2023 is around the corner. It is the people’s civic responsibility to elect their new leader(s). This piece is not about politics per se, it’s this writer’s fair and free-minded sociological commentary about the HYPOCRISY that pervades our Nigerian society.
Let me begin by paraphrasing Shakespeare’s Mark Antony at Caesar’s burial, as I announce that I come to situate the perspectives of many Nigerians on Realism, on our existential Reality as a Country, and not to be emotional, hypocritical or judgmental.
Let us momentarily take our eyes, ears and attention away from the cacophony of the social media and or the jaundiced and skewed reportage of the Government-owned media, and in sober introspection, fix them on the lives and everyday existence and factual situation of the life conditions of an average Nigerian citizen.
Let’s fix them on the unemployment and the inclement and hostile socio-economic and political environment of the Nigerian reality today, on the numbers of illiterate unemployed and unemployable young adults scattered all over the country, on the Almajiri system that does not exist in other core Muslim societies of the Middle East including Saudi Arabia that hosts the annual pilgrimage, on the country being referred to as ‘the poverty capital of the world ‘ inspite of and despite her generous endowment by mother nature with seemingly inexhaustible reserve of oil, and vast mineral and natural resources….. which includes tin, gold, bauxite, precious stones and almost every commercially viable elements and crops known to man….,fix them on the absence of security of lives and property of the citizens, on the burgeoning kidnap industry and other criminal tendencies, fix them away from unsubstantiated stories, and about the Hypocrisy, parochialism and the morbid ethno-religious irredentism that pervade the Nigerian space.
These, and many other problems, fault-lines and dysfunctions have been with us since 1960, through different leaderships over the decades …both military and civilian. So, is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, one man alone, one citizen of the over 200m the cause of all these plagues?
Let’s more poignantly and most especially, fix our gaze on human capital development vis-à-vis visionary and strong-willed, development- based leadership skills and sagacity. Let’s situate us in Nigeria, in black West Africa, in the year 2022 existential realities in Nigeria, and within more realistic and pragmatic expectations and permutations.
Before I present these perspectives under a few sub-heads, a quote ; “People deny Reality; they fight against Real Feelings, caused by Real Circumstances. They build mental worlds of ifs, shoulds, oughts, and might have-beens. Real changes begin with Real appraisal and acceptance of what is, then Realistic action is possible”.
The 2023 campaigns just began and we are approaching a crescendo . Why are too many Nigerians singling out the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for special scrutiny, hate and almost a determined but unspoken wish/effort to prevent his becoming the next Nigerian President?
With hindsight, apart from Musa Yar’adua maybe, in this writer’s opinion, which other occupant of Aso Rock so far is better than Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, using whatever performance indices?
Every adult Nigerian is quite aware of the history of the Nigerian story from independence in 1960 till date. These perspectives are based on a mix of personal experience, history, facts and the everyday practical existential realities of the Nigerian polity, the Nigerian narrative, being that it cuts across and is the same in the entirety of the Nigerian Mosaic. Yes!
Is Nigeria, as a nation, floating atop crude oil and vast reserves of Gas, doing well? Hell No! Does Life in Nigeria compare with life in other oil-rich countries like Saudia, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman etc? Has the leadership from Independence been visionary , developmental, technological and economic-prosperity minded?
Has the country measured up with or can she compete with many of her colonial independence peer countries, scattered across Asia and Latin America mostly? The answers to these questions, and to many more, are out there in the open space.
Is Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alone ,the cause of Nigeria’s problems? It is devilishly hypocritical, wryly and cunningly deceptive and fraudulent to either appear to blame him alone for the country’s lamentable woes, or to vilify him, simply for being some sort of an enigma, for being smart, phenomenal, stellar and of a rare specie of homo sapiens, especially amongst those living in Nigeria, nay (black) Africa.
Does it mean that there is absolutely nothing good about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu? There must indeed be some very interesting and progressive “Good” about the man, otherwise how can or how does one man command such massive and larger-than-life amounts of love, respect, loyalty and followership and gratitude from across the whole 36 states?. And before some people begin with pedestrian arguments about Tinubu being part of the present Buhari government, after strategizing him to power, I ask……who doesn’t know on whose table the buck stops?
Who weren’t here when the President ,Muhammadu Buhari came back from his medical trip abroad to simply cancel and reverse all that the VP Yemi Osibanjo did in his absence and in his official capacity as the sit-in President and Commander-in-Chief? Who doesn’t also know the workings of the centralized so-called ‘Federation of Nigeria’, which negates everything government and political thinkers taught us in school about Federalism ?
