May your road be rough, was the type of admonition that the late Dr. Tai Solarin used to offer those he loved. But he was writing in figurative terms. Nowadays, such a figure of speech has become a literal reality. Our roads in Nigeria are indeed rough and, perhaps, worse. So, when last week, we focused on one of such roads, the famous East-West road leading to Bayelsa State, President Gooadluck Jonathan’s state, it was like stirring the hornet’s nest as the responses below indicate:
Oga Igwe, yes o! Thanks again for calling a spade by its right name. Indeed, there are many political appointment holders, playing the role of spoilers, pretending to help GEJ. There are equally bad advisers around the corridor of power whose god is their belly. Kalu doggedly challenged various ministers of works on same issue of bad roads, yet they developed cognitive closure to the plight of the masses. On a lighter mood, your truth will always be your shield; you are not one of the oppressors and you’ll not be mistaken as one. “One who eats Gbi will be the one to die Gbi”. So, long live Oga Igwe.
Monday Peter Iyara, 08033691236
Yes, my erudite brother, I’ve gone through your today’s very important essay on the much talked about East-West Road. But let’s spare the president. Many of us forget to take a very important matter, regarding this road into account, that the entire stretch of this road is on a marshy soil, that no matter the number of times this road is rebuilt, it will always sink in during the rainy season. My brother, help me tell the authorities, the construction firms, and whoever wants an intellectual advice that the only permanent solution to that road is to build it entirely under a deck, just like a concrete bridge. Let me bring your mind to notice that all the numerous bridges in Lagos, you very rarely see potholes in them? Why, because bridges are built on concrete deck and thus totally moisture-proof. For a lasting solution on that troublesome road, my candid and patriotic advice is for the entire East-West Road to be rebuilt on a concrete deck, which will look more like a bridge, in the same manner the Lagos end of Ibadan-Lagos Expressway was built, which ran almost up to a kilometre and which has for many years now stood the test of time. So, blame not the president. Blame the marshy state on those who designed the mode or method of the construction of that road. Once again, I hail your pure Queens English. I always admire you for it. Thank you.
Anthony Williams Offor, 07038327168
Dimga Igwe, The Fifth Columnist is a must read by our C-in C. Like the Yoruba would say, “you have lent him the money you have. It is for him to know how to spend it.”
Onyi Onwukanta, 08091944547
But Mr. President is trying now. If in doubt, ask (Reuben) Abati and (Doyin) Okupe, all from Ogun State. When other countries are planning nuclear power, our own leader and his aides are clapping for generation of 2650 megawatts of power for a country with a population of over 160 million people. In Nigeria today, Boko Haram is ruling in the North, Niger Delta militants are ruling in the East and GEJ is ruling in the FCT. Anything contrary to that expression is false. Thanks.
Mafe, A.J., 08098949479
Well Dimgba, if what you said about Bayelsa road is true, then say it again. Tell the president that it is urgent that he repairs that road because every president ought to make sure that the home front is good.
Chinedu, 08062720101
Honestly Pastor Igwe, I find it absolutely difficult to believe that President Goodluck Jonathan’s state is in such a deplorable condition, no wonder he so much loved our number one non-performing Governor T.A. Orji of Abia State. Na wah o!
Chief J.J. Ibeka, 07065773998
The Fifth Columnists in Jonathan government are PDP election riggers, the apostles of religion, tribal and ethnic brand of politics. They never believe that his performance is supposed to speak for him.
Okoroji, C.C., 08034053634
Mr. Dimgba, who shall we send to President Goodluck Jonathan? Who shall go and present “The Fifth Columnist” undiluted to him? But since you love him so much, you shall go for us, make sure Orubebe and Wike did not stop you. Even though Mr. President visits Bayelsa all the time, you and I know that he does not use any Nigerian road except in Abuja. Please, the very few of you that have not sold their conscience should continue to help him. May Boko Haram never be your portion, Kidnappers will see you and forget what plans they have for you and you shall live to see the Nigeria of your dream.
