House padding scandal: ‘You be thief, I no be thief’

By Joseph Edgar… My father used to beat the hell out of me anytime I listened to Fela. Fela was that controversial and societal unacceptable gadfly who made a living out of rankling the system. His genius to me never came to be realized in his life time and even after his death, apart from a few mentions here and there, nothing has really been done to immortalize this person whose words still ring true in our daily lives.

It was he who sang those legendary words which today has come to haunt principal actors of the House of Representatives. Today, both sides of the divide have been made to reluctantly sing those words. Standing on the highest roof tops that they can find to shout, ‘ you be thief, I no be thief,’ you be armed robber, I no be armed robber’ .

I went back to listen to that song and I tell you the words are amazing as it perfectly describes what we are seeing now. Everybody is calling everybody a thief and everybody is denying that they are not thieves. My people, confusion as Fela would say, ‘don break backbone’. All I am seeing here despite the murkiness is that everybody is a thief.

They have all stolen, strange bedfellows coming together becuase of a uniting bond to steal and pilfer. But the moment one loses his enviable position he starts to rant. These are the idiots we have voted into office. These are the miscreants we have put not only our lives but that of our children and their future into their hands. A band of thieves who have no honour. Even if you lost your position, the unwritten code amongst thieves should even stop you from ranting out your ex compatriots. But no, what we have been hearing in the last one or two weeks remains baffling.

To me, this whistleblower is nothing but a perfidy. He may have facts but I respect him not. He had to wait until he lost his position before he now converted into a later day crusader. Thanks for all the information, but also no thanks as you remain a coward and squealer who will do no one any good.

As for the Speaker, the jury is out and we await your defense. That statement put out on your behalf was kinda lame. It did not address the deep issues brought up by your accuser and showed a lack of focus in addressing the grave allegations. Telling us about your accusers behavioral incompetence and childishness begs the issue.

I even think you should even just resign. I think you should fall on your sword and let it go. David Cameron did not even experience anything near this and he left, so why would you still be sitting there when it is quite obvious that you have suffered a severe crisis of confidence, your image battered despite the fact that investigations have not been concluded.

Well, as Nigerians, I know that that would be asking for too much. So we would have to painfully wait and see if justice will be served in this matter.

We dey sidon look.

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