By: Femi Adesina
There is nothing new under the sun, goes a popular saying. In fact, the
more things seem to change, the more they appear the same. From time
immemorial, some people have spoken evil of leadership, cast aspersions on
them, and generally portrayed themselves as scum of the earth. No matter
how a country loves its leader, there will naturally be those that the
Good Book calls “filthy dreamers” who “despise dominion, and speak evil of
dignities.” That is why as spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I
never respond to such people. Their type would always be around.
President Buhari has been indisposed since the beginning of the year. It
is human, and presidents, despite their elevated status, remain human. If
there is anybody who considers himself 100 percent healthy, or who bears
what William Shakespeare calls “a charmed life,” let that person stand up
to be identified. All mortals are doomed to sickness, they can recover,
and they can die. That is the truth that has been internalized by millions
of people praying for the recovery of our President. And that is where the
shallowness, vacuousness, and hollowness of people who wish the President
dead, and carry unfounded rumors, is on stark display. Filthy dreamers.
They speak evil of dignities, and despise dominion. But we forgive them,
for they know not what they do. When President Buhari returns (as God
would make him do) where would they hide their faces? In shame.
Now, I started by saying we would always have scumbags around. It is
inevitable. They are the descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I
want to introduce to you now.
Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of the Good Book, and he bears
striking similitude to some people in our country today. The evil wishers,
the hate monger, and those who spend their days conjecturing tragedy for
leadership.
Absalom, the son of King David, had led an insurrection against his
father. And the king of Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow.
As David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy Bible records that
Shimei, the son of Gera, a man of the family of Saul, came out, and
started cursing the fleeing king. You don’t kick a man that is down, goes
a saying, but Shimei not only cursed David, he also threw dust and stones
at him. It was a show of shame.
David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And Shimei was from the family
of Saul (read, People’s Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn’t forgotten
the bloody nose the family of Saul got, when the kingship was taken away
from them, and given to David. So when the latter got into a time of
travail, no pity at all from people still smarting from bloody noses.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired by Muhammadu Buhari, halted
the 60-year pipe dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the latter
forgotten? No, they won’t forget till forever. But so much is the animus,
the antipathy towards the President that they wish him dead. While
millions of Nigerians are praying, some elements are rejoicing, and
imagining evil. But they forget: man is not God, and Jehovah always has
the final say. The descendants of Shimei need to learn vital lessons from
their forebear.
As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king, Abishai, one of David’s
mighty men, said:”Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me
go over and take off his head.”(2 Samuel, 16:9). But David restrained him,
saying if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not have done what he was
doing.
President Buhari has tolerated people who have called him all sorts of
names in the past two years. If he didn’t move against them directly, he
could have allowed many Abishais to move against them, “and take off their
heads.” But not our President, a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has
resolved to leave the people suffused by hatred unto God. And will they
get their just desserts one day? As night follows the day, they will. If
not from man, they will get it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He
reaped what he sowed.
After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom was crushed by loyal troops,
and David regained the throne. As he headed back into the city, who came
to meet the king, with one thousand of his relatives, pleading for mercy?
Shimei. The Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used to abuse the
gods, is what it uses to lick the dusts of the earth. Shimei had suddenly
become gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before David, and said:”I
have sinned. Have mercy on me. Don’t remember what I did against you on
the day you went out of Jerusalem.”
Heh, on a certain day, some people would come to prostrate, begging for
mercy, asking President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will the
President do? What did David do? Abishai said again to King David:”Let me
bring down the head of this man, who cursed, and threw stones at you?”
But David said to Shimei:”Thou shall not surely die.” And the king swore
unto him.
But did Shimei live happily ever after? Old sins, they say, have long
shadows. Before David died, he instructed Solomon his son, who succeeded
him, not to forget to deal with Shimei. At least, David had kept his part
of the bargain not to kill Shimei.
What did Solomon do? He restricted Shimei to Jerusalem, adding that any
day he went out of the city would be his last on earth. Days, weeks, and
months went by. Shimei remained gentle. But on a certain day, two servants
belonging to him ran away to Gath, another city. Shimei saddled his
horses, and led his men to bring back the servants. He had received mercy
from David, but he couldn’t show mercy to the servants. Mercy begets
mercy.
The story was told to Solomon. Shimei has left Jerusalem. He went to Gath,
contrary to your instructions. It was time for judgment. Solomon commanded
that what Abishai had long wanted to do should be done to Shimei. And his
head was brought down.
Will the descendants of Shimei repent, turn a new leaf, and become human?
Will they recognize their own mortality? He that is unjust, let him be
unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. He that is
overtaken by hate, let him remain hateful still. Behold, I come quickly,
and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall
be.
Let the descendants of Shimei who have ears to hear please hear. There is
recompense for evil, and there is also recompense for good.
Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari