There is nothing new under
the sun, goes a popular saying. In fact, the more things seem to change,
the more they appear the same. From time immemorial, some people have
spoken evil of leadership, cast aspersions on them, and generally
portrayed themselves as the scum of the earth. No matter how a country
loves its leader, there will naturally be those that the Good Book calls
"filthy dreamers" who "despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities."
That is why as spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I never respond
to such people. Their type would always be around.
President Buhari has been indisposed since the beginning of the year.
It is human, and presidents, despite their elevated status, remain
human. If there is anybody who considers himself 100 percent healthy, or
who bears what William Shakespeare calls "a charmed life," let that
person stand up to be identified. All mortals are doomed to sickness,
they can recover, and they can die. That is the truth that has been
internalized by millions of people praying for the recovery of our
President. And that is where the shallowness, vacuousness, and
hollowness of people who wish the President dead and carry unfounded
rumors, is on stark display. Filthy dreamers. They speak evil of
dignities and despise dominion. But we forgive them, for they know not
what they do. When President Buhari returns (as God would make him do)
where would they hide their faces? In shame.
Now, I started by saying we would always have scumbags around. It is
inevitable. They are the descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I
want to introduce to you now.
Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of the Good Book, and he
bears a striking similitude to some people in our country today. The
evil wishers, the hate monger, and those who spend their days
conjecturing tragedy for leadership.
Absalom, the son of King David, had led an insurrection against his
father. And the king of Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow.
As David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy Bible records that
Shimei, the son of Gera, a man of the family of Saul, came out, and
started cursing the fleeing king. You don't kick a man that is down,
goes a saying, but Shimei not only cursed David, he also threw dust and
stones at him. It was a show of shame.
David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And Shimei was from the
family of Saul (read, People's Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn't
forgotten the bloody nose the family of Saul got when the kingship was
taken away from them, and given to David. So when the latter got into a
time of travail, no pity at all from people still smarting from bloody
noses.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired by Muhammadu Buhari,
halted the 60-year pipe dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the
latter forgotten? No, they won't forget till forever. But so much is the
animus, the antipathy towards the President that they wish him dead.
While millions of Nigerians are praying, some elements are rejoicing and
imagining evil. But they forget: man is not God, and Jehovah always has
the final say. The descendants of Shimei need to learn vital lessons
from their forebear.
As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king, Abishai, one of
David's mighty men, said:"Why should this dead dog curse my lord the
king? Let me go over and take off his head."(2 Samuel, 16:9). But David
restrained him, saying if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not
have done what he was doing.
President Buhari has tolerated people
who have called him all sorts of names in the past two years. If he
didn't move against them directly, he could have allowed many Abishais
to move against them, "and take off their heads." But not our President,
a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has resolved to leave the people
suffused by hatred unto God. And will they get their just desserts one
day? As night follows the day, they will. If not from man, they will get
it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He reaped what he sowed.
After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom was crushed by loyal
troops, and David regained the throne. As he headed back into the city,
who came to meet the king, with one thousand of his relatives, pleading
for mercy? Shimei. The Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used to
abuse the gods, is what it uses to lick the dusts of the earth. Shimei
had suddenly become gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before David,
and said:"I have sinned. Have mercy on me. Don't remember what I did
against you on the day you went out of Jerusalem."
Heh, on a certain day, some people would come to prostrate, begging
for mercy, asking President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will the
President do? What did David do? Abishai said again to King David:"Let
me bring down the head of this man, who cursed, and threw stones at
you?"
Lagos LGA Election officials
L
k
