By Denrele Animasaun

“If the gods listened to the prayers of men, all men would quickly have perished: for they are forever praying for evil against one another” …Epicurus

It was a relief not to write about Nigeria and its brand of politics last week. It felt so much better not to be embroiled in the dark arts of its politics. Then the lady had to speak and here we are again. They often say it’s not over until the fat lady sings that does not seem to be the case, as this lady wants to go on and on. I really do not want to rehash old grounds, but when the fragrant lady took to the rostrum and she incites the crowd to stone anyone who does not vote for her husband.

*Patience Jonathan

The call by Mrs. Jonathan was reportedly made at a rally in Calabar, Cross River State, during a PDP political rally last week. What choice does one have but to state the obvious; can someone give this lady a muzzle, she adds nothing to the campaign but rile up hatred and confusion. She does not get it. It was all on tape so there is no denying it. She said it. But then she has said so much that she shouldn’t have.

There is no shutting her up. And the sycophants that follow her around and massage her over-inflated ego continue to stoke her and encourage her to go on. She really believed that she is contributing to the campaign. I do not think so. Of course, the Jona camp, are convinced that the lady has not put her delicate foot wrong.

Can someone give these people a reality check please? Or should she be inciting the baying crowd to stone the opponent? This is surely not how civilised people behave and ordinarily if someone should say so, I expect the police to arrest that person and take them for questioning or possibly fine them for inciting violence. She may lay claim to being the first lady, she sure is not setting good example for the rest of our women folks. I do not think she is a good role model. The APC and its presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari are set, according to sources, to report First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan to the International Criminal Court, ICC for allegedly mobilising a hate campaign against him.

In the petition to the criminal court it claimed that Mrs. Jonathan, asked PDP supporters of her husband to “stone” anyone who chants the APC’s change mantra.

This definitely may or may not go anywhere, but someone or some authorities need tell the fragrant lady that no one is above the law. I do believe that Patience, most of the time thinks that she is above the law or that she is the law.

The opposition party said, by her statement, the fragrant lady clearly was “calling on PDP supporters in Calabar to attack supporters and campaigners of the APC in the state.”

Someone should have told Patience that the wife of former president of Ivory Coast president, Laurent Gbagbo, Simone Gbagbo did a similar thing during an election campaign and 3000 people died as result. Her action has landed her 20 years in prison.

This so called office of the first lady is becoming a joke and a shield that she often hides behind, there is no provision officially and constitutionally for her role so about time this power hungry lady took a back seat. I know that it is easy to make capital opportunity of this situation but there comes a time to put a stop to her meddling in business that does not concern her.

If she knew or was reminded then she would know that her husband and Buhari signed the Abuja Peace Accord as a gesture aimed at averting violence before, during and after the 2015 elections. The lady may have not got the memo or her lackeys could or did not tell her. The committee has come to the aid of the lady and pointed the finger at the media for not censoring her speech, seriously? This lady loves the sound of her own voice and likes to play to her audience and now they blame the media? Really!

Her media aide, Adewuyi, have come to her aid and strenuously denied that the first lady who occupies “the exalted office of the President of the African First Ladies Mission would not promote violence under any guise”. Adewuyi continues “The only thing we can say from here is that Dame Patience Jonathan is a woman of peace that can never in any way be identified with violence before, during and after elections.

“You do not expect somebody who is the President of African First Ladies to be promoting violence.” She is not called Mama Peace for nothing, you know.

When asked whether the President’s wife would be ready to answer any inquiry from the ICC on the matter, Adewuyi said, “They are just notifying. The case is not yet in ICC. They are entitled to their opinions and actions. We are not going to be dragged into any argument with them”. Now we wonder why they could not stop her for spewing hatred and violence. They are all in denial. Someone needs to tell the lady and her cronies to stay away from the microphone.

The truth will out

“If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”… Mark Twain

Morocco has had enough and has recalled their ambassador to Nigeria back home. The King of Morocco does not want his name dragged and used as a tool for electioneering. The King denied having had conversation with GEJ but GEJ’s people said he did. So what really did happen? Should GEJ tell people what really went on, the country could do with having a cordial relationship with their fellow African neighbours.

So APC is seeking answers that Nigerians need to know what caused the diplomatic rift between the two countries. In a statement in Lagos on APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Jonathan must clarify whether or not he spoke with King Mohammed VI of Morocco. So they want to know “Did President Jonathan speak with the Moroccan King? If not, who is responsible for this egregious misrepresentation that has embarrassed a whole country and its leader?”

This is because the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry had said President Jonathan spoke on the telephone with the Moroccan King. But the Kingdom, in a very scathing statement, said no such conversation took place.

The Kingdom went on: “The statement said Morocco is surprised at the incredible twist given by Nigeria to an alleged phone conversation that never took place between HM King Mohammed VI and Nigerian President”

Someone in the president’s camp has goofed in order to make the president look good and statemanly but instead it makes the administration look shady and untrustworthy.

They are too many president spokespeople without licence left to run a country and it does not seem they have anyone to answer to. This is problematic and such diplomatic faux pas will happen more often and it does not make the country look good nor the president. Contrary to what APC had said about the matter, I don’t think Morocco is lumping every Nigerian in the affray and they are definitely not insinuating that all Nigerians are liars, just the ones who cooked up the story.

APC said because of Nigeria’s (self -acclaimed) leadership role in Africa, it must not allow such a diplomatic faux pas to go without being addressed, saying other countries were keenly watching the row between Nigeria and Morocco. I do not think so. We have very much burnt enough bridges,

So APC defended its stance: “Before anyone accuses us of politicizing this issue, we make bold to say that we, the APC, and indeed all Nigerians are stakeholders in the Nigeria project.