Plus, therefore, why would, why should Bola Ahmed Tinubu aspire to the Presidential seat of Power? Simple ! Because only the vision bearer is in the best position to effectively implement the vision, without confusion, coloration or possible misguidance. President Buhari meant well, many believe, but sadly, like lawyers say ‘You can’t give what you don’t have’!
All nation-builders, from Singapore to UAE, China, Dubai, Botswana, Rwanda, etc have been mortals, mere mortals with the requisite vision and the gumption, plus the attendant guts, self-belief, confidence and focused determination cum resolve to implement their vision.
And, more importantly, they have been people with a healthy love for the prosperity and greatness of their country. It was never saints nor angels who fell from the heavens, nor utopian daydreamers and suspenders of Reality, theorists nor obsequious leeches who wait upon the Master’s table.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the estimation of this writer came prepared. He came bold. He came confident. He came unpretentious. He came courageous. He came capable, competent and resolute — saying so himself that the Presidency has been his life long dream and that “EMI LO KAN”. He wasn’t given to timidity, trepidation, pretence or double-speak. This takes guts, confidence, courage, determination and self-belief – all these, qualities that are rare in this country where Hypocrisy is second-nature to many of us.
1. 1999 – 2007 PEERS
● Come on, there must be something unique, if not just smart, highly dogged, intelligent and incredibly resourceful about this man. He is the most visible, still relevant and very politically active and savvy yet, from amongst the 36 Governors of that era. Admittedly, many of them are politically dead and only a few of them left legacies that have outlived them.
But this Tinubu man, for very strong reasons, has been able to stamp his authority, influence and bravado on the political firmament of Nigeria, dating back from the Gen Sani Abacha days and the “roforofo” fights between NADECO and the authorities back then. Aside from say James Ibori, no other name from that generation is still a political power broker today. Even so, the turfs for both men are glaringly different—- Delta State and NIGERIA respectively.
2. HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND MENTORSHIP.
It is trite, that the greatest investment (and catalyst to rapid growth & development) is in the area of education, science & technology, now ICT, and in the energizing and deliberate role as catalyst to the creative quantum of human capital. It is human brains that drive innovation, enterprise, industry, technology, social transformation, etc and thus prosperity and Human civilization.
This piece also seeks to help many of us advert our reason and cognitive appraisal of the realities of the polity to these other oft-ignored perspectives, but which in effective terms summarizes the stark realities of the human, social & economic situation of Nigerians today.
Over the years our leaders kept on and indeed keep on mouthing the need to focus on and develop the human capital aspect of the country’s development, with little to show by way of actual implementation and leadership by example. I dare say that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has really set the standards quite high for such nobilities as MENTORING, people-building & capacity building, which are some of the clear bases for any meaningful progress and development of the country, state, Lga, town, village & society at large, through education and human capital development, and in order to engender growth, technology and the socio-economic empowerment of the citizenry.
BAT has built, mentored and been instrumental to the ascension to both political as well as economic stations of power and influence of more Nigerians than those of all his peers combined. Today, from the 36 state Government houses to the National Assembly, to very pivotal agencies, parastatals, ministries and departments of Government, you will encounter Men and Women; fellow Nigerian citizens, who owe their position and success story to, –- aside from God, hardwork, and or providence, — just one man, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. During the APC Convention, it was reported that about 16 APC Governors, later reduced to 13, had insisted that power must shift or rotate to the south, after PMB’s 8 years.
They, most of them known beneficiaries of BAT’’s mentorship, camaraderie and support, one way or the other, knew exactly to who they wanted the power to shift to in the south. It was payback time, like they say, One Good turn…..…!
Several of the men and women who today occupy the commanding heights of our nation’s politics and economy, all took their political tutelage under this man.
And, for clarity, we are talking about former commissioners and all manner of aides who the man deftly guided and parlayed their hardwork, dedication and loyalty into such powerful positions as ministers, DGs, Governors, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives etc.
Which other Nigerian alive today can boast of such legacy and pedigree? Such loyalty, discipleship or trusting followership and such gratitude?
In contrast, let’s do an example from the SE (examples are plenty and are replicated in many unlucky towns, zones, communities and families), and this choice here is only because the man in question is most politically powerful, visible and influential. Remember, this piece is sociological, more like human and social Nigerian commentary and does not arrogate nor appropriate judgement.
