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Apr. 7, 2007 Today is Easter, a wonderful day in the Christian calendar in which the crucified saviour Jesus the Christ rose from dead and ascended gracefully to heaven where His father who had sent him as His only begotten son to come to the world to redeem mankind dwells in majestic Glory. Last Friday was commemorated as the "Good Friday" though some people out of sheer mischief or ignorance had questioned what was good in a Friday in which the Son of Man was crucified on the cross of Calvary over two thousand years ago. What do you think dear reader? As we mark with triumphant joy in our hearts, as we wine and dine in victory the resurrection of Jesus we Christians must not forget the significance of Jesus' harrowing death on the cross and His majestic resurrection three days later (today) in glorious fulfilment of immutable words and prophecies in the Holy Bible. As we wine and dine in our homes away from the troubles Nigerian in remembrance of the victory over death as exemplified by Jesus mankind must imbibe the teachings of Jesus while sojourning here in the midst of men and women and doing good and miracles for the people of God. As we celebrate the victory of the Most High on the cross against forces of hell we must think about our brethrens back home in Nigeria who are suffering enormity of human rights abuses and denials for no fault of theirs. We must remember that this month of April will by the grace of God usher in those who may be pre-disposed towards making things work again in our country in our lifetime. Yes things must work again! Things must get better!! Nigeria must rise from the 'grave'!!! Nigeria must be made whole in our generation and the time for commencing the task is now! The general elections provide us all with a great opportunity to radically alter the status quo in it's decadence. There's a yawning need for a change, a change in it's wholesomeness, one wholly different from the 'change' our oppressors are promising us with glee. The presidential election coming up in few weeks time in Nigeria reminds me of the presidential election next month in France. The out-going president Jacques Chirac is not running for re-election; that then leaves the level-playing field for candidates of the "gauche" leftists and "droit" right-wingers in a serious ideological campaign of wits. Unlike President Olusegun Obasanjo President Chirac has not anointed any one to succeed him though he has said he preferred one out of the lot. Unlike Baba Chirac is not seen at campaign rallies of either left or right wing campaigning for one of the candidates even his preferred choice. Unlike Chirac Obasanjo has provided Yar'Adua with enormous logistic and other presidential advantages over and above other presidential contestants. Unlike Chirac Obasanjo has since abandoned his presidential duties selling the Yar'Adua-Goodluck ticket across the land as if his life after retirement depends on their occupation of Aso Rock. But come to think of it: what do you make of a President who had in the last eight years brooked no opposition acting as though friendship no longer means anything? And power no longer has some ephemeralty or transience tied to it? Baba is simply afraid of life at 70 outside Aso Rock with a horde of enemies waiting as it were in the wing for him to retire in Abeokuta or Ota before taking their pound of flesh. Like an African dictator turned democrat with true meaning of democracy lost on the alter of hero-worshipping and Solomonic wisdom Obasanjo has suddenly discovered that he could not stop time or continue playing God who is both timeless and infallible. His 'sins' in power are haunting him and the free Obasanjo, the elder statesman we used to know may not be the same after May 29 even with Yar'Adua and his Goodluck in power. Among the gladiators for Elysée Palace in Paris includes a woman called Ségolène Royal, a left-wing politician who reminds one of the German chancellor Angela Merkel. In one of her campaigns she had told the young French boys and girls to insist on the government providing them with the possibilities of 'forcing their destinies', 'seizing their freedoms' and 'constructing their futures' and know when to 'rise whenever they feel that injustice is progressing'. According to this impressive woman: "a political adversary is not an enemy, he/she is a partner in democratic debate. My enemies are unemployment, precarious lifestyles, injustice, school failures, poor workers, the weakness of Europe and social dislocations". You have a right-wing Nicolas Sarkozy who is highly rated to succeed Chirac. Former Interior Minister and a power broker Sarkozy has been in politics in France for decades rising from one position to another within the power bloc. According to him: "the truth is that nothing is free, there's merit to all; working creates jobs. For me I want to build France of the future with the youths where each and everyone receive according to his/her merit, where everyone will have his/her chance". Good talk. Another candidate is François Bayrou who participated in the presidential election five years ago won by the incumbent. Bayrou is calling for a change in immigration rules arguing that the attribution of nationality of French should be 'conditioned by other thing other than birth in a hospital in France'. There is an underdog like Gerard Schivardi and another woman Arlette Laguiller who criticised the 'campaign of demagoguery’ being waged by her opponents. For me my Easter will be marked quietly in my house deeply reflecting on why Jesus was rewarded by man with crucifixion when He did things to make him a better human being in the sight of God! I will be attending a special Sunday service and thereafter a publicised Christian concert featuring the gospel music award winners here known as "Schekina" with my wife in the evening. This's wishing everybody especially brothers and sisters in the Diaspora happy and merry Easter; in other words in French: Bonne Fête De Pâques! ------------ About the author: Sunny Chris Okenwa is a U-K contributor based in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. Email: soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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