BY REV FR GERALD NWAFOR
We all have got into businesses which we should have avoided from the first instance, but I remember one of my professors in the university who would always end his speech by saying “mistakes can always occur.” I watch and listen to how some people wade into troubled waters, thinking it is bravery. Our people say that when the worm is being roasted, the worm keeps saying that he is producing oil (Nwa oti na ere na oku, osi na ya na ha nmanu). In recent times, I have listened to the laity, and the clergy have gotten into the political circle. The wise ones get out unscratched, but the unwise ones got their backside whooped. In 2014 and 2015, we listened to Fr. Mbaka speaking about President Jonathan. Many of us did not like what he said, while some people did. We got President Buhari, whom he supported and promoted, but two years into Buhari’s administration, Fr. Mbaka discovered that Buhari was not the messiah that he expected and made a U-turn and called Buhari out. I think the involvement of a priest in the political circle of politics would be to tell the citizens to get their PVC (Permanent Voters Card) so that they will have the legal power to vote out a bad government. The priest should take time to educate the parishioners on the importance of good governance and how everyone would benefit from it when a good government is voted into power. It will be people-oriented, not selfish. Taking the microphone to preach for or against a sitting president is unhealthy, and it is even worse when one begins to behave or speak in a sense that suggests he is attacking one political figure to favor the other one. Allow the opponents to go to the battlefield and discover the male tortoise.
I have heard some pastors predicting the whereabouts of the Nigerian school children. The priest and the pastors should speak to the government responsibly, not arrogantly. The leaders of the church will be part of the solution to the many problems ravaging the Nigerian public today. They should not add to the problem. While I worked from 2007 to 2013, I encouraged everyone to get voting cards and vote. It was a very uphill task, but we succeeded to a large extent because it needed patience, understanding, and love. They were mostly an agrarian community, but if you took the time to talk to them with decency, you will not lose everything.
The lay people who act as spokespersons for the big political figures should know that those big politicians have a meeting point. But the day they have their meetings, you will not be present, and they will simply sacrifice you. Now, Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo, who used to be APC spokesperson during the Buhari era before joining Peter Obi in the Labor Party (LP), decided to pitch in with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (Waziri Adamawa) and abandon Mr. Peter Obi for whatever reason. In some quarters, they said that he dumped Peter Obi because Mr. Obi did not pay his rent in Abuja. Others said that he joined Atiku because Atiku agreed to pay the rent, which we heard that Atiku did not actually pay.
Now he has resigned from active politics, saying he wants to take care of his family and his health. A quick reminder to Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo: He has to respond to the lawsuit from Mr. Peter Obi and former governor of Imo State. Each of the two ex-governors is suing for 5 billion each. Fela Kuti said in one of his songs, “Double wahala for dead body.” When you are struggling to pay your rent, and you have ten billion Naira lawsuits waiting for you, you’d better revisit yourself. I was thinking that Atiku would come to his rescue, but from Atiku’s body language last week when he invited Rotimi Amaechi into his mansion, and Kenneth was left outside in the corridor or passage, it is a sign that Atiku has said to the public that he did not send Kenneth to go about insulting every person on television. Atiku is saying to anyone who cares to listen that, “It is not my circus, it is not my monkey.” (Polish proverb)
Kenneth is now a political orphan. Kenneth is saying that Atiku did not pick his VC from the South-East annoyed him. I am not a politician, but I would tell you that no political promise is sold on credit. Before you become a spokesperson, make it clear to your employer what you want from the job. Had it been that Kenneth learned anything from Reno, Buwala, and FFK, he could have done better. Next time, Mr. Okonkwo, please do not cry more than the bereaved (Okwakarir onye nwe ozu). Meanwhile, I will praise him because, running away from ADC before the court judgment that banned ADC from participating in the 2027 election, he could have become unemployed automatically.
Finally, no one is above mistakes, politics is heating up, and government money and stolen money are flying around. Please do not be bought by any of the political parties, be it the ruling APC or the opposition (NDC, APC, Accord, LP). Have a clear conscience; do not engage in any form of political malpractice like vote buying, thuggery, or any act of terror towards one another. Do not be a tool in the hands of the political class. The Nigerian lexicon has a phrase called “Use and dump.” Do not allow yourself to be a victim. I do not advocate standing aloof; I support doing something that will help the process and point to the facts that good people are still around. Now it is political season, politicians would be targeting stakeholders in every community and constituency. Please reject the big Ghana-must-go-bag since the money inside belongs to the common God. We must start somewhere. Actually start where you are, and give the small help you can to uplift people; do not engage in unnecessary division. Remember that in politics, you do not have a permanent enemy but a permanent interest. You can see that in the movement of political actors who will be with Mr. Obi today and move to Atiku tomorrow, and the following week with Tinubu. Do not finish all your strength in one battle, please save some energy for reconciliation (Ana anu ogu, si nufoo ike aga-eji mee udo). If you throw caution to the wind in the name of a spokesperson or in defense of your political ally, remember that tomorrow is pregnant (echi di ime). Please be decent when you talk about your friends or enemies because they are human beings also like everyone else. If you have nothing good to say about someone, please be calm.
