IT is truly time for the evil ones to go with their evil and selfishness. And they must. From the top to the lowest ones in political power every where in this land. Thereafter the ablest and the most versatile and the most progressive and the most prosperous and the most opulence-conscious and the most masses-feeling and the most masses-concerned government in the annals of our country shall step forth at dawn. Soon the deceptive, cruel and corrupt ones masquerading as true civilian leaders shall push the masses and us all beyond the end of things.

And then evil will defeat itself. And then we shall win without struggling… against evil…. This is the key: to be victorious without struggling. But we need a true, able, selfless leader to win, a leader who “must see alone and know alone” what others do not see or know, and as directed by Heaven. He is Jehu…..

I am still in a state of special spiritual engagement. I am enjoying my delicious reverie and in a state of harmony with myself as I am seeing, reading and reciting some gospel on the mastery of emptiness and fullness necessary and fundamental to certain victory in all we put our minds on…Everything is extremely subtle and extremely mysterious to the point of my not seeming to know what is what. But gradually I am getting  understanding: Jehu is a man of mystery, a man of formlessness, a sage and a man of action, a banana man whose boundary will not welcome and tolerate the evil ones whose hearts will fail them in the attempts to cross it…     

Some immaculate journalists of yore and men of courage enter my banana reverie. Pius Agun, Dele Olowu, Ebenezer Abiodun Aloba, Neville Ukoli, Nelson Ottah  and Sunny Biaghere. The last four are already on the other side of the great divide where Yusuf Bala Usman is as well. Then Isaac Adaka Boro, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Alfred Rewane and Bola Ige, men of hearts of lions, who left our physical plane in circumstances that will continually underscore the cruelty, ruthlessness, deception and hypocrisy of Nigeria’s political and economic decisioners, ancient, new and modern, enter my consciousness soundlessly. In diverse ways, they embolden me as I engage in this art of truth.

These were men of courage and of truth who will never perish from our thoughts, for they fought well and lost well for our country. Yes, for those who fight well do not lose, and those who lose well do not perish. But their lives must teach us to win now without a contest…. with the evil ones. And there never can be a better time than now….     

My reverie is enjoying the banana I am sharing with it. Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe appear holding together a beak of diamond, which, however, has an embroidery of thorns. Lined behind these mighty personages are other remarkably grand and great Nigerian journalists and thinkers, as follows: Peter Pan, Sad Sam, Adamu Ciroma, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Allah Deh, Afe Babalola (SAN), and the younger ones: Eluem Emeka Izeze, Niyi Osundare, Ted Iwere, Odia Ofiemun, Ayo Olukotun, Adebayo Williams, Mohammed Haruna, Pat Utomi,  Suyi Ayodele, Taiwo Adisa, and some other ones whose miens are dim to the eyes of my spiritual and historical consciousness. The beak of diamond and thorns held out to the notice of my anxious consciousness echoes the idea of moral combat as a final recourse to the man of courage and of peace whose ideal of gaining victory without a sword elucidates and epitomizes the art of the unusual humanity of people of distinction who want the very best, and opulently so, for their fellow men - in perilous and benign times. Men of distinction such as, for example, the listed personages disallow the sprouting of hypocrisy and different kinds of evil in the climate and terrain of their land.

The moral power of men of super distinction such as Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Aminu Kano and our genuine spiritual and religious leaders manifests itself in the strength and popularity of their thoughts and visions devoid of vagrant claws and fangs of hopeless planning and wasteful actions. Jehu who is coming, whose time is here, is a banana man who possesses the qualities of qualities of leaders and men of profound distinction, known and unknown in our clime. He possesses the wherewithal to reverse whatever insurmountable odds there are in the land. For him the insult and rudeness of number that cows all everywhere about us is meaningless. He is unassailable in defence as well as in attack. Seeing him as I do in my reverie and noon-day of harmony of harmonies, I cannot but remember and recall the following immortal words of Zhuge Liang, a Chinese third century strategic thinker: “Those who are skilled in combat do not become angered, those who are skilled at winning do not become afraid. Thus the wise win before they fight, while the ignorant fight to win.” And then Psalm 125: 4 and 5 flow(s) into my heart: “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, /and to those who are upright in their hearts! /But those who turn aside upon their crooked ways/the Lord will lead away with evildoers!/ Peace be in Israel!”

As these words stream into my meditative consciousness I drift into a flowing river where I see Primate Olabayo and Obafemi Awolowo in two different canoes,  each alone, smiling the smile of victory. Then I see Jesus the Christ floating, standing, walking on the water of the river that is flowing noiselessly, but seeming to utter, in an audible whisper, “It is time…..” It is time to defeat the evil in the land without a combat. But before I return to full consciousness Psalm 144:1 and 2 echoe(s): “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, /who trains my hands for war, /and my fingers for battle;/ my rock and my fortress, /my stronghold and my deliverer, /my shield and he in whom I take refuge, /who subdues the peoples under him.” A profound paradox stares at me. But there is joy as I see Boko Haram fleeing from pillar to post in and outside Nigeria, as the decisioners scurry into rabbit holes with their tails, as rats, ruffled between their hind-legs. And I am still eating my banana now in my full state of wakefulness. It is time for the flight and fleeing, and rabbit-holing.

What a Ramadan season of banana joy! Allah agrees. And Jesus nods. Acknowledgements: Some readers whose soothing and harsh words help to add to my faith in the Lord and contribute to the stirring of the breeze of healthy truth in me as the present engagement winds to its finishing line cannot go unacknowledged: Professor Francis Egbokhare, Mrs. Kola Balogun, Lanre Oseni, Samson “the Samson” of 07033487283, Feyi Akeeb Kareem, Peter Gideon, Dan Ejodamen, Mr. Nasser, Kolapo Moses, Awojobi Oyekanni, Elder Kola Olabode (JP), Olufenyi Oniyide, Oluwasanjo Kolawole, Barrister Akin Omole and Hon. Abel Oshevire and the others, a hug of faith and truth to you all. But I must quote Hon. Abel Oshevire,  a PDP Delta State House of Assembly current legislator and ex-Governor Ibori’s Chief Press Secretary’s text in full: “(1) I don’t enjoy your write-ups because you are too pessimistic about Nigeria. I wonder why you don’t see anything good about the country, (2) I see you as an unpatriotic Nigerian who engages in destructive journalism, (3) You lack tact, diplomacy and wisdom in your discourse, (4) I want to assure you and all others who hold the same negative views that Nigeria will overcome the present challenges confronting her and grow to become the great country that God has destined her to be. No devil from the pit of hell can fight God’s word for Nigeria.

The country will grow from strength to strength to the shame of her detractors and, sooner than later, become a great country that will be the envy of other nations of the world, (5) I disagree with you and Primate Olabayo 100 per cent that President Jonathan will be disgraced out of office or that Nigeria will disintegrate. The President will complete his tenure in good health and successfully hand over to a successor by the grace of God. He might not be perfect because he is human, but he is part of God’s plan for Nigeria.

I repeat, he will complete his tenure peacefully and put Nigeria on the road to the next level, (6) Please be more hopeful and positive about our dear country because Nigeria holds the promise of becoming one of the best countries in the world in a couple of years from now, (7) God bless you as you work for the betterment of Nigeria.” Generous and Simple Response: Hon. Oshevire seems not to have the eyes and sensibilities of a banana man who can discern the true, honest and full import of celestial “It is time”. In truth, he is not and cannot be a banana man. But the true and final verdict must be surrendered to the wisdom, genius and appreciation of other readers. Concluded but next week you will be served  “Epilogue to ‘It is time.”

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