We are confronted with all manner of spokespersons reeling out information after another. They are brazen and audacious, in total lack of decorum and sedateness. We once had a Minister in this country who told us telephone was not for the poor. Can you beat that? In the last one month alone, they have been all categories of information handlers who do nothing but confused the populace.
But truly speaking, who should we listen to? Is it Doyin Okupke, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Reuben Abati, SSA on Media and Publicity, Labaran Maku or Anyim Pius Ayim, Secretary to the Federal Government?
Let us stop at this four personalities but, to be candid the list is endless. We could go on and on. When the White House releases a statement, most likely it emanated from Jay Carney, when the British foreign office speaks, who else but William Hague is communicating. So who speaks for Aso Rock? Didn't they say information is power? Or better still, precise and concise information is not just power, it gets rid of speculations.
Do we blame Nigerians when they come up with one speculation after another? A few days ago, a Presidential delegation told a gathering of protesters that had in attendance local and foreign journalists that when bombs goes off in Kabul, Islamabad and Baghdad, the capitals of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq respectively, the people don't blame the Government, they blame the Terrorists. What a misinformation of the highest order! Who told them that? Where on earth did the Presidency get that from? There is nothing we won't hear from this Government. Is the insurgence not a creation of the Government?
Oh, are we too harsh? It was in existence before the Jonathan Administration, so who should fix it? Me? Such statement should not originate from an Administration that has spent over three trillions of naira on Security and still we have bombs going off right, left and center on a per seconds billing.
A Government official with their usual arrogance saying the people should blame the Insurgents. Please somebody should help me tell this regime that Nigerians are wiser, enough of this gagging and utter intimidation. United States one-time President, Thomas Jefferson aptly puts "When the people fear the Government, there is tyranny, but when the Government fear the people, there is liberty" Do we have liberty? If we are not secured in our home, shouldn't we blame the man at the helm? The bucks stop at his desk, end of discussion.
When the world believed Nigerians are too docile, the Government thinks we are over stretching our bound. Are they doing us a favor? Is our security not a right? Maybe somebody in Aso Rock thinks otherwise. May I remind the Government that Nigerians
provides for almost everything in this Nation. We provide for our Electricity, water, housing, education and health care. And now we are supposed to provide for our security, because they can't get rid of Boko Haram, so we should be vigilant and security conscious.
Is that not a way of providing for your security? And they still talk to us so rudely and uncouthly! Sometimes, you feel like ignoring this Government because if you should hold them responsible for each of their blunder, then you could be tagged enemy Number ONE. Or how on earth would you explain the scenario when a supposed Government that owns the people a whole lot, becomes so belligerent and combative in their approach.
Listening to the spokeswoman of the State Security Service (SSS) Marilyn Ogah on the attempted jail break in Abuja, she was simply pitching the masses against the Government. It was as if the Nigeria populace masterminded the jail break. Can't the people ask an simple question without Aso Rock claiming they were sponsored by the Opposition party. I won't be surprised when the Government get blamed by the people for the existence of Boko Haram.
Little wonder, you see senior Editors of National Newspapers developing cold feet in asking relevant and pertinent questions during the Presidential Media Chart. Would you blame the Editors? Do you want them to be tagged Sponsors of Boko Haram? You are either in the good books of the Presidency or a Sponsor of Boko Haram. Tell me, how would a country that runs it affairs this way make progress? No wonder we are in this MESS!
- by Clement Ogbemudia
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