Why Lie If You Can Dramatise? By George Makeri

Today at Liberty Radio Kaduna around 1100hrs, an unusual drama unfolded. When Manasseh Istifanus, the APC Director of Media and Publicity, heard he was up against the Doctor John Danfulani in the Jaqueline Adebija Round Table Discussion, he knew he didn't stand a chance, so he took the easiest way out - he turned tail and ran. I would have done same if I were him.


In Manessah's blame game, he claimed the organisers were not fair to him; stressing that the moderator of the program, Jaqueline Adebija did not inform him, prior to the program, that it was going to be a round table discussion. He accepted that Doctor John was better armed, but blamed the organisers for arming the doctor before his arrival, in a pre-discussion, in order to rubbish his personality - claiming that he reached this conclusions from Jaqueline's pretence of not knowing the doctor, who was a regular visitor, prior to today's sitting. He concluded that he knew the doctor as a lecturer and not a PDP spokesman and could not see why he should engage the doctor in his capacity as Director of Media and Publicity for APC except in his capacity as an individual.  

On getting wind of Manessah's claims above, the round table moderator, Jaqueline Adebija, gave very shocking revelations. Revelations that exposed Manessah's refusal to step into the ring with the doctor, on the premises that the doctor knows alot and any engagement could cost Manessah his job. She also revealed of how Manessah threatened to destroy studio equipments, given that he could get emotional, if she didn't let him go. She debunked most of Manessah's claims on poor notification and information and claimed the GSM service providers and CCTV cameras were there to authenticate her claims. She concluded on three notes:

1. She was a journalist, not a politician with interest on only what would benefit Nigeria, thus did not fancy being included in mud slinging and lying.

2. Liberty Radio remained the voice of the people and would never be used as a propaganda machine as Manessah put it.    

3. Manessah pleaded to be freed so as not to jeopardise his job and she listened, thus Manessah should have reciprocated the gesture in not trying to jeopardise hers too.

Adebija threatened to include the NUJ and one other body into the matter if need be.

As someone who has honoured the round table discussions many times in the past, I knew immediately that Manessah was very uncharitable with his allegations, thus I put up this update on my Facebook wall earlier:

"He didn't know it was a round table discussion eh? And some other persons must take the blame for his ignorance not him - as if we don't know how notorious the APC as a party is with blame games; very irresponsible persons peopled that party. They are never responsible enough to take responsibility for their irresponsibilities. What has always been the name of the Adebija programme? Who stopped him from asking questions? Besides, a good and true soldier is always ready - always ready for whatever; so tell that APC loser to SHUT THE HELL UP. He ran away with his tail between his legs simple. So he should stop acting like an 'actor' when we all know he is a badly beaten 'boss' in this movie."

I thought Manessah Istifanus was assuming and getting it wrong, I didn't know he was telling a barefaced lie until I read Jaqueline's claims.

In every clash between facts and falsehood, falsehood may always have a field day only to eventually bow to facts. However, the point of penning this piece down is based on the uncharitable things Manessah Istifanus wrote against Jaqueline Adebija and Liberty radio in defence of his understandable cowardice. There is nothing wrong in being a coward when you know you stand no chance. In fact, it is only foolishness that will lead the cockroach to brag in front of a cock. Only one cat around, and a thousand rats cannot venture out of their holes. Only one lion in the jungle, and a thousand gazelles can not pass through. It is not foolishness, but wisdom that restrains these creatures under such circumstances, so what's the fuss with a Manessah Istifanus taking off at the sight of a Doctor John Danfulani? These two are not equals on the political terrain. It is just like telling me to face Barrister Mark Jacob Nzamah, I will take off with the speed of light if I could. Why try to shift blame instead of accepting that wisdom dictated your decision to flee?

Well, we are not surprised. We have always known that these guys have nothing to offer.