Kennedy Okwor, Nnewi, 08036681132
Dimgba, your Sideview on, “Lagos State On Al-Mustapha”, is apt. It is unfortunate that with each passing judgement handed down by our courts, the average lawyer in Nigeria gets more confused on the true import of justice. Is justice meant to destroy or repair the society? Where does this judgement leave us in appointment of criminal responsibility? How do the honourable justices of the Court of Appeal feel after the judgement? “Great”, I think.
Ken Obinatu Esq, Abuja.
Your write-up on the “Fifth Columnists?” was okay except that your view on the NGF issue does not quite fit in. In any case, it is an over-blown issue, exaggerated beyond its significance. Voting is just one of the several attributes or aspects of a modern democracy. Others include the political party, doctrine of the party supremacy, etc. The NGF is a multi-party platform of governors of the different political parties. Amaechi contested in spite of his party’s position that he should not contest and he contested against his party’s candidate for the NGF’s Chairman. On what basis would any right thinking person expect a political party (an institution with a pride of place in the country’s constitution), such as PDP, its national leader (President Jonathan), the party organs and leadership, loyal governors on the party’s platform, to recognise and accept such an unruly, undisciplined, disloyal person as NGF Chairman? Your advice to the man may thus be considered as self-serving and merely intended to ridicule the president. If the president was in the midst of the Rivers State Assembly crisis as you sought to portray, wouldn’t there also be fifth columnists on Amaechi’s side for you to advise Amaechi against his headlong and unheeding rush to collision with his party and maybe the president himself?
08073780695
Sir, your Sideview today is certainly a word for the wise.
08029475235
Dimgba, may God bless you for your guts. I always talk about President Goodluck Jonathan, he remains the laziest president Nigeria has ever produced. Even as a governor, what did he do?
08038742548
President Jonathan remains for now the only African leader that does not believe in disparity, inequality or sectionalism. Therefore, it will amount to a rebuke for the president to manicure the road, leading to his state while other Nigerian roads are short cuts to the grave.
07034491724
Thanks a lot for today’s write-up. GEJ should remember that you told him this because a stitch in time saves nine.
Chidi Ekwueme, 08066691732
Thanks for the article. Mallam Inua Abdulkadir is one of those, working with GEJ, parading unelected contraption as youth council members. SAD, SAD, SAD. Honestly.
08036141983
Greeting! Well, reading your writings, I think beyond “The Fifth Columnist?” Nigeria as a nation is now moving from civilian dictatorship to liberal democracy.
08036324173
Dear Sir, your article, The Fifth Columnist, is as usual thought-provoking. Well, I do hope that the president reads it and most importantly, utilise it. With this, the issue of had I known will not arise. Thank you.
Alh Momoh M.K. 08033568361
The Fifth Columnist? Dimgba Igwe you made my day. God bless you.
Lelia, PH. 07087616494
Your “Sideview” of Tuesday, 13 August, 2013, titled “The Fifth Columnist” was a study on the dangers sycophants and sycophancy pose before leaders. Your column (and that of Okey Ndibe) is the ‘altar’ of sorts where I ‘worship’ every Tuesday, I agree fully with you. I did a discourse on this vexed issue few years back. If it will interest you, I will send a copy to your mail box for your perusal and possible publication because I believe it will benefit our polity, especially now politics is our main dish. Keep up the good work. Best wishes.
Pharm Ezeadigwe, Wilson, 08033130279
Dear Dimgba, I read your write-up captioned ‘The Fifth Columnist’ in Daily Sun of August 13, 2013. To say it was a perfect one will be under statement rather it merited my continued confidence in you. Thanks a lot.
Chief Isiocha, Umuahia, 08050780636
Thank you my dear brother for the wonderful write-up of today. You got it spot on, only wish those concerned can read and learn the right lessons.
Nathan Egba, 08056545454
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