, whatever plans the mystery man (we all know who he is referring to) may have had for the Vice Presidency Role would have been thrown out of the window. It wouldn’t have been conceivable to even the strongest of all God Fathers. I think this kind of allegations and counter allegations are serious and are very telling of the kind of politics practiced in our country. It is proof that a totally blinded ambition and aspiration is unhealthy to say the least, and is likely to be solely for personal gains rather than for the good of the people. It is not the kind of trait we need in any of our leaders.

It is for this same reason he describes his trial as a persecution. It sounds more to me like he expected immunity rather than to be treated fairly and equally like the rest of us UNDER THE LAW! He even bothered to justify the expectation by recounting his contribution to the party which Mr Dele Momodu described as “Stupendous Monies”. I cannot vouch for many of our politicians but many of us can vouch for Mr President. Mohammed Buhari will never persecute anybody and will never permit any of his officers to persecute anyone, having said that, it is true Mr President insists every leader, officer & worker must account for their stewardship.

Let me at this junction make it clear that it is a fundamental human right of a man to pursue his dreams and to aspire to be anything he so wishes, it is however unacceptable to do so at the expense of jeopardizing the entire nation, in terms of what we now see as the most uncooperative legislative assemble of all times viz a viz the missing, padding & distorting of the budget, the attempt to crush social media bill, the failure of the gender equality bill and so on and so forth.

Yes, it is true that the old and new PDP senators are committed to the principles that produced the Senate President; however the people of Nigeria have never been deceived. We understand what the loyalty is about, we have no doubt that it is not for the people's sake. The problem is that the SP failed to clarify whether it is the right thing for the senators to leave undone their jobs as senators but rather to take on the role of followership to show solidarity to the Hara Kiri (as Dele Momodu describes it) they committed!

To correct Mr Saraki’s last point, it is true that he is not alone on trial, yes, himself and all those who have questions to answer are all on trial. What our Anti-corrupt agency, judiciary & media are on, is actually a TEST, these agencies and arms of government are facing a test of their resolve to stand true on the side of JUSTICE and FAIRNESS. This is the difference, a test and not a trial.

kent Merriman

A TRUE CANDID REPLY

REPLY TO DELE MOMODU’S “MY CANDID LETTER TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT – @kentmerriman

I have read several of your letters, many of which are candid; although this very one you have titled CANDID appears to be more revealing than candid. This letter you admit is born not out of a true desire to advise your friend (like the ones you wrote to Mr President) but to tackle mischief makers who believe you are a close and ardent supporter of the Senate president.

Your opening paragraphs attempts to admit a close relationship and yet distance yourself in a way that gives credence to your denial of being a paid supporter. Let me say here that I do not believe that you are a paid supporter from his “bottomless pocket”; however, it would appear that your friendship with Mr Saraki ties your hands from speaking the truth you have always attempted to propagate. This trend is a recent thing, it became apparent to me in your attempt to force the people’s sympathy in one of your interviews with a notorious and allegedly corrupt past minister.

I came across the purported photo of you, James Ibori and Chief Osoba on social media. I commented on the photo in your defense, as it was obviously a deliberate misinterpretation of the photo as a cheap shot.

As I continued to read your letter, it suddenly became apparent that you were indeed a close associate of Mr Saraki with whom you had according to you strategized with even in his home and spoken to severally on the phone, you named dropped some big money bags you say he rallied for support which impressed you and that you were even privy to how he raised some “stupendous money” however you failed to say for whom these monies were raised, you left us to deduce these monies were for the party / Mr president’s campaign. In short you were giving credence to the story on social media about Mr Saraki’s (fund raising) contribution to the success of the election.

Nevertheless, you own up to the fact that Mr Saraki did commit “Hara-Kiri” then subliminally described those who opposed such treachery as his enemies. It is this kind of language that is unforgivable for a seasoned journalist like yourself because you know full well that an opponent is not necessarily an enemy. Mr Saraki himself knows that his offence is unpardonable. To clarify, the Hara-Kiri (I and many others call it Treachery) he committed is actually betrayal of trust, dereliction of faith & party which further destroyed the already fragile state of unity of the coalition, A total disregard for his colleagues who he met in the party, a totally blinded ambition which led even Mr President to break his silence on the matter and instruct that they “put your ambition in your pocket”.

You claim that your defense was only for the right of man. Mr Momodu, may I ask, right of man to do what? To jump ship from a party he arguably contributed in wrecking? Or the right of man to join another party only to foster an ambition over that of the others or just the right of man to act as a double agent against his party and the people which allowed the opposition party to gain power through the back door.

All sinners become saints on migration? This in my opinion can only cross the mind of a moral and justice bankrupt person and although it is true that there was no real objection to the proliferation by the party, we the people complained and in any case, should that warped thinking be considerable in any form, Mr Saraki’s offence is after the so called canonization into sainthood, therefore he is a falling saint and must be cast down.

The parable of the “cast the first stone” amnesty does not apply here. The law must take its course. He has been accused, he must be made to and should defend himself and if found guilty must pay the price, for Justice must be done. As the famous Italian dramatist historian and philosopher, Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) said He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must fall with the greatest loss.

In Conclusion, My opinion is that your letter is self serving, a poor attempt at eating your cake and having it, and a revelation of what standing true is not.

Kent Merriman