By Usman Abubakar
Frank Costello, also known as the Prime Minister of the Underworld, was a powerful figure in the American Mafia and led the Luciano crime family for decades. Known for his calm demeanor, charm, and political connections, Costello’s downfall came when he voluntarily decided to retire from the mafia underworld, sensing that the game was up. His influence waned, and he spent his later years in relative obscurity until his death in 1973.
From John Gotti, Salvatore “Toto” Riina, Vito Genovese, Lucky Luciano, Bernardo Provenzano, and others, it has clearly been shown that even in the mafia underworld, there’s definitely an end game. This means that every start has an end. However, the lesson from Frank Costello’s story is his ability to sense that the game was up and voluntarily retire, unlike the rest.
The fear of political change often resonates deeply among both oppressors and beneficiaries of a flawed system. This apprehension stems from a desire to maintain the status quo, where power dynamics are heavily skewed in favor of a select few, and any challenge to this order is perceived as a direct threat. Those who wield authority and control often experience anxiety about losing their grip on power. For them, political change signifies uncertainty; it can dismantle the very structures that sustain their dominance both politically and economically, as witnessed in the FCT NUJ over the past 6 years. This fear manifests in various ways, including the suppression of dissent, the propagation of misinformation, and the instigation of divide-and-rule tactics, entering strange alliances, and even engaging in diabolical machinations.
For the petit godfather and his cohorts, the prospect of a new leadership transformation has evoked anxiety about losing their socio-economic status and the privileges that come with it. Matter-of-factly, they cling to the belief that their well-being is inseparable from the existing order, viewing the change of an independent guard as a threat to their socio-economic security.
When the revolutionary wave within the FCT NUJ began sometime in February, they never knew the traction would be this huge, but when it eventually resonated organically among the genuine journalists and owners of the union, they became jittery and flummoxed, apparently without any counter-political strategy to match the wave. Instead of thinking outside the box regarding their political quagmire, they hurriedly embarked on various evil machinations and rhetoric with a view to resisting any attempts at meaningful change.
While the likely winning team kept its eyes on the ball, consulting and canvassing for support, and meeting the real electorates as a barometer to test the pulse of union members, the other camps were busy chasing shadows and hoping a disqualification magic would play out to pave the way for their anointed stooge to come and perpetuate the usual shenanigans in the union, with the puppet master pulling the strings from behind the scenes.
Consequently, the rude shock they received lately, which has effectively sent them into a tailspin, was that the voice for change has refused to be stifled. Voices from members cutting across different chapels, from federated and correspondent, are loud and clear. No squeaks!
This loud movement from members is organically driven. It’s been a long time coming. For too long, we have tolerated non-performance and corruption that undermines our values and goals as cerebral professionals. Our collective strength lies in our unity and determination to demand professionalism and accountability all day, every day. At least, on #4122024 we can breathe because there’s going to be a new social contract, a new order, a sign of trust and effectiveness, paving the way for a brighter future for all members.
This wound licking exercise would have been avoided if the petit godfather and his cohorts had acted like Frank Costello to leave the stage or surrender at the right time!
Usman Abubakar is a public analyst
