By GE Mosugu, Colonel (Rtd)
Z’s.
I was a member of a delegation of retired Armed forces officers who had an appointment with the President, Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in commemoration of the Nigerian Army Day.
We arrived at the Aso Rock villa on time, to keep our date with the President, and waited patiently as directed by the protocol officers of the State House.
When the President, with his retinue of aides, came out to receive the delegation, as directed, or as asked, by the leader of our delegation, we all dutifully prostrated to welcome His Excellency.
We were, thereafter, ushered into the venue of the programme for the day.
The event of the day commenced in earnest. Speeches, exchanges, and discussions were made and held, with an open frankness being displayed during the events at this period. After about an hour, a fifteen to twenty minutes tea break was given. On resumption, other listed matters were attended to as planned. I was taking notes, from the presentations, hoping to ask for clarifications, on many issues that I needed to understand, during the Questions and Answers session.
The Q & A session started as scheduled with a member of the delegation asking that the decision to revert to the old or former national anthem be reconsidered, and pleading with the President to ensure that the bills sent to him, from the National assembly, for assent, all comply with due process. A member raised issues concerning the pervasive insecurity, especially in the northern and eastern parts of the country resulting in the senseless, unprovoked loss of lives of many serving personnel of the armed forces, the inability of farmers to go to their farms, and lack of genuine transparency in governance, and the absence of a serious fight against corruption in high places, and the proposed Students loan scheme.
Another member, a retired female officer, who attained a one-star rank, appealed to the Commander-in-chief to kindly send an Executive bill which should be aimed at improving the condition of the retired members of the Armed forces across the board, that is, for all ranks. She specifically asked that the pensions, payable to those who had served in the armed forces, be reviewed and enhanced, so as to help retirees cope with the inflation being experienced as a result of the current dire economic situation in the country, which is threatening to increase the nation’s poverty level.
As I raised my hand to indicate my intention and readiness to ask a question and make my suggestion, the Master of ceremony immediately announced that due to exigency of presidential duties, the session had ended. I could, therefore, not be directly or openly heard.
When the closing ceremony began, we lined up to bid the president goodbye. Our leader had the honour to introduce the members, individually, to the Number 1 citizen, who is the Commander-in-chief, of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As I was introduced to him, I bowed my head, because being well brought up, I was one hundred percent certain that, that was the right thing to do. The president smartly stretched out his hand, for me to have a handshake, and I held his with both of mine, because again, the office he occupies deserves all of my respect. He uttered the words, “How are you….?”, and I responded: “Thank you, Mr. President.”
Though we had been coached on – and also earlier rehearsed – how to speak in the presence of the Commander-in-chief, and even as the others before me, in the delegation, had complied with the instruction. I did continue… “… Your Excellency, I had no opportunity during the Questions and Answers session, so I couldn’t mention your name, with your titles, even as I am not sure which is the true name you bear, as I read somewhere that you were previously known as Yekini Amoda Ogunlere… with no affidavit to back up the change of name.
And I am not using Sir, please, as I am not sure, Mr. President, if you are a male or female, as per the Chicago transcripts. The matter of me using ‘Sir’, in my opinion, is further compounded by the fact that your real age and actual state of origin are issues that have not fully been resolved yet, despite the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s stamping of your legitimacy. And,…”.
Before I could continue speaking, the security details came and pushed me away, from my position on the queue, as the president moved on to the next member of the delegation. Somehow, while he, the President, was still within earshot, I managed to turn and ask, “Mr. President, when are you visiting France and/or Guinea?”.
The security man’s hand was now raised and I saw it coming down, to my face, to land on my cheek, with what I knew was going to be a thunderous, ‘stars-seeing’, hearing-impaired slap, when… thankfully, the dream ended and I woke, soaked in sweat.
Now, I just made a vow to myself that I will not accept to be on any delegation to visit the villa until the tenure of the president is over. And I suspect that will not be anytime before the 29th. day of May, in the year of our Lord, 2031, as I believe that winning the next general election, for a second term in office, of another four – or who knows, maybe six (?) years – is the only thing on the mind of the President and his closest associates.
I pray God Almighty keep me, and the President, in good health, till then and beyond. Amen.
I have to move on – going forward – to consult some diviner, as the type of dream I had has to be banished from my subconscious.
Phew !