By Oremade Oyedeji
In one of my think pieces titled The Nigerian Context of the New World Order & The pandemics (Part I & II) published during the lockdown, I explained the term New World Order as any new period of history evidencing a dramatic change in world political thought and the balance of power.
Also, in another piece, Pandemic of the Prodigal Generation – 4IR Economy or Politics, I wrote about the Nigerian economy realigning to coming post-pandemic changes. I did emphasise in that piece that politics will reset, thereby having an unimaginable impact on people, communities, companies and economies.
If I may get another chance to digress further and have another introductory perspective, in 1983, at the First National Convention of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) held at Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, a visiting delegate from New Mexico, USA. Pastor S. G. Elton spoke about Nigeria.
He said the Lord told him Nigeria was a nation he planned to use for the world revival. Pastor S. G. Elton spoke prophetically about two African nations; He then concluded; Africa is like a gun pointed down: its turret and muzzle are South Africa and its trigger is Nigeria.
The pertinent question surrounding this piece and for the gods perhaps is Why Lagos? And Why Lekki? What triggered the carnage against the youth? Forces beyond our direct control you say? Well, an African adage says it is the rat in the house that tells the one outside how to circumvent the traps set by the occupants.
The fact to the aforementioned question headlined by many foreign and local media is that a group of the Nigerian Armed Forces opened fire on peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos. The real numbers of casualties are still unknown, several complaints of missing persons and many confirmed to be hospitalised.
After visiting victims of the incident a day after (October 21, 2020), the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who initially denied any loss of life by gunfire, later admitted that two persons were killed.
Amnesty International stated that at least 12 protesters were killed in what the organisation described as “extrajudicial executions,” while many media reports say it’s a massacre.
In a series of tweets, Mr Sanwo-Olu described the tragic incident as “dark notes in our history,” adding that, “This is the toughest night of our lives as forces beyond our direct control have moved to make dark notes in our history, but we will face it and come out stronger.”
Even a former military president, Mr Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, tweeted about it. Once again, I will like to quote General Sanni Abacha who stated that any insurgency that lasts more than 24 hours a government official has a hand in it.
It was, however, very surprising that President Buhari during his address to the country in the aftermath of the massacre strangely didn’t mention a word of the Lekki event and this left most Nigerians speechless.
Meanwhile, former president Obasanjo, former American Vice President Joe Biden and ex-US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, amongst many other world leaders condemned the killing of protesters.
This reminds me of a tale about a big man who died and went to the other side. On that day, God had decree that whoever passes over will choose where to go, Jannah al Firdous (heaven in Christendom) or Jahannam (hell in Christendom).
This man was a trained accountant with a commanding sagacity while on earth. So, he decided he was going to visit the hell first and Lucifer asked him to enter a lift and went straight down to Jahannam (hell). When he got there, contrary to his beliefs, things were glorious in hell. They treated him like theirs and in fact, he had a thoughtful brag; the Devil has no tail and no horns away from popular beliefs.
He even met lots of old friends (from his young days in the struggle), they were all looking very healthy, eating well, dining well and making merry. Then again, he also demanded to be taken to Jannah al Firdous (Heaven).
In Jannah, the picture he saw was also nice. He saw archangels floating around, singing hymns and enjoying good music and God presiding and reigning supreme.
Finally, he was asked what his choice was. No judgement today, the voice said. Then he remembered his wife, who is a Christian and is now a pastor and his children (both of Christians and Muslims) and his late mother a devout Alhaja, and of himself a moderately devoted Muslim.
He whispered to himself, it seems all the clergies may have been telling lies. Maybe they deliberately spoil the name of the devil, it doesn’t seem the devil was devilish after all. In fact, it looks like he looks pretty much after his people (thinking more aloud) and I think heaven is overrated, he said. I wish my wife will stop wasting her time interceding for me on that altar, I think I am in a better place to tell her the fact. Now, heaven is boring, he concluded.
At this time, God was running out of patience with his indecision and told him to pick where he would like to go to. Now, with much confidence, he responded and said hell will be fine.
“I will like to join my old friend from my Young days in the struggle in hell,” he re-affirmed.
Straight into the lift, God Instructed and he went down to hell. When the doors opened this time, the whole place has changed, the place now looking all like a ghetto, politically un-kept, everywhere looking deserted, and his old friends from the struggling days were all looking wretched and were eating from the garbage pit. He was so amazed.
Now, the Devil was now in his complete regalia, with a long tail and longhorns, exactly as his wife would say she saw whenever she prayed in intercession for him.
Now looking so confused, and praying at heart in his mother tongue, suddenly, he summoned up courage and walked up to Lucifer to ask him what happened. Things looked allo nice here the other day, what changed? And why was the Lucifer now looking without any act of meekness, humaneness or sincerity? Looking so betrayed and deceived, he summed up words and told Lucifer, I am going back home, lesson learnt.
From this tale, one could draw a parallel with the political landscape and all that has happened.
Let me conclude this piece in the most satirical way possible and with the things that have served as political comedic skits after that carnage:
Governor Sanwo-Olu said no life was lost but later recanted to say lives were lost. #2020BedOfliesAward #CousinJide
GovernorSanwo-Olu said nobody removed security cameras at Lekki Toll. #NoFatalityRecordedSelf #NoLekkiMassacreSelf
A few days later, Minister Babatunde Fashola discovered a lost camera at the Lekki Toll Gate during an on the spot assessment. #NigeriaBestCIAAgent #Camcoder #FasholaHiddenCameraFindingLimited
Fashola subsequently handed over the camera to Babajide Sanwo-Olu for forensic analysis and further investigation. #AgentFasholaSkit #NaijaSherlockHolmes #FosholaHolmes
“I didn’t go nowhere; I’m a Lagosian and I still hold the title of Asiwaju of Lagos and I am still a Jagaban #LetfindthestaffofOba #JagabanOfBorguKingdominNigerState #PoliticsReset.