By Dr. Tony Ajaino
As I begin this article, I wish to passionately give kudos to the Deputy Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olorogun Barr Arthur Akpowowo for the information I read on a news tabloid credited to him concerning his plans about the unchecked influx of migrants to Asaba and the non-implementation of the open grazing law.
In a society where people want to be “good guys” by compromising truth and being indifferent to circumstances, it behoves men of reasonable character to vigorously support and tout the resolve of the Deputy Speaker. He has opted to be the “bag guy” for the good of society by speaking out against the ills of society and backing it up with actions.
For a very long time, we grudgingly live with the menace of those men from the northern part of the country with their attendant nuisance. By their mentality and wrong orientation, they are time bombs and they constitute high-security threats yet many privileged people have either compromised so they can be “good guys” or because of fears of the unknown, sit on the fence.
Margaret Thatcher, a former UK Prime Minister once said “If you set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing”, while an American author, Zig Ziglar, warned people to “Be careful not to compromise what you want most for what you want now.”
I am of the idea that any office or position where I cannot make an impact is not worth it. I hope that the media houses and media aides give the necessary coverage reportage.
Nigeria belongs to all legal occupants and I am sure everyone has the right to live anywhere BUT you must live legally and responsibly. Every immigrant should be traceable to a landlord/landlady, that is, every resident should have an address. Roaming about and sleeping in motor parks, mosques etc, must be discouraged and that is where the checks should begin.
May I at this moment appeal to the committee of “good guys” to let the “bad guys” breathe. I wrote an article recently where I submitted that the silence of “stakeholders” in the face of bad governance, actually worsen the society. “Those you termed the “bad guys” are actually the good guys that the society needs.”
Our landlords now give every available open space (Land) around, to these dangerous fellows for scrapyard… – Nobody is talking because no one wants to be the “bad guy”.
Our people sell available farmland to them instead of leasing… -Nobody is talking because no one wants to be the “bad guy”.
Divisional police offices have become a transaction centre even when bail is free… -Nobody is talking because no one wants to be the “bad guy”.
Police security work is no longer effective because officers have stayed too long in their divisions thereby becoming friends with criminals… – Nobody is talking because no one wants to be the “bad guy”.
Government laws against the collection of “deve” can no longer be implemented thereby giving a field day to miscreants… -Nobody is talking because no one wants to be the “bad guy”.
Our bushes and farmland have been infiltrated and these people know our farm routes more than us, thereby promoting kidnapping… – nobody is talking because no one wants to be the “bad guy.”
I hope the “Bad guy” deputy Speaker gets all the necessary support to drive this course.
– Ajaino, writes from Abraka, Delta State
