By Tunde Fagbenle

Yes, we are so sorry, former president Alhaji Shehu Shagari.
On behalf of other Nigerians, I, Tunde Fagbenle, humbly
offer our unreserved apologies for our collective folly in
misrepresenting your regime of 1979 to 1983 as the limit of
rottenness, of brigandage, and of kleptomania any country
can suffer, and the worst Nigeria would ever have. What
folly!

How could we have known, Mallam Shehu Shagari, that a
few decades down the line, precisely 28 years later, a
government will come that will make a saint of yours, one
that would make all the stealing your team (nay, not you)
was accused of look like petty-thieves?
Incidentally, and sadly so, every government we’ve had after the one that overthrew your government – civilian or
military –have struggled to outdo each preceding one in the
degree of treasury looting and of emasculating the country!
And I should list them: General Babangida’s; General
Abacha’s; Chief Obasanjo’s; Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua’s; and
lastly, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s, the one that takes the cake
of whom I speak! I have deliberately left out one or two –
Chief Ernest Shonekan’s and General Abdulsalami’s – not
because they were any cleaner but because they were both
too brief (only months) to count, whilst the former, indeed,
was deemed null in the eyes of the law!

We called you all sorts of names, Mallam. We, especially, the “Southern” press, looked upon you with loath. We said what happened in your government was because you were a “malla” – the derogatory way those of the Hausa/Fulani stock were called by the foolish ones —; we said it was because you did not have a university degree; we said you were too old and inept; we said many other things against your humble and good-natured self. We branded and hounded your “main men” – the Umaru Dikkos, the Uba Ahmeds, the Adisa Akinloyes, the Joseph Wayas, etc.
O, yes, I remember! We, Nigerians, rejoiced and hailed the
military junta that overthrew your government –
incidentally, headed by ‘one’ General Muhammadu Buhari –
when, Gestapo like, it stretched its tentacles all the way to
Britain to kidnap Dr. Umaru Dikko, almost succeeding with
getting his drugged body crated onto a plane to Nigeria to
answer charges of looting our treasury!

O, yes, I remember! That Buhari’s military government
rounded up most of your Ministers and even some
politicians in the opposition party and angrily sent many of
them (through ‘arrangee’ tribunals) to hundreds of years jail
terms each! Still we clapped to show our support for the
military “cleansers”, demonstrating the depth of our
repulsion with your ousted government.

You would then understand, dear Alhaji Shagari, when fate
gave us what our hearts had always yearned for: a President
from the minority Niger Delta, young, and a degree holder –
not just an ‘ordinary’ graduate but a PhD to boot. Isn’t there
an adage that says one should always be careful what one
prays for lest one gets it – in abundance?

But, Sir, how could we, in our wildest dream, have thought
that the day would come when those hopes, those
expectations, would turn to ashes before our very eyes? How could we have known that it was possible for some people to come into power and get so drunken by it, throwing all caution to the wind, going on the rampage of the national treasury and raping the country with reckless impunity? Yes, that young president said it all: he didn’t “give a damn”!

We are now waking up each day to fresh reports by the EFCC of billions of dollars (you heard me right, US dollars, not just naira) that have been pillaged by all manner of characters in the corridors of power. Mind-boggling figures that defy reasoning. Anyone and everyone that had the slightest connection to those in power partook of the grand bazaar that was the country’s treasury whilst the country ails with death-trap roads, with ludicrous rails, with ignominious
power supply, with pitiable hospitals that kill rather than
heal, with public schools that are public shame, with
citizenry that are dying of poverty in the thousands each
passing day!

But nothing beats the revelation of the billions of dollars
that reportedly went through the hands of the National
Security Adviser – NSA, Sambo Dasuki, a retired military
officer and supposedly a prince of the revered Sokoto
caliphate. Under the guise of superintending the purchase of arms and weaponry to combat the Boko Haram terrorists, this scoundrel heartlessly embarked on a stealing and booty-sharing spree, turning his office to a Dispensary for all manner of personal and political greed. It didn’t matter that the fighting army had nothing to fight with; it didn’t matter that our poor soldiers were sent to certain death in battlefield, and those that flee, to certain prospect of death sentence for desertion.

