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
