The rate of change in our time is so swift that an individual of
ordinary length of life will be called on to face novel situations which
have no parallel in the past. The fixed person for the fixed duties,
who in the old society, was such a “God-send”, will in the future be a
public danger.”
Alfred North Whitehead, 1861-1947.
Once Buhari was declared the winner of the presidential election in
2015, everybody’s thought turned to the persons who would be appointed
ministers and the portfolio they would be given. In every forum in which
the discussions took place, and despite the long delay in announcing
his appointees, I declared that one name would be on the list and the
portfolio he would be saddled with. The man is Lai Mohammed – the
Minister of Information and Culture. Let me quickly add that I also felt
it would be a mistake to offer him that portfolio. The reasons were
very simple and let me set them out now.
In April 2014, writing under the title “M&M: The Two Most
dangerous men in Nigeria”, the point was made that Mohammed of the APC
and Methu of the PDP, National Publicity Secretaries for their parties,
were driving the nation close to the brink of political madness. In fact
one thing and one thing only saved Nigeria from the apocalyptic outcome
of the frenzy whipped up by these two men – Jonathan’s concession of
the election. Had Jonathan merely said “I don’t accept the result”, it
is certain that Nigeria would not be the same today. To me, the two of
them were seemingly irresponsible and a little unpatriotic. Undoubtedly
followers of Niccolo Machiavelli, 1469-1527, who taught the world the
unethical doctrine that the end justifies the means, M&M made
statements which were admixtures of half-truths, deliberate lies,
unsubstantiated rumours elevated to the level of sacred truths – while
all the time barely avoiding being sued for defamation. Hitler’s chief
of propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, 1897-1945, would have been extremely
fortunate to have both of them on his staff.
Granted a few people, also ethically deficient, would excuse their
conduct, by saying that “all is fair in war” and “war is politics by
other means”. That is only because everywhere in the world, where groups
have gathered and are involved in conflict and contest, supporters are
too ready to throw out morals and let some people do the dirty work.
Society invariably pays for it.
Lai Mohammed had been the longest serving National Publicity
Secretary of political organizations in Nigeria. He assumed office under
the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN immediately after his failed
attempt in 2003 to become Governor of Kwara State. Thus, for thirteen
years, the man had been operating in the “septic tank” of Nigerian
politics. He had developed his art and had perfected it. Real truth was a
commodity to be dispensed sparingly – unless it would help. Otherwise,
truth was never allowed to get in the way of making a statement that
would make headlines the next day.
That precisely was my fear after Buhari was declared President-elect.
Mohammed would become Minister for Information and Nigeria would have a
problem on its hands. With his instincts for propaganda, as opposed to
information, developed over thirteen years, the man might not serve the
people of Nigeria well as Minister. Habits are difficult to change –
especially after 50. The Ministry of Information, ideally, should be
answering honestly the questions people want answered on matters
affecting their lives. For instance, the budget palaver – missing
budget, doctored budget, two budgets etc – were the sort of things the
Ministry of Information should have taken the lead in providing
assurances to the people or at least explaining the situation –
honestly. The President should not have “eaten the humble pie” of
admitting mistake if the Ministry had been on top of the issue all the
way.
Those concerns were still weighing on minds bent in that direction
until Monday January 18, 2016, when Mohammed made the disclosure that 55
persons stole N1.3tr in seven years between 2006 and 2013. He provided
the categories, number of cases and amount involved. In between he made a
charge that $2.1b was meant to keep Jonathan in office. He did
everything expected of a professional propagandist; he failed to do
what is expected of a Minister of Information – he provided no names.
And, it was deliberate because the disclosure was motivated not by
patriotic zeal but by politics. By contrast, PDP: CORRUPTION
INCORPORATED stated amounts and provided names. Incidentally, more than
N1.3tr was stolen; under Obasanjo alone, it was close to N8tr and some
current APC Governors were involved. Those who live in glass houses
should avoid throwing stones….
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