*Declares life in country now nasty, brutish and short
Chuks Okocha in Maiduguri
Renowned economist and former Chairman/CEO of FSB International Bank PLC, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, yesterday, joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during which he lamented that Nigeria was headed in wrong direction.
Hayatudeen, who claimed his decision to sign up for the PDP was after reviewing her deteriorating economic and security situation, said the PDP has shown to be different in many ways, despite its shortcomings and would rather be with the main opposition party.
The banker-turned politician was thereafter handed over a new PDP membership card by the state chairman of the party in Borno State, Alhaji Zanna Mustapha, in the presence of other members of the PDP State executive council and a large crowd.
Addressing a large crowd of supporters after revalidating his PDP membership, Hayatudeen said, “It is there for all to see that the nation is headed in the wrong direction. The signs of decay have been looming on the horizon for quite sometime.
“But, how do we ever expect change to happen if we, as citizens, do not effectively participate in the political process, demand results from leaders and hold them accountable.
“It, therefore, goes without saying that such a desired change can only happen if we significantly expand citizens participation in democratic and political institutions by taking concerted action to deepen and enrich the pool of political practitioners.”
According to him, “The economy and the society have literally been in free fall as we have been witnesses to the sharp and rapid unraveling of our way of life, our dignity and self-worth as a people and our time-honoured institutions.”
The former banker lamented that, “despite the abundant blessings bestowed on this beautiful land by Almighty God, something as basic as putting bread and butter on the table is a daily struggle for the majority of Nigerian families.
“For a great number of our fellow citizens, getting clothed and having a roof over their heads is a utopian dream. And collectively, for all of us as citizens , we can no longer feel safe or secure in our homes, streets or highways
“It is common knowledge that having unfettered access to basic social amenities such as portable water, good sanitary conditions, stable and reliable electricity, good motorable roads, decent and affordable public transportation systems, quality education and healthcare, social safety nets to protect the weak and the downtrodden – all of which have been taken for granted for centuries in other climes, have so far eluded the Nigerian people. In short, for the greater number of our fellow citizens, life is “nasty, brutish and short” as Thomas Hobbes put it crisply.
“Our sacred national anthem, which is the glue that binds us as one nation is observed more in the breach than in practice as we see the foundations of our union come under severe stresses and strains. But by far the most perplexing and egregious issue of the moment is the carnage being unleashed on citizens by connoisseurs of violence and terror allover our peace-loving and God-fearing communities.
“Not by the wildest stretch of the imagination did I ever conceive of the nation being bathed by such vast oceans of blood of innocent men, women and children in tandem with the displacement of entire communities.”
He lamented that vast sections of the country have been torched up by bandits and terrorists, who are hell bent on extracting more than their fair share through the back door what they believe should legitimately accrue to them through the front door based on their expectations of dividends of democracy.
His words: “I have thought long and hard about the calamity that has befallen our dear country and identified many factors that are responsible for this grim state of affairs. One of them is the glaring absence of citizens action and participation in the political affairs of the nation.
“Many of us are simply complacent and just happy to go about seeking our daily bread and not bothering to take an active interest in how we are governed and administered”, adding, “Therefore, after a profound and deep reflection, I have decided to put my lot with the Peoples Democratic Party by getting on board as a member of the Party.”
Explaining why he joined the main opposition party, he said, “In the last several months, the evidence on the ground would seem to suggest that PDP has pulled its act together based on the disciplined and seamless manner it conducted elections for various party offices and organs, the heavy emphasis it has placed on merit in the election of the leadership of the party and the mature and methodical manner in which it has proceeded to conduct its affairs since the election”.
Although he said much was still expected of the PDP, the manner the Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) was elected gave him hope that it was the party to be, explaining also that he had implicit confidence in Ayu, who was his classmate.
“I will, therefore, give it my all and strive to place matters pertaining to the economic well-being of the Nigerian people as well as the burning issues of insecurity afflicting our communities all over the country at the center of the party platform.
“For all of the above reasons and much more, I give my solemn pledge that I will donate the full measure of my energy and devotion as a member to advance the interests of the party, my beloved community and the country,” he said.
