Nigerians have risen in unison to condemn fifth term Senator James Manager, who was seen in a viral photograph kneeling before former governor of Delta State, James Ibori.
One Umoru Faruk Salifu, writing on Facebook, said the picture reminded him of “the Okija debacle involving was it Ngige and some of the cultists then in Anambra State. But this phenomenon is more of South east, South south and South west thing. In the middle (belt) and north it is just godfathersim and their sons that don’t last before the bubble burst.
Muhammad Musa-Gombe said jocularly:” My sources say Dist. Senator James Manager was declaring his support for BLACK LIVES MATTER. My source swears that he needs to present the picture at the British Embassy as part of requirements for a multiple entry visa to the UK.”
Interestingly, only two weeks ago when he turned 61, Manager was the toast of the political class in his native Delta State. From Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to the man on the street, Manager was hailed as a leader.
Okowa called him a dependable political ally, a leader of great value, a patriotic Nigerian, gentleman par excellence, a team player and God-fearing leader.
He added: “As pioneer chairman of our great party in Delta, you worked very hard to ensure that PDP had a grandiose foundation, towering like a colossus, which culminated in our sustained winning streak over the years.
“In the last 18 years of representing your people as their lawmaker at the big stage, you have continued to contribute immensely to their growth and development and I urge you to remain steadfast in your quest to make life more meaningful for them.”
One Tamar Forteta branded Manager the people’s generalissimo.
Writing on the senator’s Facebook,Forteta said of him: “, there is no voice so firm and clarion to make a case for our people at all levels as yours.
“As our leader and torchbearer, you have never reneged in your willingness and ability to reciprocate the loyalty and allegiance that you enjoy from your followers.
“It is curious that in a society where politicians clamour for recognition, and advantageously position themselves in the media to gain mileages, Manager would rather restrain himself and choose, instead, to dance to the quiet rhythm of his soul. This is a disposition that has helped to define his persona as a taciturn and decorous politician, whose maturity, experience and fidelity cannot be faulted.”
But all those praises now seem like ones done in the distant past, as Nigerians continue to nock him over the now viral photograph.
A lawyer, Omemiroro Maxwell Ogedegbe said: “The people continue to suffer as the politicians do not hold allegiance to their sovereignty but to perceived political gods to whom they continue to pay royalties upon their emergence and the people suffers.
“Imagine my senators kneeling like school children all for the quest of power.
“James Manager is 61years like James Ibori and from their look that of James Manager might be his football age. Each time we see this level of timidity the institutions they represent suffers.”
Al Bashir Muhammed said: “Wonderful! Supposing this picture comes from the north, some unprintable words would be the order of the day,” while Precious Wanogho Erutase said: “There is nowhere in the whole of the Niger Delta that you will find a man of Senator James Manager ranking, kneeling down with both legs before a fellow man who happens not to be his biological father, but a man I can accurately guess to be of the same age bracket with him. NO, IS NOT DONE AND THIS IS DEMEANING!!!
“Politics shouldn’t take us this far that we show glaringly our inordinate ambition of getting what we want through any means.
“My advice is that the Senator representing Delta South should openly apologise to the people he is representing and be careful what his media aides sell to the public. For me, this photo has a very big K-LEG with a capital letters!”