The more is found of the grand larceny, the more still exists
to be uncovered! As Wole Olaoye, columnist with TRUST
newspaper says, Nigerians have to steel themselves for
more revelations of the stealing that took place. Steel
ourselves before the stoning of those that stole our
commonwealth begins! Maybe that is why a judge trying one
of the many cases says it is in the interest of the accused to
be kept in “protective custody” and not to be granted bail,
lest they get lynched by a mad public whose sons have been
sent to their untimely death!

By a curious twist of fate, the country has come full circle
and, once again, we have the same man, yes, that army
general that toppled your government 28 years ago, but
whose desire to rid the country of corruption was rudely
aborted in a coup by a permissive and complicit military
junta. General Buhari (retired) is back in power as a civilian
president.

So you can imagine what must be going through President
Muhammadu Buhari’s mind. The country is rotten through
and through, with no clean spot to stand. But if even half of
our stolen wealth can be recovered, and structures and
institutions can be strengthened enough to stop further
pillage and discourage the impunity of the past, then,
indeed, the country may be on the path to recovery and
development.

Before then, once again, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, we are sorry;
yours was not the limit.
And that’s saying it the way it is!


www.punchng.com/president-shagari-please-forgive-us/

Where are the wailers, 45 views no comment, I sense fear among the Association of Wailers

shagari, we are SORRY... may we never have another 'yam donor' on the throne again... Ftc , where is my 'reward' seun?

OP forgive us, but your FATHER is the foundation and bedrock of stup1dity and idiocy.

hinwazaka:
OP forgive us, but your FATHER is the foundation and bedrock of stup1dity and idiocy.

I sense frustration,..............suit urself

Why is it everybody Buhari takes over from is tagged the most corrupt in history. The last time he came in under that toga and was chased out after 2 years because he almost ground the economy to a halt. I hope and pray things go better this time.

In as much as I don't hate GEJ as a person, I still believe he should come out and clear his name from all this mess. I once heard someone says " even if Jonathan stole the whole money in this world for the singular act that he handed over power he should be left alone" Sir beg to disagree with you. As a matter of fact you are not doing him any good, if he does not come and clear the air.

allycat:
Why is it everybody Buhari takes over from is tagged the most corrupt in history. The last time he came in under that toga and was chased out after 2 years because he almost ground the economy to a halt. I hope and pray things go better this time.

Buhari has always surfaced in times of difficulty like this
The ans 2 ur question is there in write up, go back and read carefully

.

amaechi1:
In as much as I don't hate GEJ as a person, I still believe he should come out and clear his name from all this mess. I once heard someone says " even if Jonathan stole the whole money in this world for the singular act that he handed over power he should be left alone" Sir beg to disagree with you. As a matter of fact you are not doing him any good, if he does not come and clear the air.

Gbam!!!

greatiyk4u:


Buhari has always surfaced in times of difficulty like this
The ans 2 ur question is there in write up, go back and read carefully

shut up and face ur life joor. Don't talk about muddy waters.. If Buhari and APC are not corrupt, where did they get the money used for the robust APC campaign? So for your mind Tinubu,Amaechi,Atiku,Kwankwaso and Fashola never stole money... Wooo!!! Take your time there... Your oga is doing selective probing of percieved enemies, your are here typing English.

greatiyk4u:


Buhari has always surfaced in times of difficulty like this
The ans 2 ur question is there in write up, go back and read carefully

And read what? that garbage written by who?

Soon all of you will just die because of GEJ matter, jealousy will kill you all. Boobsgarri and his group

AbleGodAlways:
Soon all of you will just die because of GEJ matter, jealousy will kill you all. Boobsgarri and his group

Na u sabi, we are happy people since we know where our problem is coming from, I think, it is u and ur likes that are silently dieing from denial and defense of mediocrity.

