The young General is now an old man.

In life, it is believed that the only thing

that is permanent is change.

In 1983, PMB burst onto the scene, the Nigerian scene with the fire of patriotism.

He famously declared that we have no other country but Nigeria.

He gave politicians record jail terms but the head of them all, the President he allowed freedom.

How come? I thought the buck should stop on his table?

In spite of this, many of us saw in the young General, hope for a better Nigeria, where there will be no more stealing.

The young General, sent illegal aliens packing. It was a wrong move but we applauded because we were selfish and short sighted.

He said he will embark on trade by barter or counter trade and my secondary school Economics had consigned trade by barter to the Dustin of History.

I shuddered but still kept faith. We mouthed war against indiscipline. People learnt to queue and take turns. People refrained from littering streets. People learnt to use pedestrian bridges, those who failed were made to kneel down.

Then people started grumbling. He had a deputy, a Muslim, who never laughed. It was a Muslim Muslim ticket but nobody cares but it was insensitive.

Then they got kicked out by IBB, smiling with a Christian Igbo deputy. It was a move borne of populism. A smiling leader replacing an unsmiling duo.

One thing led to another. We missed the dethroned leader and his deputy. Corruption was growing in leaps and bounds. Our national currency was fast losing value.

Then IBB had to step aside. From Shonekan to the dark goggled General, who died in office.

Then Democracy happened and the young General presented himself severally without reaching out beyond his home zone. His people idolized him the rest of Nigeria kept to themselves.

Then BAT launched out and reached for the young General, who had aged with time.

Time heals all wounds. BAT had healed. The General had changed.

Who would have believed that the patriotic General would as civilian President be seeking medical rest abroad when we do not have any other country but Nigeria?

Who would have believed that the President who smiled when Nigeria was described as fantastically corrupt would appear powerless and clueless against corruption?

It could be his state of health. 

What is more precious than life? When Mutiu Adepoju the ex Nigerian Football player got married, inimitable Frank Olize joked on Newsline that it is a charade to claim to be ready to serve Nigeria with all our strength. Then the joke was lost on me but now, with PMB, I believe.