Now, this particular example from the SE got unlucky and became enmeshed in a situation that borders around the infraction of UK laws. Infact the man’s travails are seemingly amoebaic, perennially changing shape and keeping the man longer and longer in jail, much to the surprise and consternation of many Nigerians.
Yet, instead of sympathy, empathy, love and solidarity, this high ranking parliamentarian has elicited only odium, derision, mockery, serves-him-rights, and indifference to his plight from the Nigerian public, especially his own people from Enugu state. Why?
This is because, verified evidence, facts and figures have portrayed, and advertised the man as someone who always wanted to be the only star shining in the over-sized and roomy skies. In his Awgu division and senatorial zone of Enugu state, the man was an inordinately ambitious, greedy man, who in more ways than one, actually did deny development and progress to his own people, area and sphere of influence, he was an Emperor who must be worshipped and obeyed by all.
He, like one former Nigerian president, literally “bit all the fingers that fed and propped him up politically”. The Ekweremadu example is replicated in some families, which stunts growth and development.
Little wonder the social media backlash against his travails. In a widely publicised, trending press statement titled, “The painful Truths about the Ekweremedu travails, dated Nov 6, 2022, SKC OGBONNA wrote as follows:- “…. In fact, I had always told the senator in his face and written extensively on how he used his time in the senate to collude with contractors to loot the funds budgeted for several public projects in Igbo land….”
He continued, “….. that I never ceased to tutor the senator on the genius of the adage; “A TREE DOES NOT MAKE A FOREST”.
I even reminded him on several occasions that a day like this would come. I warmed the senator to consider that none of his political associates from his area (entire old Awgu Division) has the influence, capacity or the status to bail or even speak for him should he be arrested. The point here is that, unlike his crooked colleagues, such as ………, who excelled in elevating their associates, senator Ike Ekweremadu made sure that none of his political associates from his area could rise or shine. He could not even recommend any of them as an ambassador, chairman of board of any major parastatal or a minister, let alone helping any of them to become a federal contractor…….. The man wanted to be all and all in the area since 1999….” Etc.
Like I said at the outset this piece is simply about ‘hidden’ perspectives and makes no attempt to blame, recommend or judge. Again, many stories abound all over the media and larger society of men and women, this time not politicians, who achieved their present station and status in life by the path-finding encounters they had with BAT; either as winners of then Governor Tinubu’s initiatives and novelties like the “One day Governor program”, or myriad Nigerians, non-Yorubas, non-Lagosians, who were employed and appointed by BAT into his Government. Indeed, BAT scores high on human capacity building index, innovation and visionary planning and road-maps mapping. Personally, this is the most endearing legacy of BAT.
Still I cannot end this leadership and mentorship sub-head without comparing BAT to this writer’s most profound examples of visionary leadership from our past history as a country – to be found in two great men, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Tinubu is the modern-day corollary and typification of these two great leaders. Why? How? For what reasons?
Okay, I’ll tell us. Briefly, the Sardauna was said to have encouraged the massive recruitment of young football playing boys on the fields and streets of the North, into the then new & emerging Nigerian Army.
He also insisted that Northern youth were included in whatever List by the federal Government then. He probably saw tomorrow. The rest became history and we all know the role the Army has played in our journey as a nation.
Then, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his free education in the western Region. Today, the rest is also history and the Yoruba are said to be the most educated group and the most cosmopolitan in Nigeria, firmly entrenched in the corporate economy.
That is vision, that is leadership, that is love for people, your people, love also for the development and improvement of people, the community and the society at large. Infact, this writer is not interested in any other models of leadership aside from the above snippets, exemplified by the Sardauna and Chief Awolowo, …… and BAT, the political colossus of our time.
3. MASTER STRATEGIST & ASTUTE POLITICIAN Arguably, the master political strategist and perhaps the greatest politician of this era is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The turning point in BAT’s political trajectory, that suddenly turned him into a political phenomenon came in 2005, when OBJ decieved and vanquished his five brother governors from the SW. Tinubu survived. He now became the face, the rallying point for all the progressive forces in Nigeria.
That’s when the man BAT transited from the realm of the mere mortal and came into the pantheon of a political ‘god’ or immortality.
Three (3) times in a row, the current President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, contested for the Presidency and even on occasion had to shed tears on National TV … and all three (3) times, he lost, sometimes narrowly by but a deciding SC vote.
