In every generation, God raises people to challenge certain nuisances. These folks ask the tough questions and are always willing to change the status quo. In Nigeria at least, we have had some bold crusaders who, despite the barbaric hard postures of military leaders, stood on the side of the people.
If you are a student of history, you may recall an eventful era. You remember the Crusaders? Let me take you through a history class briefly.
The Crusaders were a series of religious and political wars fought between 1096 and 1291 for the control of the Holy Land. Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade (1096–1102) in order to aid the Christian Byzantine Empire, which was under attack by Muslim Seljuk Turks.
As a result of this crusade, Europeans captured Jerusalem in 1099. Muslims quickly unified against the Christian invading and occupying force and the two groups battled in subsequent wars for the control of the Holy Land. By 1291, the Muslims firmly controlled Jerusalem and the coastal areas, which remained in Islamic hands until the 20th century.
Now, if you researched further, which I will implore you to, you will see how some folks fought gallantly to defend what they believed in. It takes courage and many people are endowed with that. Some of us are feeble-minded and we bolt at the slightest threat.
Today, however, we have new crusaders. In the face of tyranny, God will always raise up men to stand in the gap. These new crusaders, did not set out to speak truth to power. Life just happened and they are challenging one of the most despotic regimes I have seen in my young adult life.
Dino Melaye, Isah Hamman Misau, Shehu Sani and Ben Murray Bruce, are my new crusaders. Unless you are unwilling to tell yourself the hard truth, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been everything, but pleasant. The level of despondency, lack, hate, venom and misrule, will not be matched by anyone in the near future.
But these four chaps have decided not to be politically correct. They are serving senators and incidentally, three out of the four of them, are members of Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Beside Bruce, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Melaye, Misau and Sani, in the beginning, did not set out to take out their pound of flesh. Luckily for everyone, their personal frustrations are opening up the space and folks who were hitherto scared to speak up, are now joining the moving train.
Misau is angry with Buhari, over his trial by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), following his face-off with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris.
In the case of Sani, Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, recently mobilised APC chairmen in the local government under his senatorial district not to support his re-election bid. The chairmen have endorsed Uba Sani, an aide to El-Rufai as Sani’s replacement.
In Melaye’s case, instead of Buhari to reconcile him (Melaye) with Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, the President has allegedly given nod to APC National Working Committee to dissolve the state chapter, which at the moment, is under the control of the Kogi West lawmaker.
People who are quick to dismiss the antagonistic positions of the new crusaders, whip up these irrelevant sentiments. For me, they are immaterial. Because of them, Nigerians are now constantly reminded of the dangers that lie ahead.
Roughly two weeks ago, the Senate was on fire. Angry lawmakers took their turns to rap Buhari. There were many speakers, but these four guys made the difference. Since I quoted Sani last week, I may skip his contribution and relay the three others.
Bruce, who is known for his blunt remarks, openly declared that if the cabinet of Buhari is incompetent, it should be sacked. He also advocated that heads of security agencies who have failed to protect Nigerians should be shown the way out of office, to create room for competent hands.
He said: “It seems to me that Nigeria is becoming a lawless country. A country with no rules and regulation, a country where laws are not adhered to. A country where there is no consequence for bad behavior. It’s either we have a government, security agents, or we do not.
“These are the fundamental issues at stake today, because every day since we got here, someone has gotten killed, raped, throat slit, killed at gun point and every day, we have resolutions and nothing is being done.
“The minister of defence should tell us what he is doing. If the cabinet is incompetent, then we should fire them. You do not understand this. Maybe cameras should go and see these dead bodies. Maybe NBC should change its laws and go and see these bodies as if we are in Liberia or Cameroun.
“We are becoming a barbaric nation with no respect for life. The executive should speak today and explain to Nigerians what is happening in this country.”
Misau, who is sometimes deficient in speech delivery when he speaks, was undeterred. While contributing to a debate on the spate of killings in Nigeria, he veered off.
He shocked everyone when he alleged that some unnamed persons in the presidency are working hard to remove the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and destabilise the Red Chamber.
He accused Buhari of shielding corrupt people who are his allies, while going after others. He also claimed that people appointed by Buhari are incompetent. He said some people who appear to be more powerful than the president, have hijacked the system.
Hear him: “When we were on holidays, so many people were going behind saying that they should try and remove the Senate President. During this holiday, it was a minister that was spearheading that thing.
What is the reason? They said that the Senate President would leave APC and that they should create problems for him (Saraki). What kind of country is this? Everything is about religion and about tribe.
“It is high time for us to do something. If it’s about talking here or holding conference, it would not solve this problem. We should look at the security. Who and who are holding offices? Are they appointed based on merit?
“So many appointments in this government are not on merit. Some people have taken over the government as if they are even above the president. We say we are fighting corruption. Babachir Lawal was indicted by the Vice President’s committee. Meanwhile, they are pursuing other people. Why can’t they take Lawal to court? And all of us are here keeping quiet. People who have not done anything are always in court.”
Melaye, while adding his voice to the recent massacre in Benue State, decried the level of injustice in the country. He said if what happened in Benue State had occurred in the United States of America, President Donald Trump would have visited the affected area.
He called on Buhari to be bold and take a decisive action to deal with the menace of herdsmen. He argued that cattle rearing is a private business and should be handled as such.
Melaye said: “What happened in Benue State has shown that we live in perilous times. We live in a time when justice is the most scarce commodity. I call on Buhari to ring the bell of justice. I call on Osinbajo, the Senate and others to ring the bell of justice. We have had commissions upon commissions of enquiries.
“We have volumes of reports. None of these reports has been implemented. There are killings, yet there is no justice. All those paraded find their way back to the society. Where then is the justice? If this had happened in America, will President Donald Trump be in the White House and be comfortable without paying any visit to the affected places?
“There must be justice. If we do not give justice, we will be inviting a political tsunami. The President must be bold enough to take a decision. Cattle rearing is a personal business. It should be taken as such.”
We need more crusaders. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has joined the wailing nation. Tunde Bakare is a new convert. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Bisi Akande and several others have seen the light. If we must rescue Nigeria, people should be bold enough to speak truth to power.
I so submit!