A Strange Thing From Nigeria

I know it is a little over two years since the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria came into office, but everybody will agree with me that Mr. Musa Yar’Adua has never bothered with the annoying thing that belittles the office of the president called press briefing.

So it was with shock and disbelief that State house correspondents trooped to Nigeria’s president’s residence called Aso Rock to hear the taciturn man out. The presidential villa was filled to the brim by the selected ones from numerous media houses in a country yearning for leadership.

To the consternation of everybody and all listening to this strange drama unfolding before their eyes, the President warily touched on several burning issues. The 11th day of May, 2009 would remain indelible in the minds of many as this new attribute of the President became clearer.

The electoral reforms and its sundry negating and confusing body language of its number one supporter (President) in the light of the fallout of the Ekiti State election re-run was something nobody could believe. He promised to see to its logical implementation when passed into law. He even told the world he has directed the various security agencies to investigate the allegation of electoral fraud and bribery in the Ekiti re-run.

Not done yet, he said something that would make everybody take him to be unserious. He vowed to deal ruthlessly with the petroleum mafia whom he accused of not fulfilling their part of the deregulation deal. Hmmm! As if that was not enough, mister president reiterated his firm resolve to let the laws of the nation go its full course in the long-going bribery case that involved the United State’s Halliburton and some Nigerians.

Believe you me, I’m not a cynic, but I’m all patiently waiting to be told I’m not in a strange land.