Hiploko:
shut up and face ur life joor. Don't talk about muddy waters.. If Buhari and APC are not corrupt, where did they get the money used for the robust APC campaign? So for your mind Tinubu,Amaechi,Atiku,Kwankwaso and Fashola never stole money... Wooo!!! Take your time there... Your oga is doing selective probing of percieved enemies, your are here typing English.

So wot u re saying is that since everybdy is corrupt according 2 u, corruption should be allowed 2 continue abi?....SMH

succed:

And read what? that garbage written by who?

Take it easy bro

Jonathan should confess his sins to Buhari as what?
Which Buhari,
The 'saint' ?
The 'priest' ?

Or the what

In a sane clime where humans intentions, motives, actions and antecedents are adjudged without prejudice, biases, political-affiliations, religion, tribe and ethnicity: Between Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, who will come out cleaner

greatiyk4u:


So wot u re saying is that since everybdy is corrupt according 2 u, corruption should be allowed 2 continue abi?....SMH

no sir. When you arrest Amaechi,Tinubu,Fashola,Dasuki,Abdulsalam Abubakar, Saraki, Femi Adeshina, Buhari, Atiku then I would know you are fighting corruption. Not persecuting enemies as was done in 1983 and laundering it as fighting corruption.

rubbish
rubbish
rubbish

Just the way Tribune reporter was dealt with for writing fake news that is how you will be dealt with.

This is worst government of all time. Government that is built lies, false news and bad journalism.rubbish
[color=#990000]rubbish
rubbish

Just the way Tribune reporter was dealt with for writing fake news that is how you will be dealt with.

This is worst government of all time. Government that is built lies, false news and bad journalism.[/color]rubbish
rubbish
rubbish

Just the way Tribune reporter was dealt with for writing fake news that is how you will be dealt with.

This is worst government of all time. Government that is built lies, false news and bad journalism.

AbleGodAlways:
Soon all of you will just die because of GEJ matter, jealousy will kill you all. Boobsgarri and his group

wetin dis one dey talk? oh!.. na dat fool @40 sha. bye

Hero of thieves see ya life

vedaxcool:
Hero of thieves see ya life

Lolz, no be small something

yapapa:
wetin dis one dey talk? oh!.. na dat fool @40 sha. bye

@yapapa, this one pain you. Hhahahahahhahahaha,. No get High BP because of GEJ matter ooooooooo.

vincent10:
rubbish
rubbish
rubbish

Just the way Tribune reporter was dealt with for writing fake news that is how you will be dealt with.

This is worst government of all time. Government that is built lies, false news and bad journalism.rubbish
[color=#990000]rubbish
rubbish

Just the way Tribune reporter was dealt with for writing fake news that is how you will be dealt with.

This is worst government of all time. Government that is built lies, false news and bad journalism.[/color]rubbish
rubbish
rubbish

Just the way Tribune reporter was dealt with for writing fake news that is how you will be dealt with.

This is worst government of all time. Government that is built lies, false news and bad journalism.

Go and die if it pains

Opinedecandid:
Jonathan should confess his sins to Buhari as what?
Which Buhari,
The 'saint' ?
The 'priest' ?

Or the what

In a sane clime where humans intentions, motives, actions and antecedents are adjudged without prejudice, biases, political-affiliations, religion, tribe and ethnicity: Between Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, who will come out cleaner

Buhari of course,

hinwazaka:
OP forgive us, but your FATHER is the foundation and bedrock of stup1dity and idiocy.

Ehya.See painment.What a shame.

disloman:
Ehya.See painment.What a shame.

Respect man!

Jonathan is a shameful failure and his misguided supporters need to extricate themselves from the agony of defeat to appreciate the damage he did to our country, our armed forces, and our economy.

Jonathan's administration is on course to beat Abachas' as the most corrupt government in Nigerian history (If it has not already).

My prayer is simply, may God never make us experience a bad government like that of Jonathan Again. Amen

mysteriousman:
My prayer is simply, may God never make us experience a bad government like that of Jonathan Again. Amen

Amen!!!!