Former Presidential Spokesman, Reuben Abati has written yet another interesting piece bordering around the political turmoil going on in Nigeria. This is his latest piece titled; Buhari and his marabouts.
Read below….
“Have you read Lauretta Onochie’s latest post?”
“Lauretta. Lauretta. Who is she?”
“She is a social media assistant at the Presidency. She shoots straight and direct. She defends President Muhammadu Buhari with the passion of someone the President treats like a daughter.”“Not a son, this time, a daughter! Interesting. Of power, fathers, wives, sons and daughters….”
“She spits fire, particularly if the person involved is in any way related to either the People’s Democratic Party or former President Goodluck Jonathan.”
“I see…”
“I try to pay attention to the many battles of the spin community in Nigerian politics.”“Well, I have tried to tune off for a while. Now that the social media is dominated by all kinds of ghosts and malcontents, I just don’t always take everything that I read there seriously. I should pay attention to this your Lauretta though. She is likely to provide a lot of comic relief.”
“You call it comic relief?”
“You never know. What is she saying?”
“I have just read a piece she wrote saying some politicians are now hiring marabouts, pastors and Bishops to pray for President Buhari’s death.” “Pastors? Praying for someone to die? Contrary to the miracle of Lazarus and the fact of Resurrection?”“Yes, some pastors are shamanists. Fact.”
“Some journalists are pastors”
“So?”
“Wrong syllogism. Not all pastors are shamanists.”
“I said some…”
“You sounded as if…”“We are not talking logic. It is not everything that happens in society or in the corridors of power that is logical. If Lauretta says politicians are hiring marabouts and pastors to pray for the President’s death, she must know what she is talking about. Have you not seen how the Buhari Media Centre has been very busy raining curses on anybody who wishes the President dead? They have even chosen a song: Baba oh Baba oh, Baba o, oluwa da Baba si fun wa.”
“I see there is a singing competition in Abuja now between the Senate and the Villa. It is good to sing.”
“She says certain politicians are attacking President Buhari because he is still alive, despite their prayers. She insists they just don’t want him in power. They robbed him of victory in three past elections, and now that he has won, and is in charge, they are recruiting marabouts and soothsayers to pray for his death.”
“Hmm, these demons and principalities…”
“She even pointed out that those who wish the President dead travel to Niger and as far as India to recruit evil spiritualists.”
“She should name the persons involved so they can be charged immediately for high treason, or at worst attempted murder, or spiritual assault with intent to kill.”
“How do you prove spiritual assault?”
“The security agencies can start with the investigation of anybody who has travelled to Niger and India in the last six months to determine if such persons had any contact with a marabout, a pastor or a bishop in those countries.”
“You think this is a joke? I know these things. The only thing I don’t understand is why Niger and India. There are more marabouts, pastors and bishops in Nigeria.”
“I think the President’s enemies travel abroad because walls have ears. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should summon the ambassadors of Niger and India and any other country that may be identified to shed light on the relationship between the Nigerian political elite and the marabouts in their countries. This is a matter for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.”
“But under what law will the Federal Government try the marabouts and their clients? Or prove that they are praying for the President’s death?”
“They’d create one. That is easy. And they can start with social media. There is a website for example that announced what did not happen. Then there is a British politician who is already sending condolence messages, and writing opinions about what does not concern him.”
“Are there marabouts on social media?”
“Ha. Plenty”
“And that Oyinbo man, is he a marabout too, hired by Nigerian politicians? You see, then, Lauretta knows what she is talking about. Too many things in this country are remote-controlled by remote forces and marabouts. The most dangerous ones are the marabouts who call themselves clerics, with big titles.”“But I really don’t know why anyone would wish the President dead. That is wicked. It is a much better business to pray for the President to get well soon. We can organize prayer rallies and receive sponsorship from the private sector, government at all levels and their contractors. I am even surprised that holidays have not yet been declared for prayers yet.”
“You are right. Government can neutralize the wickedness of the marabouts by recruiting prayer warriors. Pastors and Bishops who can preserve, protect and promote with the sacred power of the Word. Imams who can talk directly to God and make things happen.”
“And the people who pray will smile and receive praise.”
“Candidly, I would love to recommend some Pastors and Bishops who will counter the marabouts and the other pastors with prayers that will destroy demons and principalities, fire-for-fire, back to sender!”
“We can even do a book, you know?. Powers, Demons and Principalities: A History of Nigerian Politics.”“Where will you find the empirical evidence for that?” Sounds somehow.
“Don’t worry. Someone once got a Ph.D with a dissertation titled “A History of the joystick.”
“What? Strange things happen in this world.”“Like what happened in Ibadan yesterday. That’s what I wanted to discuss with you before you brought up this matter about marabouts.”
“What happened?”
“First, let me ask you, how is that your Made-in-Oyo-state cousin? Where is she? She stands the chance of making a fortune before next week”
