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Written by:
Augustine C. Ohanwe

President Yar’Adua: His state of health and Political schemers.

Ever since Yar’Adua’s illness has confined him to a Saudi hospital, Nigerians have got a good cause to worry about. But the way many have chosen to express their concern about the president future ishair-raising and uncanny.

No sooner had the president been admitted to hospital than mendacious rumours fed fuel to the fire of circumstantial gossips, culminating in hurtful and unsubstantiated conclusions. The rumours that he had been incapacitated and battling for his life gained credence with many disciples, including some media, pundits, laymen and politicians. Many called for his resignation on the ground that his alleged infirmity could no longer be tolerated. Prayer warriors who focused on his recovery were bought over by political manipulators to pray instead, for his demise. Many had wanted the wordings of the constitution to take precedence should the worst scenario happens. Others would want the constitution to be doctored inorder to circumvent the laid down process.

As days slid into weeks, rumours of the president’s comatose metamorphosed into the “scoop” that he had actually passed on. Phone calls and emails inundated media offices and private homes about the passing of the president. From his Saudi Hospital bed, he may have read some of our nation’s newspapers’ distorted discussions about his health andlistened to the swirling rumours about his demise. He may have felt amused on how people had composed his obituary while he is still with us.

It must be said that while Nigerians have the right to air their concern on the president’s health, none has the legal right to dictate for his resignation and unfit to to lead the nation due to his alleged incapacitation. The pronouncement of the president’s infirmity must come from the team of doctors who are with him in Saudi Arabia. They are the competent authority to inform the president whether his intellect is still functioning and his nerves capable of absorbing leadership stress. It is when such expert opinion is made that the nation’s constitution will cooperate with the president’s medical certificate.

What is interesting in president Yar’Adua’s illness is that it has brought to the fore, the ugliest form of Nigeria’s politics – the politics of succession by elimination. Not elimination via assassination but through ill direction of thoughts.

The prevailing political trend reminds me of what had once occurred in the animal kingdom. There is a creature called ebuleako. He has always thought that he is a likable animal because of the way other animals related to him. His animal instinct on who to trust often collided with observable doubtful behaviours of his mates. His brain was so short a ladder to climb to the realm of conclusion on those who could be called his good friends. After some reflection, ebuleako conceived a plan that would lead him to a plausible conclusion on who his true friends were. He smeared blood on his fore and hind legs as if he was badly wounded. On seeing the tortoise approaching he slumped on the ground and feigned incapacitated.

When the tortoise saw a creature lying rigor mortis on the ground, he moved a bit closer to have a clear visual x-ray of the body. He discovered that it was that of ebuleako. “What is it that has befallen you, my good friend? ” Ebuleako lifted up his head, modulated his voice a bit higher than a whisper and said,. “I am whole and hearty but has feigned incapacitated in order to know those in the animal kingdom who care and love me”. He added, ”Go and tell other animals that I am dead and mingle with them to sample their reactions and get back to me” he said with a smile.

The tortoise understood the game and did as he was told. He summoned other animals together in the bush square and said, “Our friend,ebuleako is no more with us. He passed on yesterday”. The wolf in a happy mood said, “Happy, he is gone. He will no longer compete with me in rabbit hunting expedition.” The bush pig and the antelope danced around to celebrate for his death. So did many others.

But the hare, fox, deer and some animals that leap, run and slither could not control their emotions for ebuleako's death. Deeply moved, they left in droves to mourn for passing, in their respective caves and dens.

The tortoise got back to ebuleako and reported his findings on the reactions of the inhabitants of the animal kingdom. Ebuleako got up from his feigned state and appeared in the square before his fellow animals. Shock overwhelmed all of them. “I am still alive. I feigned death to know who my good friends are. ” He went home. From that day on, he built a mental wall that kept him off from those whojubilited over his feigned death.

Yar’ Adua’s illness is not feigned like the story of ebuleako, but his state of health has informed him about those who want to bury him before his death.

Sincerely,

Augustine C. Ohanwe

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