In a fiery defiance, Calculate begs Fintiri to immediately demolish his fated house
• Says he is ready to take the bullet for democratic freedom
In a fiery and defiant pushback, Umar Bello Jada, aka Calculate, Adamawa’s frontline political strategist has called on governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri not to waste time in demolishing his house which has been marked for destruction.
In an interview with newsmen, Calculate said he has no illusion about the prospects and negative consequences of fighting for peoples liberation and democratic freedom adding that he is ready to take the bullet for democratic liberation.
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He said when he started these struggles he had settled for all forms of persecutions including imprisonment, rights violations and even death saying that “I”m ready to take any of these nasty outcomes in good faith.”
Excerpts:
Adamawa State government has advanced public interest as the reason for marking out your house for demolition noting that in the wake of upsurge of cholera and other diseases, it has decided to convert your house to refuse depot. Don’t you think the reason behind the government’s action is altruistic?
This is the most nonsensical reason any government could advance for taking such a weighty action that could jeopardize the lives and livelihood of citizens. By advancing this as its reason, the government has portrayed itself as unserious and irresponsible. It has shown that political expediency and governor’s whims are superior to public interest, peace and harmony. And it shows that it could take actions for immediate political gains without thinking of the future backlash and consequences. Such drift is too bad and dangerous for the state.
I urge you to check Nigeria’s constitution or speak to any constitutional lawyer on the matter and he will tell you no where in the constitution a government derives the powers to demolish an existing residential abode to give way for refuse dump. The action is rash, childish, impulsive, vindictive and a pointer to the fact that the government is out there to punish me for being its vocal critique which is a fundamental right given to me by democracy.
If the government wants to use my house to construct hospital, road, school or any facility that will be of public good, I would have been happy. And even in doing so, the government has a responsibility in paying compensation to me. But telling the public that you will destroy a multi-billion naira property and turn it to a refuse dump is the most bland and irresponsible policy any government could take.
And even the reason advanced for the action is trite. Because of the strategic location of my house which is a close, the house was sandwiched by no less that five other houses left, right and center including an estate where about 12 families are staying. How can any reasonable government who said it wants to address cholera cite refuse depot in the middle of several households? And in our neighborhood which is one of the most cosmopolitan areas in Yola, cholera is a non issue. But the new action will not only introduce cholera but other undesirable diseases to the area. You will soon start hearing a new song from the people as a result of the action.
If the governor is not ready to abide by the dictates of democracy which gave me the ample rights to ventilate my concerns, grievances and to freely associate with people based on my convictions, then he should leave the hallowed corridors of democracy lest he not foul the space.
In time immemorial, this is the first time an elected governor in Adamawa is going gaga, exploiting the executive powers the people freely gave him in pursuance of insidious, destructive goals and personal vendetta. This will not augur well for our democracy.
What action are you considering to challenge this decision since you said it was illegal?
In the first instance, the illegality was taken as I said in pursuance of personal vendetta so that the governor could make life difficult for me and my family or to intimidate me into abandoning this noble cause of championing democratic rights of my people. And that is where the government erred. Let me tell you I’m an inveterate and pathological democrat. I’m and old war horse who has been in the trenches for 37 years now and an unabashed lover of my democracy. Democracy is in my DNA, so telling me to stop adhering to democratic principles of advocacy or championing the rights of my people is akin to a death sentence on me. That is why when I decided to trade this narrow and honorable path, I know of the debilitating consequences I would face and I’m ready and most willing to pass through any form of loathing and persecution from the executive for this noble cause.
Democratic history is replete with the sacrifices of many heroes because democracy cannot thrive in the absence of opposition and critique. And on the basis of this I’m ready to make the supreme sacrifice with my life to show the world that I’m a true democrat. When I began this crusade, I envisaged to run through difficulties including the kind of challenges I’m facing now, imprisonment, assault or even the prospects of death which I’m ready to face.
What do you think are the portents of this latest action by Adamawa government?
The portents are dicey and dangerous. It will in the future lead to chain of actions and reactions that will make life brutish for many people. Fintiri’s administration is winding and based on the pulse of the moment, the chances of PDP or Fintiri bringing a successor is infinitesimal. So if they made example of me, the progenitors of this senseless and draconian measure should be rest assured that their houses will turn to refuse depots in the near future. And let no one should accuse anyone of witch-hunting or foul play when it is time for pay back.
People who are blinded by hatred and vengeance always forget history and that is why they take rash and impulsive actions that will lead them to eternal regret. Similar scenario has played out in Kano State recently when Ganduje started demolishing properties belonging to Kwankwaso and his supporters thinking that he will remain in government forever. What happened later should serve as a lesson for any power drunk leader who want to ply that inglorious route because despite the power of incumbency and the support of the federal government, Ganduje was woefully trounced at the election and the succeeding government also paid Ganduje in the same coin. If not for the cover of the federal government, I’m sure Ganduje will be in prison for the many sins he committed.
The other example I want to give happened right here in Adamawa between former governor Boni Haruna and Sen Abubakar Girei. Boni has once used his executive powers to stop Girei from contesting sensorial seat because of his audacity to contest the governorship seat against him. As karma would have it, Boni also tasted the same pill when Fintiri who was virtually a nobody when Boni was a governor recently barred him from contesting senatorial seat. It is therefore important for those planting the seed of discord to know that there is a pay back time which is real and sacrosanct.
