UNFRIENDING FESTUS IT is with a weighty conscience that I write an open letter to my dear friend; (now formerly very dear), a person who I have believed in, as one of those progressives who does look beyond barriers, divides or differences, in whichever form; For the sake of unity and progress. It is with a sadness in my perspectives that hold him in high esteem as one of the best among equals. I would unfailingly tag Ekpen Festus on every write up I put up, and we would have great discourse with spicy intellectual content. In recent times, probably in the last one year, my efforts at tagging Festus always flopped and I was bewildered as to what was amiss. Little did I know that you had unfriended me and was having a swell time, mindlessly posting disturbing views and positions on national issues. You know I would have taken you up on each and every claim or allegation or venomous post you put up, don’t you Festus? You actually broke my heart my brother my friend; Festus! In spite of our struggles together especially for the survival of the UniAbuja Alumni? Are our successes and challenges which we are very proud of all in vain? What of our vision for the future of the association and for the University community at large? How do we proceed when you don’t want to be my friend anymore? I was further taken aback brother Festus when I visited your wall as my ‘former friend’ and found really uncharitable and disheartening posts on your wall regarding the killing of the Emir of Gwoza and the abduction of his colleagues as they journeyed to condole the Gombe Emirate Council over the loss of yet another Emir; that of Gombe who died in the hospital a few days ago (may his soul rest in peace amen). You were lamenting that “when Christians get killed, it is okay; but when muslims get killed, there is an uproar! You went further to state that the muslims should taste it too! That they should taste it too! That was so un-UniAbuja of you! Not the gwags I went to, where we were all Nigerians and the majority of the students that voted for me as Gamji President were Christians! We were and still are unified in our interactions and endeavours. (See my piece titled “for the love of alheri”). Your outburst is shocking, pitiful and embarrassing. For me, your post endorsing the murder of the Gwoza Chief is what broke the camels back, and I probably have a better understanding of why you unfriended me in the first place. Could it be that you did not want your friends like me to see such posts and comments you put up on your wall? Why are you a vessel for spreading ethnic hatred and religious antagonism all of a sudden? I thought we came from a school of tolerance, peace and unity? I ask you; is it not the spirit of brotherhood and unity, across religious and ethnic divide that got Hon Abdulmunin Jibrin to support you with your struggle against the breakway congress of the Uniabuja alumni? Is it not the doctrine of understanding and camaraderie that got Hon Jibrin to go against a greater number of his friends in the breakaway congress who happen to be northerners and muslims as well? We need to be objective brother festus and control our passions and emotions when it comes to sensitive matters like the Gwoza killings and other related incidences and I must say that a thorough perusal of your wall on facebook has shown how bigoted you are and that is simpy unfortunate for us; that believed so much in your potential and ability to lead and to set shining examples. We are your friends and brothers Festus, but your utterances beg for our review or understanding of either the nature of our relationship, or your true personality. Politically, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion and that opinion has attendant maturity and understanding which GPS’s you to a position of accepting that one must allow or let others to have their own voices too. To your chagrin, your wall is filled with apocryphal postings that alienate ‘us’ your buddies and good friends. I swear to you by Allah that I wept bitterly as I wrote you this letter, having unfriended me for what sin I still do not know. I weep for my country and suffer great anguish from what it is turning my friends into; strangers! If there is any consolation, I am happy that Agi Jerome and Co have called upon me to once again render my selfless service to the success of the Alumni which we are already making a headway with; counting on the support of Prince, Ofili etc. who are doing a wonderful mobilisation job. I am glad that Rafat, Habib and Co of the ‘new congress’ have called upon me as one they have confidence in, as a builder of walls and mender of fences. I find content in the mere knowledge that; should I call upon Hon Abdulmumin to support our Alumni activities, he will be there. Just as you have unfriended me on Facebook uncle Festus; by this letter I hereby unfriend you as well. I pray that if any of us is wrong or lost in his ways, may God grant us quick and true redemption; amen. It would be honourable if you could retract your post and hopefully apologise to your friends and perhaps your employers and co-workers too, we are a united Nigeria as far as our generation is concerned.
Posted on: Mon, 02 Jun 2014 08:19:26 +0000
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