By Denrele Animasanu
“Written laws are like spider’s web; they will catch, it is true, the weak and the poor, but would be torn in pieces by the rich and power”– Plutarch Parallel Lives. 6th century BC

I have a fascination for the political cartoons. They were so pithy, straight to the point; most of the time unambiguous. I have done some of the time work on some of them. They can be sober and sometimes licentious. You can learn one or two from them.

Take for instance the one in BAROMETER of last Sunday, September 25, on Ethnic expiation of Dame Patience’s ordeal. You did not need to go through the verbiage to know what it was all about. The Dame thanked whoever she was to thank in a basket of currencies. And he leaves none in doubt that the resplendent lady is the first lady of the realm. And the good woman says good morning over good dollars whatever country – be it United States or Canadian. And the dollars can also wish you well whatever the season, morning, afternoon or evening.

Except that the subject was not a laughing matter! We were talking of a matter of millions of dollars and the good lady was not laughing over it or was some of her people doing exactly the same. She and some of her people have taken of the gauntlet and prepared to go to war over it.

Dame Patience

And I would not be laughing over and about it. So much are at stake:

1. Nine houses, two hotels and a plaza
2. Two accounts belong to my “late mum” – Jonathan’s wife all totalling 22.3m dollars

One Ogboli said: that is not true. The first lady did not hold five accounts. They are three accounts. The first lady was signatory to one account and the mother was signatory to the other two accounts.

“And if you go through the BVN, it shows that it is not connected with the companies facing trials.

“The first lady was never privy to the companies standing trial. The money in the account ($ 5 million) should be left to the first lady.”

Ogboli explained on behalf of the good first lady. Haven’t you heard that earth hath no refury like a woman scorned? The master has been played it cool and quietly. And some of the people have put up placards.

Some senators have resolved to rally round the good first lady in her battle. And they have also rally propaganda in pursuit of their cause. Our good first lady is a willy woman and it promises the fight to finish.

“Hundreds” of youth have marched in Rivers State i.e in Port Harcourt and precisely to the office of EFCC on behalf of good first lady “Patience” who that alleged she been harassed. Becase she is a daughter. She said she is not a thief. They accused EFCC of political motivation.

The good first lady must have worked very hard to amass $31 million in her account. She must have worked very hard, much harder than her husband. No, the good first lady is not a questionable character except the EFCC wants to ask her some questions! The bottom line is they want her account to be unfrozen!

Trust the law to say something: “we are a creation of the law… nobody should justify the criminal illegality that has been going on. Our motto is nobody is above the law. There is nothing like selective cases in the EFCC. We are professionals to the core and invitation of someone is the last leg of our cases. Bank documents and things that require must have been gotten”.

That has been very well- said. But you would not forget the Yoruba saying: Bi ale Baba e ba e ju Baba re lo, Baba la nbe “(meaning if your mother’s concubine is older than your father, you perchance will address him – father)”.

The good first lady is “what’s the use of law when a woman’s such a fool as to let a woman into his home?, so says George Eliot (1819 – 1880)

And short of war, the good first lady will give it all it takes. And we can see it all happening in our very eyes. The Avengers have resumed their destruction of some of our treasures – just for a woman who cannot give them bread as and when they need it. And this is not to talk of education for their children; and medication for their ailments.

The fortune hunters will not mind to turn all of us to paupers, as long as they make their own fortunes. That was what matters to the mercenaries, they may claim differently.

When the last President told us he wanted peace, we all believed him. And as far as it goes we still believe him.

There has been precedent to make us apprehend our future. Some powerful women started what has landed us into our present troubles – though it started a long time ago. Cast your mind to the woman called HID and another named Faderera – two good women. But they caused their wonderful husbands not a little discomfort. It started in 1962; it was responsible for the dismemberment of our Federation; a terrible civil war (and that is not rosy by any means.).

The West was flying up and the East and the North were not far behind and we could have gotten three good, big and redoubtable countries in one big Nigeria. Alas! See what we got!

By all means, let all good men keep their good women. But let them keep off the sovereign coffers. They have a way of corrupting all of us. But (“let justice be done, though heaven fall”). My toast would be, may our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right.” – John Quincy Adams (1767 – 1848).

Asiwaju of the universe

“You cannot adopt politics as a profession and remain honest” – Louis McHenry (1871 – 1936)

I learnt that Ahmed Bola Tinubu is angry at the chairman of his party, the APC. He says Oyegun has not been truthful to the party he has being partial and it has to do with the primary of the party in Ondo State. The Asiwaju says the election had a k –leg and should be cancelled. And in between, some hard feelings had occurred.

Oyegun said that was not the case and the Asiwaju had said a few hard words and some of his followers have chipped in a few. You need to hear the Yoruba version of the news from Lagos and Ibadan. The Yoruba newspaper got the cake.

Oyegun has said he respects the Asiwaju as his leader and elder (I didn’t get that) since John is his (Asiwaju’s) elder by years. But he says he would submit to the president and the elder’s and whatever verdict they give, he will abide by it.

That is a diplomat for you. He was not used to rocking the boat. And I think that is how APC should direct its affairs.

From my mailbox.

Denrele, I’m responding to your article on your regular column of Vanguard newspaper dated 18 September 2016. I think you are becoming unnecessarily too emotional in your publications.You are quoting a figure of $34.4 million as the amount in question in the so called EFCC investigation of Mrs. Patience Jonathan account as against the far less than $10 million that statements of accounts released by the same EFCC and read to the open public on television stations here in Nigeria.You can contact AIT or any reputable media house for this info and the narrative of what really happened rather than joining in the media trial that has become the hallmark of EFCC and some political journalists ,which is not helping the country at all.Thanks STEVE

My response:

Dear Steve,

Thank you for your email and I am so pleased that you regularly read my column. It is important to cut to the chase, and millions of dollars in Nigeria is a lot of money and if you think I am unnecessarily emotional, then I am guilty as charged. This is your opinion and I will defend your right to your opinion and I am sure you will accord me mine.In a matter such as this, one should get as emotional as possible. Let us not argue about the amount in question but the facts are there for all to make of it what they wish.

Best Wishes,