This Land of Magic By Adesina Ogunlana

Vol.13, No.9  18-03-13

There was a land once said to be “full of milk and honey.” Another country is acclaimed as “God’s own country”. There is this other clime called “Sambaland.” Yet we know of a country reputed to be the “no man’s land.” Of course, every informed person knows which country is dubbed the “tax evader’s haven.”

Nigeria, our own and only “dear mother land” has so many pet names and cognomens. We have “wazobia land” “naija”. Some call it a “mad country ruled by the mad and for the mad.”

Another popular but obviously unmerited description of Nigeria is “giant of Africa.” Less indulgent appraisers dub it “sleeping giant” while some thoroughly vexed citizens label Nigeria “a failed state” or curse it as a “big for nothing.”

However, I see Nigeria nothing more than a land of magic. What other names do you call magic- Hocus pocus? Abracadabra? Necromancy? Voodoo?

One obvious character of magic is to mock logic, defy reality and perplex reason. Hence, the truism of the saying “The more you look, the less you see.”

There is plenty of magic in “Obodo Naija” and not only is it that that the more you look, the less you see, it is that the more you see, the less you know. We have magic everywhere. Honest. There is magic in the homes. (How else does a peasant wife feed a household of seven on a budget of only three hundred naira, or less daily)?

There is magic on the streets. Magic in the market places, offices etc. There is magic in ‘worship’ places particularly in the churches, mosques, tabernacles and temples. There is magic not only in our sports (that’s the only reason Keshi and his Boys came home with the African Cup).

On top of all this magic is the magic in government places. Plenty of it in all the three arms of government. In the courts, ‘magic dey.’ Well, well (how else did Rotimi Amaechi become Governor of Rivers State in 2007 even when he was never a candidate in the gubernatorial election)? In the parliament (State and Federal levels) the law makers wine and dine by magic. They pass laws magically, (please read profitably). They screen ministers for appointment magically (please read commercially). They perform over-sight functions magically (please read lucratively).

Now the ‘baba’ of them all the ‘Executive’ arm. In Nigeria, the executive arm of government surpasses the other arms in impressive and mind boggling magic. The exco is the very magic in itself. When the executive arm of government acts, you see magic in motion. Pure magic. Breath taking, extra-ordinary magic.

Just some days ago the Federal Government in a magical display of clemency gave pardon to Diepreye Alamasiegha, a gargantuan looter of public funds and transformed a felon who would have rotted to death in jail in saner lands to a snow white gentleman with no blemish at all.

It was a magical move that caught observers napping as usual. The magical transformation of Alams has, as you will sooner than later realize, just started. The man will very soon become a senator, then President of the land.

My only consolation in all these magical developments and displays is that change, positive change can happen to and in Nigeria. Don’t forget that Nigeria is one place where ANYTHING can happen. And that includes REVOLUTION, SOCIAL REVOLUTION, BLOODY SOCIAL REVOLUTION where the heads of pardoners, pardonees and sundry magicians will roll on the ground soaked with their blood. This can happen. In Nigeria. Magically Believe me.