It took the bravery, the creative ingenuity or genius if you like, and the finest hue of strategy, planning, and methodical bridge-building of one man, BAT, to cobble together the alliance of political parties and the break-away factions of others, into a formidable party, the APC. This party achieved a feat, a first in the annals of our country’s political journey so far .… by defeating and wresting power from an incumbent.
Besides, this new party was an infant, compared to the then ruling party, the PDP, formed in 1998. Such a man, definitely and indeed, surely must have something to offer. !
4. “ACCIDENTAL LEADERSHIP”.
There is this persuasion amongst many Nigerians that Nigeria has been bedeviled over the years, by leaders who became accidentally thrust upon the sovereign seat, not necessarily on account of their dream, vision, capacity, competence and leadership pedigree or acumen —- but instead by a combination of, say, destiny for those who believe in that on the one hand, and the circumstances, still within Nigeria’s socio-political conditions, thrown up usually by the toxic brew of religion, tribe, ethnicity and historical revisionism and sometimes, lazy stereotyping of our national historical epochs like the civil war of 1967 – 1970, the shenanigans of the 1st Republic politics, as well as more recent ones such as the alleged islamization agenda etc,..on the other hand.
Too many stories viz,; Gowon was invited to lead the FMG; Obasanjo was reluctant and afraid and Shehu Yar’Adua became a support beam; it was Maitama Sule, from Kano that actually won the NPN primaries in 1979 but Shehu Shagari, a Fulani, was maneuvered into the candidacy and presidency; PMB in his first coming, had Brig. Tunde Idiagbon as buffer and strongman; IBB, Sonekan, Abacha, Abdulsalam, OBJ was drafted from prison to placate the Yoruba for June 12, all this and all that..… stories and more stories.
They said Yar’adua was persuaded by OBJ, same for reluctant GEJ. PMB, well, may possibly, probably have ‘sought’ the office under the civilian democracy. Fine…
But ! Now, aside from IBB, the legend is that none of our previous leaders before IBB had planned for, worked hard for, strategized for and seriously aspired to occupy the highest office in the land, as the Commander-in-Chief, in order to contribute his precise vision for building a great and prosperous country.
But, this Tinubu man informed us all openly that to become the president and turn around the fortunes of Nigeria has been a life-long dream of his. What’s wrong with that? Ambition is NOT a crime.
To crown it all, BAT has reportedly schemed and strategized for this office, since the past 23+ years, building bridges and cementing bonds of friendship, love, people-building, unity, and peaceful co-existence across the country.
5. LAGOS STATE.
The take-away here, for this outline, is the withholding of Lagos State funds by the OBJ government.
It takes Guts, Courage, Confidence, Self-belief and the can-do spirit, for any Governor to withstand that executive rascality and bullying and come out strong and unfazed. Leave the matter of Lagos being Capital from Colonial Times till commercial Capital today out of the issue at stake here; One thing is to receive and inherit… another is to husband well, nurture, create, improve upon, sustain and enlarge etc. Or, where are some of the great fortunes , business empires and governments built by our patriarchs of old today?
6. MUSLIM/MUSLIM TICKET
Without Prejudice to the faith, beliefs and sensibilities of Christians in Nigeria, being a Christian myself, as well as the constitutional secular nature of Nigeria and so many other extant laws, statutes, rules and regulations such as the Federal Character principle, etc, nor even to the National Anthem and Pledge respectively – I dare say that the hoopla against the APC’s Muslim/Muslim ticket is very hypocritical and a silhouette to mask the real issues of the Nigerian existential political and economic Reality.
Is it Religion that builds a state or a country? Our past leaders, have they not been Muslims, Christians and traditional worshippers? From the discovery of oil in the late 50s and the unceasing squandering of riches of an otherwise immensely endowed country, with the attendant arrested development, this country has suffered from debilitating HYPOCRISY.
The labyrinths of this hypocrisy and the insincerity and greed of the leadership class is for another essay. Nation building, visionary leadership and patriotism has to do with the strength of character and vision of the leader. The way the Nigerian society is constituted today – value systems, ethics, morality, spirituality, piety, reward systems, the processes of leadership selection and genuine humanity and so on…..
Does it epitomize a society in which Religion has made any meaningful impact on the lives, character, patriotism, love and righteousness, good conscientious governance and followership of the citizenry?
Religion, for Black Africa especially has largely been a fraud. The problem is SYSTEMIC. We need systems that work, that way Religion will no longer be a big issue, but will become subsumed under the systemic good governance Infrastructure and administrative frameworks and the concomitant honest patriotism and love of country.
