Folks, I have a little bit of a challenge: a plethora of my fans want me to include more English Language lessons in my write-ups, while others want articles spiced with music. I want to do both. Let’s take our lessons for the day.
Antimetabole is a technique where a word or phrase is repeated in the opposite order in the next clause or phrase.
Examples:
“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you
can do for your country.”—John F. Kennedy
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the
Sabbath.”—Jesus (Mark 2:27).
Some useful abbreviated Latin terms: etc., et cetera (and so forth), e.g., exampli gratia (for example), i.e., id est (that is), et al., et alli (and others), c.v., curriculum vitae (course of life).
I trust you like it; I hope to continue some other time. Now, the main story.
Niccolo Machiavelli is known for being one of the most infamous political theorists of all time. He shamelessly propounded that deception is necessary to carry out one’s political agenda, and this became a threat to the society in which he lived; and it is still a threat to our society today. This theory has maimed, killed and destroyed.
Sadly, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the running mate of the NPP flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, has chosen this fiendish trajectory. His deception that the voters’ register is bloated with names of foreigners, made a 36-year old young man, Justice Adzakumah lose one of his eyes in September last year when the demonstration wing of the NPP, Let My Vote Count group demonstrated for a new voters’ register based on Dr. Bawumia’s purported findings.
On the 18th August, 2015, Dr. Bawumia during a press conference at Alisa hotel in Accra, claimed that he had uncovered 76,286 names of Togolese in Ghana’s voters’ register, and that the figure formed less than 10% of the research his party had done. He promised to produce 90% of the remaining work which involved names from Ivory Coast and Baukina Faso. But as I write, not a single name has been provided. You see what I don’t like about some of you, who whispered Machiavelli Bawu?
This deception could have brought war in our peaceful country. I, therefore, support anyone who wants Dr. Bawumia to be prosecuted for deceiving a public officer, in the name of the Electoral Commissioner, under The Criminal Act 1960, Act 29; Section 251.
What the good people of Ghana should know is that the NPP has never offered alternative policies to the problems of this country, and has nothing good to offer. Their only strategy is to peddle lies, hoping that will win them votes. Tweeaaa, who said that our economic challenges would be solved with the NPP in government. Haven’t you heard that Opana is at loggerheads with his Acting Chairman too? Can this kind of attitude be used to lead this country? Tweaakai! And is it true that the Akyem Mafia is now the highest decision body of the Elephant Fraternity, a development that has irked many leading members? Chai, filla dey, matter dey paa. I am going to blast rough-rough in my next edition. Watch out!
In fact, Ghana will collapse if yaanom are given the opportunity; this is partly because they spent huge sums of money to campaign in 2008 and 2012; and will be spending much more in this year’s elections. These are money that they have borrowed and have to pay back with interest before satisfying their “hungry” supporters and loyalists. By the time they finish paying their debts and sorting out themselves, the fortunes of this country would have been ruined and our progress stunted.
For their excuse, they will tell the good people of Ghana that they inherited empty coffers. Let’s not buy into their deception; President Mahama promised to develop infrastructure in his first term in office, and he has not disappointed; his handiwork is there for all to see. He has again promised to create jobs and empower the people of Ghana economically in his second term in office. If he has fulfilled most of his promises for his first term, then we should trust him to deliver in his second term too.
Let’s not burn our fingers by choosing yaanom . We will regret it! Such a mistake would be too much a price to pay. They are a Mafia group trying to play smart. And this reminds me of Bob Marley’s “Small Axe”, please enjoy.
Why boasteth thyself
Oh, evil men
Playing smart
And not being clever?
I said, you’re working iniquity
To achieve vanity (if a-so a-so)
But the goodness of Jah, Jah
I-dureth forever
So if you are the big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
These are the words
Of my master, keep on tellin’ me
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, fall in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it (fall in it)
If you are the big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe, sharp and ready
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
(to cut you down)
(to cut you down)
These are the words
Of my master, tellin’ me that
No weak heart
Shall prosper
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall fall in it, uh, bury in it
And whosoever diggeth a pit
Shall bury in it, uh (bury in it)
If you are the big, big tree
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
If you are the big, big tree, let me tell you that
We are the small axe
Ready to cut you down (well sharp)
To cut you down
Sharpened
Kikikikikiki, you can’t beat Rastafarians with innuendos. Bob Marley says yaanom are working iniquity to achieve vanity. I want to remind Opana and his people that if they are the big Elephant, they shouldn’t forget that the Small Axe is ready to do some butchering come December 7.
