By Dele Sobowale
“There is no inequality which those favoured don’t consider that it is based on merit”.

Anonymous equal rights activist.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, should start now thinking of a Christian successor to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, a Muslim, by religion, for 2015. Otherwise Christians should spend the next three and a half years, before the April 2015 elections, searching for another political party in which they will no longer be treated as second class members.

The conclusion, which also represents the battle line, if it comes to that, has been stated up-front before the overwhelming evidence for this demand for a fair deal for Christians in Lagos state is presented in order to avoid any misunderstanding on the issue.

The “Progressives” in Lagos state have for too long discriminated against Christians in selections for public office despite the fact that Lagos is at least 50% Christian. The time for redress has come. Not only because it is just but because many Christians have now come to realize that their votes have been taken for granted for too long from Action Group, AG, through Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, to Social Democratic Party, SDP, Alliance for Democracy, AD, and now, Action Party of Nigeria, ACN the progressives have not once fielded a Christian for the post of governor.

Only the military and the “conservatives” have demonstrated the sense of fairness which the “Progressives” obviously lack to field Christians. By contrast, under “Progressives” the powerless post of Deputy Governor has been reserved for us – second class citizens – and in the last twelve years, it has been made clear to us that the occupant of the post is at best an irritant to the governor or at worst regarded as an enemy in the camp.

With the exception of Rafiu Jafojo, a Muslim Deputy Governor serving under Jakande, a Muslim Governor, no Christian Deputy had been allowed to serve a second term with the governor – for reasons best known to our “masters” in the “Progressive” parties named above.

That is an incontrovertible fact which none can deny. And let nobody be foolish enough to write to me and state that the party chose the best candidate each and every time. That will only infuriate Christians more and will be fully answered in the strongest language possible.

However, before proceeding let me clear some points which boot-lickers will want to raise. First, I have no political ambition; at least not yet. Second, nobody should attempt to read into this write-up an anti-Muslim declaration because that will be false. Like most Lagosians, on both sides of my family, there are Muslims and Christians – almost equally divided. I am also the grandson of an Alhaji and an Alhaja.

Third,  the matter of discrimination against Christians, not only in the selection of candidates for governor but other elective posts, as well as appointments, in Lagos State, was first brought to my notice in January of this year by a group wanting to make an issue out of it before the April elections and asking me to join the struggle. I resisted for two reasons.

One, I thought the timing was inappropriate because long term readers of this column would recall my campaign against PDP. To attack ACN would have amounted to aiding PDP in its quest to “capture” Lagos ; and that was unacceptable. Cutting several noses to spite somebody’s face is not my style.

Two, Governor Fashola had done such a good, not yet great, job in Lagos, I strongly believe he deserved a second term to finish most of what he started – granted every governor, even if he serves ten terms, will still leave behind several unfinished tasks and projects.

So, I resisted the temptation to fight one of the greatest injustices in our country today in January 2011. Now I can wait no longer for reasons best known to some of the leaders of the ACN. I wont say more than that.

One final point before I present the case. This is not a partisan matter; in 2015, any party which fails to give Christians a fair deal, not only in the selection of governorship candidate, but other offices as well, will face a massive block vote against it. That is not a threat; it is a promise which Christians have three and a half years to deliver. Enough, simply, is enough….

BEFORE WE OCCUPY – 4

“6% of customers owned 88% of bank deposits in 2010 –NDIC”.

PUNCH, November 17, 2011.

And just in case any Nigerian cannot comprehend simple subtraction, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, helped us out by pointing out that the rest of us, bloody suffer-heads, 94% or 158 million out of 167 million, had only 12% of the deposits in our account.

At least now we know those who are for or against fuel subsidy. President Jonathan is, of course, among the 6% — the guy who had no shoes can now afford to own a shoe factory, if he chooses. Perhaps he should go and establish a shoe factory in Otuoke. How can he possibly understand the problem of those still going without shoes?

Among those holding the 88% of deposits are Chief Executive bank robbers; ex-governors and ex-IGP, among big-wigs, who were left off the hook through corrupt plea bargaining by judges and prosecutors. They stole our money and they are allowed to keep the loot. Also among them are former governors who were allowed to make “refunds” by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, after stealing their states blind! Some have moved on to greater heights too!

Last week, this column drew attention to the increasing body of literature pointing to the correlation between under-development and inequitable distribution of wealth in a nation. Nigeria has once of the worst disparities in the world. Yet, our leaders refuse to address this because if they do, the sacrifices they ask for must start from them…

WHEN TWO PHDS ARE WORSE THAN NONE

You have heard it said very often that “two heads are better than one”. President Jonathan, PhD and Reuben Abati, PhD have just proved that two PhDs might be worse than none. Professor Achebe rejected National Honours several years ago citing reasons. He again rejected it this year. The President and Abati got angry pointing to “reforms” which have nothing to do with Achebe’s complaint. Jonathan’s response was not surprising. But, Abati is now a problem. Whatever happened to that erudite and logical member of Patito’s gang? Has the Aso Rock disease claimed another victim?

$3 BILLION INFLATED CONTRACT TO TSKJ IN 2002. Who received the bribes? No Wikileak. Try “DeleLeaks”. Read the book. Only N5000 per copy.