We used to be
called ‘Bendel number one’ because we were number one in everything we
did. In education and sports we were number one and in crime we were
number one, we were so number one in everything that once you find any
Bendelite anywhere in the nation outside Bendel state, you would hear
“up Bendel”. I still tell anyone who cares to listen that I am a
Bendelite, instead of a Delta or Edo man. Sadly, it was when I entered
Abuja in 1991 for Youth Service that I was last showered with that
encomium. Yes, it was used mostly when one of us was ‘committing,’ but
when we performed positively, we enjoy hearing that accolade. So, we
really are not perturbed when it was used negatively, because if not
for quota system and Federal Character that has placed mediocrity above
excellence, Bendelites would have been light years ahead, especially in
sports and education.
You might be
wondering where I am going, ‘cool down’ or ‘melo’. We have maintained
our position and will always be number one. Or how do you explain the
fact that it is only three Bendel governors that have been hunted,
harried round the globe, tried, jailed and are still the only clear
examples of fraud in present day Nigeria? The third man in this
equation I refer to as a Bendelite because he has a Warri connection
and once you are linked to Benin, Sapele or Warri, you are seen as a
Bendelite. If you still do not grab my drift, let me remove the veil
from your face. Lucky Igbinedion has been tried, sentenced and
convicted. If his wife, sister and concubine are in prison then James
Ibori is but a few steps away from the prison. Diepriye Alamesiegha is
the third man in the equation. Let us live the argument of his Bendel
streaks for another day.
I am sure you do
not need me to go down the annals of our sports and educational history
to remind you that some of the best brains in education and the best
brawns in sports, this country can point to, are also from Bendel but
that is not our drift. Our intention in this piece is to let the world
know that if we did not point out these sordid elements nobody would be
any the wiser. Unfortunately, a lot of us still consider and parade
ourselves as saints and what you hear is “dog nor dey chop dog” and
some people still go about with the slogan “chop make I chop” as in
“thief small, make me self thief small”. Some people will go to any
length to protect their evil to prove their sainthood.
So we had this
brainstorming and my friends and others in the group who were from
outside Bendel agreed that the people and the Judiciary still have an
uphill task to prosecute all the governors that Ribadu mentioned in his
list from all the other states.
Presently, it is
only Lucky, Alamesiegha and Ibori that are on that list that are not
making open returns to either the Senate or the Presidency. Most of the
other corrupt governors are presently being hailed as Champions; some
were in the last Senate and others, in spite of the charges against
them, are contesting for the position of President and they
unfortunately have a large crowd of supporters. It is rather disturbing
and frustrating to think that for whatever reason, these obvious crooks
can still rally support from Nigerians, stand in front on a podium,
speak lies and be applauded; when what we should be hearing are curses
like “the people reject you, the land reject you and the earth reject
you” and even the seas and the air reject selfish, corrupt and wicked
rulers. Some of these governors are still considered as men from states
of saints.
So you now
understand why the world will forever be proud of men and women of
character who do not cover evil, those who do not dine with thieves for
long and give them platforms to speak and win more souls, those who do
not applaud evil doers, those who condemn and disgrace evil if they
cannot truly convert them. We may not be completely rid of all the
demons in our ‘Up Bendel State’ but we have set the pace yet again.
What are you doing about the resident evils in your area? Do you dine
with them, do you clap for them, do you bow to them, do you want to
promote and enthrone them?
Are you trying to
genuinely convert them or you are the evil yourself? Are you number one
in anything, be bold to stand for who and what you are because if you
do not stand for something you will fall for anything. The bible says
it is better for you to be hot or cold, you cannot afford to be
neutral, otherwise God will spew you out of his mouth. ‘Up Bendel’ to
every man or woman who fights evil.
