By: Femi Adesina<\/p>\n
There is nothing new under the sun, goes a popular saying. In fact, the
\nmore things seem to change, the more they appear the same. From time
\nimmemorial, some people have spoken evil of leadership, cast aspersions on
\nthem, and generally portrayed themselves as scum of the earth. No matter
\nhow a country loves its leader, there will naturally be those that the
\nGood Book calls “filthy dreamers” who “despise dominion, and speak evil of
\ndignities.” That is why as spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, I
\nnever respond to such people. Their type would always be around.<\/p>\n
President Buhari has been indisposed since the beginning of the year. It
\nis human, and presidents, despite their elevated status, remain human. If
\nthere is anybody who considers himself 100 percent healthy, or who bears
\nwhat William Shakespeare calls “a charmed life,” let that person stand up
\nto be identified. All mortals are doomed to sickness, they can recover,
\nand they can die. That is the truth that has been internalized by millions
\nof people praying for the recovery of our President. And that is where the
\nshallowness, vacuousness, and hollowness of people who wish the President
\ndead, and carry unfounded rumors, is on stark display. Filthy dreamers.
\nThey speak evil of dignities, and despise dominion. But we forgive them,
\nfor they know not what they do. When President Buhari returns (as God
\nwould make him do) where would they hide their faces? In shame.<\/p>\n
Now, I started by saying we would always have scumbags around. It is
\ninevitable. They are the descendants of Shimei, the son of Gera, whom I
\nwant to introduce to you now.<\/p>\n
Who is Shimei? Well, I met him on the pages of the Good Book, and he bears
\nstriking similitude to some people in our country today. The evil wishers,
\nthe hate monger, and those who spend their days conjecturing tragedy for
\nleadership.<\/p>\n
Absalom, the son of King David, had led an insurrection against his
\nfather. And the king of Israel fled, with some of his supporters in tow.
\nAs David got to a place called Bahurim, the Holy Bible records that
\nShimei, the son of Gera, a man of the family of Saul, came out, and
\nstarted cursing the fleeing king. You don’t kick a man that is down, goes
\na saying, but Shimei not only cursed David, he also threw dust and stones
\nat him. It was a show of shame.<\/p>\n
David had succeeded Saul as king of Israel. And Shimei was from the family
\nof Saul (read, People’s Democratic Party, PDP). Shimei hadn’t forgotten
\nthe bloody nose the family of Saul got, when the kingship was taken away
\nfrom them, and given to David. So when the latter got into a time of
\ntravail, no pity at all from people still smarting from bloody noses.<\/p>\n
The All Progressives Congress (APC), inspired by Muhammadu Buhari, halted
\nthe 60-year pipe dream of PDP at the polls in 2015. Has the latter
\nforgotten? No, they won’t forget till\u00a0 forever. But so much is the animus,
\nthe antipathy towards the President that they wish him dead. While
\nmillions of Nigerians are praying, some elements are rejoicing, and
\nimagining evil. But they forget: man is not God, and Jehovah always has
\nthe final say. The descendants of Shimei need to learn vital lessons from
\ntheir forebear.<\/p>\n
As the base fellow assaulted the fleeing king, Abishai, one of David’s
\nmighty men, said:”Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me
\ngo over and take off his head.”(2 Samuel, 16:9). But David restrained him,
\nsaying if God had not permitted Shimei, he could not have done what he was
\ndoing.<\/p>\n
President Buhari has tolerated people who have called him all sorts of
\nnames in the past two years. If he didn’t move against them directly, he
\ncould have allowed many Abishais to move against them, “and take off their
\nheads.” But not our President, a reformed democrat, a pious man, who has
\nresolved to leave the people suffused by hatred unto God. And will they
\nget their just desserts one day? As night follows the day, they will. If
\nnot from man, they will get it from God. Their forefather, Shimei did. He
\nreaped what he sowed.<\/p>\n
After some time, the rebellion led by Absalom was crushed by loyal troops,
\nand David regained the throne. As he headed back into the city, who came
\nto meet the king, with one thousand of his relatives, pleading for mercy?
\nShimei. The Yorubas say the same mouth that the snail used to abuse the
\ngods, is what it uses to lick the dusts of the earth. Shimei had suddenly
\nbecome gentle. And humble, too. He fell down before David, and said:”I
\nhave sinned. Have mercy on me. Don’t remember what I did against you on
\nthe day you went out of Jerusalem.”<\/p>\n
Heh, on a certain day, some people would come to prostrate, begging for
\nmercy, asking President Buhari to forgive and forget. What will the
\nPresident do? What did David do? Abishai said again to King David:”Let me
\nbring down the head of this man, who cursed, and threw stones at you?”<\/p>\n
But David said to Shimei:”Thou shall not surely die.” And the king swore
\nunto him.<\/p>\n
But did Shimei live happily ever after? Old sins, they say, have long
\nshadows. Before David died, he instructed Solomon his son, who succeeded
\nhim, not to forget to deal with Shimei. At least, David had kept his part
\nof the bargain not to kill Shimei.<\/p>\n
What did Solomon do? He restricted Shimei to Jerusalem, adding that any
\nday he went out of the city would be his last on earth. Days, weeks, and
\nmonths went by. Shimei remained gentle. But on a certain day, two servants
\nbelonging to him ran away to Gath, another city. Shimei saddled his
\nhorses, and led his men to bring back the servants. He had received mercy
\nfrom David, but he couldn’t show mercy to the servants. Mercy begets
\nmercy.<\/p>\n
The story was told to Solomon. Shimei has left Jerusalem. He went to Gath,
\ncontrary to your instructions. It was time for judgment. Solomon commanded
\nthat what Abishai had long wanted to do should be done to Shimei. And his
\nhead was brought down.<\/p>\n
Will the descendants of Shimei repent, turn a new leaf, and become human?
\nWill they recognize their own mortality? He that is unjust, let him be
\nunjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. He that is
\novertaken by hate, let him remain hateful still. Behold, I come quickly,
\nand my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall
\nbe.<\/p>\n
Let the descendants of Shimei who have ears to hear please hear. There is
\nrecompense for evil, and there is also recompense for good.<\/p>\n
Adesina is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Buhari<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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