By Chris Ojeikere
It wasn’t just a confrontation of land access or not. No. You miss vital points leaving it there. It was also of wits, professionalism, mentality and emotional intelligence. The Bully man in civilian clothing, an appointed emissary of a Government that claims Democracy — a civil government, accompanied by a horde of Court jesters; all of them three times the size of the smallish bully, and dressed in even larger suit sizes came to the land scene like a mob.
Dosed and dazed by fragile emotional intelligence caused by long term diets on ego manic hubris, the awkward team had long deluded themselves on their ‘ importance ‘, or put better, the importance of the god of the land they derive theirs from.
They never expected any form of resistance. Who would dare resist Abuja god and arch angel to the President? Whom the C in C himself has given the power…ah! There is the word, ” Power!” to do abuses, insults, anger, vituperations, dismissive wave off… just name it to whom he wishes?
So, who dares stand in the way?. Ah! There we go again. ” stand in the way!” Certainly not a boy who was in primary school, when the god was already annexing Obiokpor LGA land! It was an unprecedented affront! All pretensions then must now give way to who they really are, Aggressors in civilian clothing! Talk of situational ironies… aggressive civilians and calm soldiers!
The civilians had a field day trying to insult the soldiers, force their way into Oga’s land! Did you say it is not his land? You should tell the Bully that. But don’t say I didn’t remind you of what to expect. Ever wonder why he had to lead the contingent himself to every land location in Abuja? I’m told he is enamoured to land. Oh! He loves land acquisition. He dotes on land and would even risk a stray bullet for one! What better way to set up a serial offender? But, no way. Whisky blurs off all such far fetched sentiments! In Abuja, he is The Soldier and Nigerian soldiers should know that! Or don’t they?
Obviously, the ex-; primary school boy was too young to understand that! Rather, this one, still fresh out of school only yet knows his training as an officer: fearlessness, obidience to authority, professional, polite in face of provocation etc. All the lessons civilians should teach the Force! Again, talk about situational irony!
I didn’t see it too clearly, but I think there was an occasion when one short soldier ( trust short men) had to physically illustrate where the Power roles belong. After which, it appears it dawned on all.
It isn’t too clear, but did I notice a haste towards concluding the visit? Certainly ice cream isn’t about to be served next.
Give it to the Bully, he knows when POWER has changed hands.You may ask the PDP when they lost him. So now, who knows, given his ambition for his dear second love, Power!, (land is the first) he might even consider joining the military for a short service course. It appears APC hasn’t got all the POWER after all. And he can’t live with that!