Empty noise from the margin

BY ARIWOOLA SAMUEL AKINWALE

Then came the hawk,
And scooped the chick.
Mother hen ran in circles,
But away! away! away!
Fled the hawk.
“Never worry,” Ifa says,
“It is empty scamper.”
Assured, the hawk flies on.

The lines above capture the recent happenings in Nigerian politics. The noise, scampering, and agitation on the left and right can be deafening, yet it’s an empty storm. In this reflection, I examine the events among parties, politicians, stakeholders, and civil societies in the 2027 power bid. In all of it, I see empty noise!

It is a noise of self, a panoply of selfish promotion. Whether it is the cry of marginalisation or the theatrics of indictment, the motif is bare—a desire for the acquisition and conquest of the national patrimony. The other day, Arewa gathered in Kaduna, hosted by Governor Uba Sani. But it was a hostage of the belly—the cry of the “rich,” feigning hunger. It was truly a margin of the north—that oligarchy mouthing its interests all the time. It cries betrayal after much disappointment from its ilk. The main victims are shut out here—the talakawa. Empty and empty her words echoed, speaking in a discordant tune. It was a gathering short of a truly national interest or a way forward for all, now looking toward the south for an “obidient” carrier of its clannish interests in 2027.

Before then, another wave hit the space. It was ecstatic and thrilling to witness. The hawks gathered under a canopy—the ADC, someone called it the Alliance of Disgruntled Comrades, each with an untameable ego. All contenders aimed for the presidential ticket, but self-interest became the blockade. While the public heaved a sigh, looking toward them as a semblance of opposition to Abuja, the drama hit a climax, leaving a sour taste in the mouth in just a short time.

Much noise, yet devoid of strategy, mobilisation, and a true alliance. They were not the messiahs we hoped for, failing from the front in such a short time. What a pity!

What of the Council of the Wisemen, the one put together by Professor Utomi? How we hoped it was a true shadow government—the “Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government.” It promised to offer better ideas for running the country to the government, a parallel opposition in the absence of alternative ideas for Abuja to consider. We have heard nothing from them since. No sooner did it announce itself than it became pocketed. Sorry, silence followed the sudden noise—not even their promising rhetoric. They remind me of the letterman.

Not long ago, the “owners” of Nigeria were in Minna for the launching of a book written by General Ibrahim Babangida. The book was another story of empty noise; I was more confused after reading it—a disservice to the truth, empty. The public query on the Dele Giwa assassination and the June 12 annulment, which remains unanswered, raises more questions than answers. Of a truth, it was a gathering that ought to speak truth to itself: everyone that mattered and contributed to the Nigerian plague or plight was there, except the late President Buhari. What a beautiful outing missed to brainstorm about where we went wrong. Yet, it was another empty fanfare, short of national discourse. But another book launch happened recently without any fanfare.

Yes, another former president launched a book. Under former President Buhari, we used to have “the Watchman” who wrote to power, but the ink has since gone dry—the letterman seems lethargic. I learned he gave a book again—an epistle to my people titled, “Nigeria: Past and Future. But it didn’t fly; it was silent this time, unlike “My Watch”, which unsettled President Jonathan in 2014 when former president Obasanjo released it.

In the end, who loses? The people! “In the absence of counsel, the people perish,” says the good book. But our counsellors now speak in parables. One of our best visited the Villa the other day. Okonjo Iweala praised the government for the reforms of stability. But shortly after that, perhaps having an afterthought, she tweeted that she never meant there was no hunger in the land, only that we needed a safety net for the “un-stabilised” millions among us as a fallout of the reforms of stabilisation. Here we are! My people call this confusion.

Amidst all of this, the one who told us it is his turn is the winner here; the rest lose. When we fail to galvanise our collective interests, understand our differences, unite in moving forward, and make the sacrifice of ambition for the benefit of all, what happens? We lose. The hawk flies on in the absence of serious threats so far.

Ariwoola Samuel Akinwale wrote this piece from Lagos. He can be contacted via [email protected]