Nigerians are among the most patriotic citizens you could ever find on the planet.
Their closest neighbour, Ghana just discovered that when the pride of Nigeria is at stake Nigerians could truly rally.
Early last week; unidentified Ghanaians violated Nigeria’s sovereignty when the chancery of our High Commission in Accra was viciously violated.
Miscreants claiming land ownership did it by bringing in bulldozers and armed hoodlums to raze down the structure being erected on it.
That nocturnal rape on diplomacy was trending on every Nigerian’s gadget by morning.
Nigerian leaders made subterranean moves to prevent a war by angry ctizens some of who openly called for the Ghanaian High Commission in Abuja to be closed down and its officials sent home.
President Buhari later issued a statement assuring that the Ghanaian president had apologized for this violation.
Ghanaian authorities say a few suspects have been arrested.
High commissions of sovereign nations are inviolable under relevant sections of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Compared to Nigeria, Ghana is a small nation, the size of Lagos and perhaps a bite of another small local government in Ogun.
Ghana is the second of three ECOWAS countries colonized by Britain.
Ghana has had a love-hate history of diplomatic spat with Nigeria in the past but this one carries the cake.
President Buhari’s statement prevented a more vicious reprisal.
There is need to send a stronger signal to Ghana and any other nation whose uncultured citizenry thinks it is cool to violate a sovereign nation’s diplomatic mission.
Ghana has been acting in bad faith of late.
For almost a year, the businesses of Nigerians in that country have been locked up without explanation or compensation even after discriminatory fees were targeted at them.
Some of the locked businesses were sometimes targeted and looted.
The reactions of relevant Ghanaian authorities have not often been what it should be.
It is not the best way to treat a neighbour and brother-nation or its citizenry.
It should stop.
It was great to hear the apology of the Ghanaian leader.
There are talks that the Ghanaian government has offered to rebuild the structure at its own expense. Whether Buhari accepts the offer or decides to reconstruct at national expense, it is imperative that a new structure is shows a resilience architectural design, solid construction and better finishing.
The bulldozed carcase is a national embarrassment that should be probed for deficiency.
Nigerians hope to be briefed on the progress of the investigation into this diplomatic rape as well as any reconstruction effort.
This blatant assault must never happen again, anywhere else.
Ajimobi – The Exit of Constituted Authority
I would have wished for the late Abiola Isiaka Ajimobi to survive his health travails but nobody appeals the ultimate call.
The former Oyo Governor was a flamboyant politician who dressed well, spoke his mind and lived life to the fullest.
Rumours of his demise evinced different reactions when it was leaked a week before it eventually happened.
It is was harrowing to learn that when it comes to Covid19, people don’t necessarily survive under private care as they do in public institutions.
Ajimobi died in the same hospital where the late Abba Kyari breathed his last.
We would never know if they both could have survived under public health care.
The grave hardly discriminates. It’s a lesson for the living.
In an era where social media is angling to take over from mainstream media, rumours of people dying is no longer subject to the crucible of confirmation from family members.
It is also shameful that uncontacted family members sometimes have to read obituaries before they could be reached.
In the Ajimobi case, it is shameful because as a Muslim who died so close to him home base, he would still have been buried before sunset.
There was no need for the sprint to announce his death until his family have braced themselves for the task.
It is a violation of a family’s right to be so assaulted.
Should the living speak ill of the dead?
The jury is out on that one.
Those who read their own obituaries have a taste of what people would say behind them.
Not that it really matters to the dead, it’s a vital lesson for the living to live a strong and impactful life.
Perhaps if Nigerian politicians know that the ‘evil’ whispered behind them would be shouted on their rooftops, they might take national service more seriously.
This is why we must break from the old tradition of not speaking ill of the dead and speak openly about them while they are alive and when they are dead.
The most poignant Ajimobi encounter to me was the one with students in which he became sarcastically known as Constituted Authority.
In my view, he did not get a second chance to correct that national impression of a brash leader.
Not even with the extended handshake to Kano when he gave his daughter to Ganduje’s son.
A second retirement to the Senate was denied him.
He lost the seat of government to the opposition after breaking a the jinx of being the first governor in Oyo State to gain re-election.
He lived well for 70 years and basically prayed for his own exit.
The testimony of his close friends stands tall, that although he appeared brash to the public, he bravely spoke his mind, and helped his people.
May his soul find rest!
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