The Difference Between Charly Boy and Ambode

By Etaghene Edirin…

In the course of my career as a journalist, I see and hear a lot that I cannot repeat in public. As a Nigerian, within Nigeria, I’ve seen and heard a lot that would blow the mind of any civilized set of people.
Many times I want to reach out to power, and tell those who matter that too many things are not just right, but then I say to myself, do they ever listen?

I have decided however to force them to listen. Whether they would take heed, and do the right thing is however left to them. I have decided however to take the simple advice I give Nigerians who come complaining to me about how warped our system and society has become. I always tell them to speak out.

Many times I want to speak, but the crazy schedule of being a journalist, and an editor for that matter, has always left me with putting other peoples thoughts together and presenting it to the world.

But the madness, and senselessness inherent in our society has forced me to create the time to take action.

Henceforth, I intend to speak to Nigerians, to power, and to whomever else it may concern, to ask pertinent thought provoking questions, of our polity and lives.

So, the president is coming to Lagos. Yes!

The state government decides to declare the day a public holiday. Yes!
In this day and age? Yes!

And we aim to be part of the civilized world? No answer!

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According to the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, the decision declaring Thursday a work-free day was to enable residents come out and welcome the President when he arrives.

During his visit, the president will commission a bus terminus at Ikeja, tour the EKO Atlantic City project, and attend an event in honor of Bola Tinubu, a former governor of the state.

The police has made elaborate security arrangements. A number of major routes in Ikeja, Ikoyi, Agege, Victoria Island will be closed to traffic during the period, even as the State’s commissioner of police Imohimi Edgal has issued a stern warning to anyone planning any form of protest, or hoping to carry placard to perish the thought.

One can just just imagine the amount of resources that would be expended on this two-day visit, which begs the question; how does it really benefit the average Lagosian for their sensibilities to be so assaulted?

Would the state government be bold enough to open its books to disclose how much money was budgeted and spent on this trip.

Herein lies the difference between Akinwunmi Ambode and the entertainer popularly called Charly Boy.
Charles has seen Nigerians for what they are, a bunch of mumus, but is begging them to wake up, and do the right thing.

He wants Nigerians to play a more active role in the issues that affect the polity and their lives, not leaving it to the politicians and powers that be to continue making no-sense of things.

On his part, Akinwunmi, like many of his contemporaries, has also seen Lagosians for what they equally are; a bunch of complacent mummified people, who kowtow to whatever a leader decrees, whether good, bad or outright senseless.

So they keep insulting our sensibilities, by pronouncements, and decrees that would make a civilized people fall over with laughter, and pity.

Of course the president can visit any part of the country he wants, to do whatever he wants. But do we have to make it such a big deal; declare a work free day, and inconvenience so many people and businesses, because he’s coming to Lagos to commission a bus terminus?

At the end of many of such write ups in the future I would ask only one question. Today, the question is; how did we allow ourselves to get so low?

 

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