Attention Progressives… Let’s Watch It!

DR. UCHE DIALA 

Barely three months into the tenure of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, tribal and other debilitating tendencies have surreptitiously crept into the progressive family. If no one else has noticed and is pained, I have and I am.

Unfortunately SOME new kids on the block, who are driven only by an urge to trend and who cannot write or tell the history of our rough and tough progressive journey at least since 2015 are driving this and SOME elders with a poor sense of responsibility are at best keeping a blind eye in their own quest for endorsement and validation.

Even though we saw some snippets of it, this was not what we witnessed while the brickbats were being thrown during the presidential election a few short months ago. I thought we were one family. What has gone wrong?

Not known for playing the ostrich, I once again wish to dutifully call our attention to this ugly development and to caution us to watch it.

Without beating about the bush, I will point to the Mallam Nasir El-rufai situation because it is what many progressives including closet and open tribal jingoists are cashing in on to expose their infantile, primitive and mischievous predisposition.

I have noticed the crude attempt by some people to attack, bully and emotionally blackmail others as well as to trivialise and yes tribalise this issue. That is most unfortunate and dangerous.

The honest truth is that the treatment meted to our fellow senior progressive, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is unfair and undeserved. Period!! No matter whatever language, tribe, or religion anyone looks at it from.

Whatever thing else anyone thinks is immaterial. Everyone with decency and conscience, especially anyone who professes to be a progressive and especially an APC member should be able to simply acknowledge that, say so and leave it at that while waiting to see what the powers that be can do about it.

That ought to be the true spirit of progressive and honest political camaraderie. Who to lay the blame on his or her table is secondary and maybe unnecessary. Trying to downplay the contributions and importance of Mallam Nasir El-rufai for whatever reason is even more wicked.

The situation may or may not be reversed or remedied but it is important to simply acknowledge that because it is the honest truth. That is the productive path to take to avoid such happening again in the future.

It would still be the honest truth no matter who is involved, whatever the persons name, stature, tribe or creed, if the issues are the same.

Unfortunately, many who profess progressivism have no clue what that actually means. Progressivism is built on patriotism, consistency, equity, fairness, courageousness and justice.

An injury to one is an injury to all. How we treat an injury to one should be the same way we treat an injury to another, irrespective of where one comes from, how one speaks or worships. That is why developing a set of objective and consistent values and principles devoid of sentiments is very important.

Sad to say, many who claim to be progressives are little more than ethno-religious jingoists with unstable character, who dance like a yo-yo driven by emotions and wherever they feel their bread and sentiments are buttered at any point in time.

Many are currently pandering to petty emotions, tribal and sundry other primordial sentiments while some have altogether kept quiet where they should speak up for the common good and the actual success of the PBAT administration, some in expectation of getting an appointment.

Which leads me to ask. What happens if after all is said and done they do not get an appointment? They will then ‘unleash the dragon’ like we saw under FPMB.

Well, I am not one of those. Like Dino Melaye would say: If you say the truth, you will die. If you do not say the truth, you will still die. So why not say the truth and die rightfully?

I have said and I repeat that the greatest challenge PBAT will have are overzealous supporters with neither emotional intelligence, genuine conviction nor depth of understanding of the issues, yet are the most loquacious, making needless and unnecessary enemies for him and his administration.

I will urge us to, as we stand against any ‘cabal’, real or imagined, we should also stand against compulsive and rambunctious knee jerk defenders, antagonists and protagonists who often have little or limited understanding of issues with shallow depth and ability to comprehend, analyse and present them.

Our duty as progressives and supporters is to objectively support the administration and the President, tell him the hard truth at all times, applaud and fiercely defend him factually and intelligently, and objectively and respectfully criticise and advise when necessary.

That is the proper, intellectual, and productive way to show genuine love for the nation and PBAT, who we all love and wholeheartedly support.

I have said my bit. The journey ahead is long, rough and tough but it is not beyond our capacity and that of the President to navigate but if we continue in the manner I am seeing so early, trust me, we would be in for a rougher, tougher and more perilous journey.

I have dutifully said my bit. A word is more than enough for the wise. He or she who has ears let him or her hear and heed.

©️ Uche Diala