THE HONOR SYSTEM PART 2.( FROM JUNE 2007)

The Inauguration day has come and gone and reactions to it continue to appear in the news. Stories of fleeing ex government officials abound, some true, some false. New appointments are announced daily and few top officials are suddenly finding themselves out of jobs with no warning. Many of the sworn-in are sitting on hot seats as the tribunal and the Supreme court deliberate on the cases before them. Nigerians were advised to abstain from violence and seek redress through the Courts and Election tribunals and they have just done that. The track record of the Judiciary just before the so called elections leave a ray of hope that justice may prevail after all. While reflecting on the events of the past few months leading up to the failed elections and the billions of Naira wasted, money which could have been spent on improving or actually bringing the lives of Nigerians up to acceptable standards, it occurred to me that a lot was accomplished despite the outcome. In as much as many people,actually a vast majority of registered voters were disfranchised by denying their rights to vote, they were enlightened enough to express their outrage. The thieves knew it would get ugly and rolled out the army and police to suppress any uprising or protest. As the Tribunals and the Supreme court deliberate, life goes on as usual, new promises most of which will never amount to anything continue to roll out from the selected officials who were sworn in. The guilt of sitting on a stolen mandate may prick their collective conscience enough to attempt rendering some real service to the people but the job of lifting the standard of living in Nigerians will take more that a prick of the conscience. The level of decadence is overwhelming. Nothing works in Nigeria. Reliable electricity is a non existent, the roads are death traps, there is no health care system, Education has continued to head south with no sign of reversal in sight. Social services are foreign words in Nigeria where everybody fends for himself, the severely handicapped, the mentally ill, even children, everybody is in the rat race. That's why driving on the major highways and streets of Nigeria can be compared to a nightmare with the beggars and hawkers and frustrated drivers engaged in a desperate dance of survival which to someone from a normal society can be really scary but is a day to day reality and a way of life for Nigeria. In the midst of all the chaos and hardship, Nigerians still find a way to be happy through it all. Nigerians always find a way of navigating around the obstacles thrown in their way by fate and try to live life to the fullest. It becomes survival of the fittest, with many of the weak and the sick, the children and expectant mothers bowing out much too soon. The fittest are not spared untimely death, murders for hire and violence during armed robbers claim a number of victims from time to time and the security system is powerless or too corrupt to offer any hope. What are people to do especially the states where no elections took place, like in Anambra State. Somebody is in the state house, sworn in as Governor. Legally, he is Governor until the Supreme court states otherwise. That's the rule of Law. Here in Florida, when the Republican party led by Katherine Harris, disfranchised law abiding citizens and denied them their rights to vote or for their votes to be counted, Al Gore fought tooth and nail for his victory but as soon as the Supreme court ruled, he bowed out like the gentleman he is. The rest is history. Looking back seven years, people are wishing things had ended differently in 2000. Many young widows would have their husbands and their children's fathers around rather than visiting their grave sites at military cemeteries. Many heart broken mothers would have their sons around. Thousands of Iraqis would be alive even if under Saddam Hussein. It would beat what they have today. The United States would have more respect than she commands today. It is almost as if everybody is pleading with Al Gore to run for president while he was cast aside when he had actually won. Things happen for a reason, they say, destiny maybe, but who knows. For Ndi Anambra in particular, you had wanted to vote but didn't get the chance to do so. A governor has been imposed on you, there is nothing you can do about it. It will be foolish to go against guns and bullets. You have done the honourable thing by trying to vote, you have voiced your outrage, prayed your prayers. At this point, the tribunals and the Supreme court are sitting. Whatever hatches from those eggs, we will see but in the time being and whatever comes---------- I hope you dance--- -