By Kola Animasaun
They were both landed with treasonable felony charges.  They both represent the redemptive symbols of the southerners.  To crush them is to remove the obstacles in their path to the Atlantic.

At 55, I would have wanted to think that it would not matter who governs.  But the Fulani (minions and all) have shown a surprising lack of efficiency; exhibited devastating greed.  To top it all, they have manifested an uncanny lack of foresight.

The Nigerian situation is made worse by deep economic problems, itself a result of our political instability.  Good men are not coming forward.

If this country dies (and it will die if we don’t take care), the North and the military should be held responsible for it.  We had the opportunity to start to put matters right on June 12, 1993, when the entire nation threw up a pan-Nigerian mandate from the election of that date; it was a day that was meant to liberate the impoverished of the country and to insure the consummately greedy political elite.

My thoughts naturally turned to the dramatis personae, particularly from the South.  What do they think of history?  How do they want history to record them?  Oladipo Diya, Lateef Jakande, Olu Onagoruwa, Ebenezer Babatope, Alex Ibru, Alex Ekwueme, etc.

The type of MKO does not come in a torrent, they are rare and if his tribesmen help to destroy him, they will be destroying their own nation.  He symbolises the strength, the resilience and the glory of the Yoruba nation and such other Southern and Northern nations (outside the Fulani).

As I told Tony: I have done the three things which a man must do – I have planted a tree; I have fathered a child, and I have written a book.  I have done more; I have seen the world and enjoyed largely a good part of my 55 years.

But I cannot sing the … dimitis  as done by Simeon, the man in the Bible.  “I have not seen the salvation yet.”  And my heart bleeds for the deprived.  Besides, I do not like being colonized by anyone anymore and it does not matter who.

At 55, I think our trouble is beginning anew, just as it began before 1966 overtook us.  I can only warn that we do all we can to avert that an impending disaster.

What a country!
Two days ago the nation was 50 years of independence.  I want to reissue another article on how we have NOT changed.

Then as now is like an outsider looking in.  This   was on  my  American visit  on  September 19th , 1982.

By the time you read this column, I should be away in the United States of America, the land of Uncle Sam.  And for your information, that means many leagues across the Pacific.

As I write this, I feel inspired.  Not because I had never been to the States – which is the truth, but because of the feeling that I shall see wonderful sights and meet wonderful people.

I am using the word ‘wonderful’ advisedly.  Not in the sense of bribe – takers and bribe-givers; not in the sense of a topsy-turvy world, where nothing seems to work; not in the sense of filthy people and filthy minds.

I am visiting the Unites States in the interest of my other business and I am feeling fulfilled already.  Why I am so optimistic?

I collected my visa and those for my teenage children without tears.  There was order.  The environment was healthy physically and morally.  The officials were not acrimonious; they did not look wolfish; they asked for no quarters and gave none.  Nobody was a favourite and none was an underdog.

I was impressed because I happened to have known what great “favours” Nigerian consular officials always gave the impression that they were doing to foreigners visiting this country.  I know how much it costs to obtain a passport in the black market because officials do not think that a Nigerian is entitled to one for the mere asking.

I shall be disappointed if after my return those wonderful things I expect from this my first trip to the United States did not happen.  I expect to be met by smiling immigration officials at the New York Airport.

I expect to pass through immigration formalities as I had done through the many European airports I had the good fortune to pass through.  I expect courteous service from the hotels (because they realize that they need me to survive); I expect to see telephones that are not mere decorative contrivances; I expect well-kept government property and equipment; I expect roads that do not cost the American tax-payers too much and yet give very little service.

I EXPECT TO MEET AN AGGRESSIVE PEOPLE who think AMERICAN first and world citizens next.

I do not expect to be disappointed.  I shall keep a daily diary of my travels and shall endeavour to faithfully record my impressions – favourable or not – and shall share them with my readers.  Please, look forward to them and keep shooting till we meet again on this page.
P.S.
The teenage girls are today mothers of adult and teenage children.

*I am currently in London and so all reactions to my Voice of Reason column be sent to 08083689552.
Thanks – Kola.