By Donu Kobara
I RECENTLY saw a wonderful photograph that really cheered me up in a week that has been full of sadness and tears.
It depicted the 21 freed Chibok Girls dancing at a special thanksgiving service in Abuja. They were smiling joyfully and looked absolutely beautiful – vibrant young ladies with many years ahead of them – in their colourful new clothes.
One of them called Gloria Dame, who spoke on behalf of her fellow abductees, told reporters that they were deprived of food for 40 days in the bush at one juncture.
Only God knows what other hellish torments they went through at the hands of brutish, heartless Boko Haram terrorists masquerading as Islamic warriors.
Now, after fearing that they would never escape from their crushing ordeal and after giving up hope and assuming that they would wind up dying in captivity, their wildest dreams have come true and they have been reunited with their families.
They were powerless prisoners for over two-and-a-half years, which probably feels like a millennium when there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel.
I have been very critical of President Muhammadu Buhari of late, for various (good!) reasons. But I must doff my cap to him for this tremendous triumph.
He has proved wrong the many sceptics who said the Chibok Girls were gone for good. He has also salvaged, to some extent, the Nigerian government’s reputation.
The Chibok debacle became a global cause celebre and excruciating embarrassment as myriad dignitaries – including Michelle Obama – and millions of concerned individuals from practically every country on earth expressed utter shock and disbelief that our government could not find a way to “Bring Back Our Girls”.
I attended a multinational “Bring Back Our Girls” demonstration outside the Nigerian High Commission in London and discussed the matter on an international TV channel and in numerous private gatherings; and I can’t tell you how many foreigners pointedly asked me how it was possible for any government to be so inept that it was incapable of finding and rescuing over 200 schoolchildren.
“Boko Haram kidnapped a CROWD, Donu, not a handful of kids who can easily be hidden away in a remote building somewhere,” said one French media colleague, shaking her head incredulously. And I was so ashamed and didn’t know what to say. I am so glad that Mr. President has shown such scornful onlookers that the Nigerian government can be effective. Negotiations with the abductors are ongoing. Fingers crossed that those of Our Girls who are still suffering all manner of traumas and humiliations in anguished bondage will soon be liberated.
A harmless presidential gaffe
TWO weeks ago, I wrote about the feisty First Lady, Aisha Buhari, who had the guts to publicly question her husband for neglecting folks who campaigned and voted for him in favour of cronies who, in her opinion, do not deserve patronage.
I am now one of Mrs. Buhari’s greatest fans and cheerleaders. I barely noticed Madame before but am now totally fascinated by – and supportive of – her because I have a penchant for brave women who refuse to silently tolerate nonsense. And I do not agree with those who are trying to cast aspersions on her motives. I reckon that she told the truth because she felt that the truth needed to be told.
Super-cool modern outfit
She must have tried to approach Oga privately, to share thoughts that would help him become more popular and more productive. But husbands – especially elderly former army generals! – can be annoyingly stubborn. And he obviously didn’t listen.
Anyway, if I had been Madame’s Media Adviser, I would have advised her to keep her mouth shut for reasons relating to diplomacy. But I’m not her Media Adviser, so I’m thrilled that she spoke up. I’m also very pleased that she recently appeared in a snazzy, super-cool modern outfit – black trousers and an exotic designer cape.
Having said all this, I think that people have overreacted to Mr President’s response when he was asked what he thought of his wife’s verbal rebellion.
He said that he didn’t know what political party she belonged to and only knew that she belonged to his living room, kitchen and “other room”. OK, so he shouldn’t have made such a facetious and sexist comment, especially not in front of a formidable female Head Of State – German Chancellor, Angela Merkel (whom I also adore).
But he’s over 70, an African patriarch and a Muslim to boot. And he was only voicing an insensitive male chauvinist view that is typical of his generation and culture. And he DID utter this admittedly gauche gaffe light-heartedly.
So can his outraged critics please calm down and stop carrying on as if the man is dangerous misogynist who has committed a heinous crime against humanity?!
Still on a tragic loss
MANY thanks to the many Vanguard readers who’ve kindly contacted me in the past few days to warmly respond to my grief-stricken tribute to my friend and brother, Ken Saro-Wiwa Junior, who prematurely passed away last week, aged only 47.
I was deeply touched by the fact that many of you described his demise as a great loss, not just to those who knew him personally and loved him dearly, but to the Niger Delta and Ogoniland. He was indeed a major asset to his tribe and region.
Ken Junior also happened to be a respected citizen of Nigeria and the world at large. I have received countless calls, emails and Facebook messages from people, many foreigners included, who encountered him in Abuja, Lagos, Europe, North America and other locations and held him in extremely high esteem and affection.Last Friday, his English buddy, William Wallis, the distinguished Financial Times newspaper journalist and Africa expert, organised a dinner in Junior’s honour at a nice restaurant in London. And a large crowd of Junior’s UK-based chums showed up to console each other and share fond memories. It was quite an occasion.
It delights me that so many of you are joining me in praying that Junior’s wife, mum, sons, siblings and other relatives find the strength to bear their tragic loss.
I am grateful that so many of you are joining me in praying that Junior rests in perfect peace, with his late father, Ken Senior, and in the bosom of the Almighty.
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