Nebuchadnezzar In The 21st Century -By Akingboye Babatunde Samuel

Akingboye Babatunde Samuel

A people of a certain religious belief, documented the epistle of a man who once made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet; and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then he sent messages to the princes, prefects, governors, advisers, counselors, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. When all these officials had arrived and were standing before the image he had set up, a herald shouted out, “people of all races and nations and languages, listen to the King’s command. When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other instruments, bow to the ground to worship King’s gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

Without an iota of doubt, it’s crystal clear that the “immortal” tribe of NEBUCHADNEZZAR which we thought had gone into extinction million of years ago, has re-emanated and coming to stay as long as there is room for him. This is traceable to the modus operandi adopted in the corridors of power in the 21ST Century. These are evident in the styles of leadership; system of governance; and the strength of characters of the individuals flying the flag of this country at all levels. A country that was structured to be just, egalitarian, and humanitarian in her dispensations by virtue of the stupendous efforts put in by some heroes and heroines, whose names would forever be in the heart of the members of many generations to come. People who were so conscious of history; people who thought history would not forgive them should they commit nasty deeds.

“Giwa” has come to stay. He does not want to relinquish power. Subsequently, he had made an arrangement called Our Dynasty Power Sharing Formula, ODYPOSHA. He always wants to make decisions. This he had chosen as daily routine throughout the days of his natural life. History recalls, there was a time in the political evolution of the land, when there were many reasons to question and fault men in “Khaki” unñwillingness to relinquish power. This was the era of the hungry Generals. But, does this not sound completely strange and uncalled for to go back and make one of the reasons why you thought that men in “khaki” should be thrown out of office a favourite in a contemporary society with modern political ideologies, as he opined?

There is an element of Jabesh in whatever decision he makes; which is a reflection of his greedy nature. BABATUNDE once wrote, “A man who always wants to be served, and does not want to serve, will eventually die of inexperience.” This has clearly justified why he has been performing below expectation. Why on earth will a man set up a Dynasty statue of hundred years life span in the corridor of power; a province where the dwellers are believed to have equal opportunities? At the expiration of his tenure in office, he subtly put his Dynasty in office, to continue from where he stopped without taking the plights, interests and aspirations of the helpless into consideration. When would the dreams of common citizens become realities? What can his successor to the portfolio of leadership do? Since they say, “like begets like”.

Denial of common men of their basic civic rights is nothing, but machiavellian. “Giwa” always wants to generate internal revenue through payment of taxes like the developed countries; a country where the number of people languishing in the shackles of abject poverty exceeds the affluent-living in many folds. All he holds unto is that, citizens of the developed countries pay taxes. Not considering the fact that, citizens are given “maintenance allowances” once they turn eighteen years of age. On what ground do you deem it fit that a man who cannot even boast of his three-square meals, should be extorted? Since you have failed to create employment opportunities that could guarantee him a means of livelihood. Nebuchadnezzar had successfully made his power sharing formula intact;such that no man could tamper with it. He had put in place his Dynasty who would eventually pick the mantle of leadership should he bow out of office at the expiration of his tenure. He had chosen to be worshipped,and served till eternity,together with his lineages in a country where equity was shown high respect and value.

Platọ had crowned it all when he said,”The microcosm of a just man, is a reflection of the just pattern of the behaviours of the society .” Do we see his impact on the pattern of behaviours of the citizenry? Since they have been taught both directly and indirectly that corruption is a means of livelihood in their fatherland. It is unarguable that men are known for two things-problems they cause and solutions they proffer. Nebuchadnezzar,at this point in time, I still cannot ascertain your personality, but a certain “man” who knows better would appraise your roles in the Literature of Life.