Ghanaians Should Be Greateful To J J Rawlings!

This is one of the most emotionally laden article which should be read with open mind, because what is good for someone might not be another man's cup of tea. Some things happen from generation to generation for a reason and do have heavy influence, or should I say permanent impacts in humans' endeavor that 'history' has no choice than to keep them in its bosom for posterity. Weather we like it or not, history shall continue to remind us of certain events in our lives that are too important to be left behind our collective memories.

For example, the skeleton of one of the British monarch King Richard III was discovered recently underneath a parking lot in Leicester, after more than five hundred years disappearance. Can you see what history can unearth? History will never allow you to forget some of the events that have left an indelible marks in the live mankind. Although this English king reigned for just over two years, but his place in history was securely preserved for more than half of a millennium, and all of a sudden resurfaced after 500 years. Oh history, how thou art our memories bank! The lesson of the above discovery was that as far as 'history' is concerned, the above 'almost forgotten King' was too important to be left at the bottom of the pit.

You can never talk about modern African 'history' without mentioning the likes of Dr. Kwameh Nkrumah, Thomas Sankara, Patriece Lumumba, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Shaka Zulu, Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and John Jerry Rawlings, amongst others. In fact, the mention of JJ Rawlings means something difference to different people. However, history has got a way of reminding us of who is who, and who does what at a certain point in life that impact the lives of people mankind. This enigmatic person, whether you like him or not has left a lot of indelible marks, (both positive and negative), in the lives of so many people after his tenure as Ghanaian President, for two decades. I think the former over shadowed the latter. However, people like us observing Ghanaians political development from afar with admiration would always pray to God to give us our own JJ Rawlings in Nigerian, hence my personal prayer for Nigeria below: "Oh Lord in heaven, give us this day, our own (Jerry Jeremiah John Rawlings), to wipe out all the evil doers, 419ners, yahoo yahoo boys, corruption politicians, ritual murderers, kidnappers, oil bunkerers, boko haram, selfish and corrupt leaders from Nigeria. And forgive us "Nigerians" all our terspasis. For thy is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, forever and ever Amen."

Who is this Ghanaians political Messiah JJ Rawlings?

He first appeared on the Ghanaian political scene on June 4, 1979. Then he came back on December 31, 1981 and restored Ghana into the path of total political and economic emancipation. Ghana could have become a basket case of Africa, but he averted an impending disaster in Ghana, by taking a drastic but effective actions of getting rid of some corrupt elements in Ghana political arena. Some say the story of Ghana is like the story of the biblical Moses and the Jews. It required a certain J.J Rawlings to play the role of the powerful Hebrew. It is a story of emancipation, bravery and patriotism.

A story of belief, national commitment, sacrifice, hard work and honesty to fellow citizens. Ft Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings Liberated Ghana from militarism, mis-governance, economic paralysis, hunger, and perpetual doom when he publicly all those who plunged Ghana into untold economic hardship. Today, Ghana is laughing loud and thankful to God for using JJ Rawlings to emancipate the country. Love him or hate him, his place in history is surely guaranteed. Have you ever been to any Nigerians gathering where a hot political debate always ended up to the calls for our own Jerry Rawlings in Nigeria? Have you ever listen to Nigerians discussions on radio, television and online? If you haven't then you are missing a lot. One thing that corrupts Nigerian leaders 'CANNOT' deprive Nigerians of is the rights to 'Freedom of Speech.' Oh yes, some leaders tried to 'gag us' but failed woefully.

For example, just recently when President Goodluck Jonathan, told the CNN's news ancour Amarpour in an interview that electricity is stable in Nigeria. CNN went to the street of Lagos to cite the opinions of the people. Trust my people in Nigeria, they did not hesitate to call a spade a spade. Some even went to the extend of saying President Jonathan was lying about electricity stability in Nigeria. You see, when it comes to Nigerians' views about the woes befalling our beloved Nation, Nigerians from both part of political divides always agrees amicably for the emergence of our own political Messiah, such as JJ Rawlings was to Ghanaians. Some of us that observed Ghanaians renaiseance political development from neutral vantage points always admires JJ Rawlings contributions to Ghanaians political development.

I am not saying that there's no corruptions in Ghana today, but the intervention of JJ Rawlings has reduced it to the lowest minimum in Ghana, compared to Nigeria where the 'almighty corruption' has now become a national pastime. Talking about 'gargantuan corruption,' 'some' Nigerians will not respect you if you embezzled just millions of Naira. Before you can be respected as 'oga at the top' in Nigeria, you must have embezzled billions upon billions of Naira, because 'some' people will just look down on you for getting yourself implicated in embezzlement of just few millions of dollars or Naira. Oh yes, billionaires rules the wave in Nigeria today, including some pastors. The so-called men of God who are not satisfy with some few millions Naira in their bank accounts until they acquires the latest Nigerians craze of 'billionaires status.' After all, you cannot maintain the latest status of 'Jet Owners' in Nigeria with just a few million Naira in your bank account. In fact, the way things are going on in Nigeria today if left unchecked, 'some' Nigerians being what they are, would starts pursuing the status of 'trillionaires.' Oh yes, I really mean trillionaires. You see, just a few years ago, if you say you a millionaire in Nigeria, people would respect you. But today, billionaires are well respected than millionaires in Nigeria, and it won't be too long before 'trillionaires' takes over the acolyte from today's billionaires in Nigeria. Have you ever heard the phrase: 'My generator pass yours?' That is what Nigerians mentalities is all about.

The Buhari/Idiaghon Administration

Nigeria briefly had something close to Ghana JJ Rawlings in the form of one General Tunde Idiagbon, from the administration of Major General Buhari, 1983 - 1984, inculcates DISCIPLINE into Nigerian society, but unfortunately, his legacy was cut short by the Administration of General Babangida, the most corrupt leader Nigeria ever had. He was the one that imposed the unenviable acolyte of the infamous "419" on the image of Nigerians. Things have fallen apart since the rogue self style General Babangida, imposed himself on Nigeria, and 'INSTITUTIONALIZED CORRUPTION, and the rest is history.

This is what one Dr. Saliba Daddy Mukoro, Ph.D, wrote about the duo in a paper titled: "Nigeria: Destined to be great" in October 31, 1999:

"This administration was equally dynamic with a strong resolve to do all that is good for Nigeria. With this good intention, they disregarded the need to treat civilian polity with soft and persuasive hands; instead they used the military strong hand. This caused a lot of furor which, however, would have settled down with time, if not for the unfortunate intervention of the Babangida Junta. Worse still, Babangida subsequently paved the way for Abacha to come on stage. This duo were directly responsible for what I call the Nigerian "Dark Age", and were both confirmations of the bible’s injunction that "the thief cometh not, but for to steal and to kill, and to destroy" (John Chapter 10, verse 10). The duos were, indeed, thieves. Let us now discuss the administrations of the duo." Saliba Daddy Mukoro Ph.D.

Can you see the reason why we need our own messiah like Ft Lieutenant John Jeremiah Jerry Rawlings, to help us do the house cleaning of rogues, corrupt politicians, destructive and anti progress elements from Nigeria political scene? Your guess is as good as mine.

Tony Oluwalogbo, Wisdom A Pan-Africanist: tonywisdom1@gmail.com