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Femi Adesina, asked Nigerians wishing ailing President Buhari death, to remember that they would reap what they sow - 91adey
In a new article he posted on social media titled "PMB and the
Descendants of Shimei", Senior Special Adviser to President Buhari on
Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, asked Nigerians wishing ailing
President Buhari death, to remember that they would reap what they sow.
Read the article below
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
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