Tyranny of power and the conspiracy of silence.

The refrain is as old as time, that evil persist only because good men stand on the sidelines and do nothing. According to the American civil rights icon, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is in the times of upheavals that you know the moral rectitude of great men. In Nigeria, the dearth of men in the profile of courage is astonishing. And the silence of the lambs even more troubling than ever. From this as backdrop, let us start with the profound issues affecting Nigeria and how Buhari has gradually molded Aso Rock, the seat of power into a family affair. Inside the Villa, it is believed that the most powerful and key appointments are given to Buhari’s brothers and sisters one way or the other. Across board, most of the top security positions are from the north. Even Buhari is making no bones about making Aso Rock a family affair and turning Nigeria into a regional business.

Buhari’s deceit and brazen display of constitutional over-reach insults the intelligence of Nigerians. The blight cannot but leave the one Nigeria slogan irrepairably damaged forever. However, the tragedy is that Buhari and those who support him with blind allegiance don’t believe this reeks of massive corruption. Subsequently, it renders the president’s anti corruption credentials false and dead on arrival. Time and again, Buhari has proven right those who think he is one of the most corrupt political leaders in the annals of the country’s history. Each time Buhari mentions corruption, he leaves behind him a trail full of muck that stinks to high heavens.

In the past few months, the marauding Fulani herdsmen are getting more bodacious and deadly. But more deadly is Buhari’s stone silence. Other stories taking the country by storm includes the said secret backdoor employment of the family members of top APC leaders into choice government agencies and parastatals. The story is now growing like a wild harmattan fire and Buhari says mum is the word. There’s also talk about Mallam Ibrahim Magu, Chairman of the EFCC who now is said to be living in a rented N40m million naira mansion in Abuja. Again, Buhari says, mum is the word. The situation is gathering storm and moving towards self implosion. The south west media is either fanning the embers of discord or saying nothing.

While the above scenario is a clear indication a leader is taking the country on the path of ammargedon, the conspiracy of silence defies rational explanation. Whatever happened to all those intellectuals who vouched for Buhari as a newly minted and baptized democrat whose integrity was the only one in Nigeria? Where are all the men and women who claimed only Buhari had the qualities to take Nigeria to the promised land? Why are they feigning aggressive ignorance that the country is burning, that her trajectory is nothing but towards destruction and fragmentation?

The memories of the rock music band called #BBOG seems to be receding into the dustbins of history. The great actors and musicians of the Chibok Missing Girls Orchestra too seems to have retired to enjoy the spoils of their political victory. Hurrah, bravo, kudos! Okay, we also realize the fourth estate is in a coma and so with investigative journalism. There’s every reason to believe it is not in the best interest of Channels TV or Vanguard News papers to highlight the story about Ibrahim Magus multi-million naira mansion or Aso Rock as a family affair. For Channels TV, there’s a huge reward in talking about the #Avengers and less about how the APC is the elephant in the China shop wreaking havoc.

There was never a time the country was gripped by the assault on civil liberties like now under Buhari. Who is not aware how critics of the government are intimidated and every other tier of government is coming under the jack boot of this administration? Who can deny that the whole of Nigeria is coming under the threat of totalitarian rule and fascism? Who in present day Nigeria can deny that security agencies like the DSS, SSS and others have taken a life of their own? Who can forget Ibrahim Magu’s EFCC with a modus operandi taken directly from Nazi’s Gestapo tactics playbook? For a democracy to function, a country needs a ruling party with a modicum of credibility and not the opposition hounded into 50 shades of darkness.

The sudden disappearance of Nigeria’s band of vocal intellectuals is shameful beyond the pale. Where are those who claim Buhari has been chastened and a born again democrat? Where are the faces who swore on the graves of their departed parents that Buhari will take Nigeria to the promised land? Their conspiracy of silence is noted, is now in the record books. Their criminal mischief in complacency, their cowardice and hypocrisy is rocking not only Nigeria but the entire universe. Either they speak truth to power, or forever keep their traps shut. We know Nigeria is now sold to the highest bidder. The next time they condemn the militants of the Niger Delta, the next time they mention one Nigeria, they must be reminded hypocrites have no moral compass to pass judgement.
  By  Ebi B Asain (CR)
“……a thin veil to cover

 up crimes which would

 disgrace a nation of

  savages.”
              _________ Frederick Douglas