A Country of Laws, devoid of the culture of impunity inherited from the several military interregnums. And, where the National interest of a nation overrides every other aspects of society. Does Nigeria have what is called an articulated “National Interest”?
Do we, effectively, have a NIGERIA? Or do we have nations, ethnicities and religions, heterogeneously lumped together by the colonialists? etc.
Now, talking about the hypocrisy earlier mentioned, is there really any difference between Religious practice and politics in Nigeria? Are the religious leaders any different or any better than the politicians? Like the politicians, don’t they fly private jets and live obscenely hedonistic lifestyles, in the midst of the squalor, the abysmal poverty and lack and the disdain for the people’s welfare, rights, security of lives and property, as well as the abject or totally absent economic well-being of the citizenry.
Or, isn’t it on the same prey that both groups feed fat on? Isn’t it on the same people? – Citizens and congregations – all of them Nigerian people? No wonder Karl Max described Religion as an “Opiate for the Masses”. Or what is the honour, nor the integrity, nor the sincerity in indoctrinating people into waiting for heaven before they can access a decent livelihood and or their divine and constitutionally guaranteed human rights here on earth. or is it too much for the people to enjoy basic minimums of human comfort and livelihood? Or are the religious leaders not in cahoots with their counterpart political leaders in keeping the people downtrodden?
Meanwhile, none of them self-acclaimed men and women of god wants to die, seeing that Heaven, which they push down the throats of the people, is better. Little wonder Peter Tosh, Bob Marley and and our own Fela Kuti all sang and sang and sang about Equal rights and justice here on earth. (We’ll leave the justice part…… for another essay.)
It is not about BAT’s wife being a Christian, nay a Pastor, alone. No. It’s just that in Africa, we are first members of our tribes, ethnicities and cultural milieus, before any Religion.
Besides, both two major religions came here only because of colonial contact, trade or expansionism. It’s also that at this point in this Country’s checquered history, we need nation-builders to spearhead the Rescue mission so badly needed by the Country.
We need leaders with the requisite guts, confidence, reach , courage, conviction, structures (that word again?) bonds, friendships, loyalty, respect, association and unflinching fidelity to their conviction and visions. Leaders who will not be intimidated nor Cowed by the Establishment, by the entrenched Rot and maladministrations of the past decades from 1960.
And more importantly, Leaders with proven strength of character and the can-do spirit. BAT is evidently imbued with such leadership qualities.
7. STABILITY, CONVICTION and FAITH
This man, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has enjoyed and exhibited an uncanny kind of vision, self-belief, faith and fidelity to his convictions. He is today, by far the best example of political loyalty, fellowship and leadership. Why?
Unlike many Nigerian politicians who – without definite nor well defined and ideas and visions and convictions, —- have imundated the polity with vacillations and jump-arounds, more derisively known as cross-carpetings or decampings, from one party to another at the drop of a hat whenever their designs and personal selfish schemes are not seemingly accommodated by the present party (as though the welfare of the country, her development and the economic prosperity of her citizenry and the common good – are no longer the primary objective of party politics)—This APC Presidential Candidate has maintained a stoic fidelity to whatever he believes.
From UPN (was he part of that?), through the democratic struggles under the aegis of NADECO, to the AC, ACN and APC. He has never wavered, but instead simply chose a platform to which he remained loyal and dedicated till date. Little wonder then that he was able to accomplish so much politically ,culminating in his single-handedly strategizing the APC towards the enviable accomplishment of unseating a sitting president.
Surely, and indeed, such a man has a lot to offer na, abeg oooo.. Also, eschewing the injurious disease of hypocrisy killing our society, we all know that ours is a SYSTEMIC failure.
8. AGE, HEALTH
Again, if we can kill the hypocrisy, we all know that matters of age and good health are strictly within the purview of the Almighty Creator. It’s not about age really, but about sound mind and clarity of thought. In Africa, we rever age and the elderly. No wonder, according to Miriam Makeba, one of Africa’s greatest creative gifts to the world, we don’t write history, but have our oral history and tradition transmitted to us by our elders, via word of mouth, folk tales and experience, sometimes eye witness accounts.
Old age is a blessing which is not granted to every mortal. So it must be appreciated and enjoyed. Yet some say age is but a number. Maybe so, but the truth is that we must not copy the Western Europeans and American blindly, we should take recourse to our peculiar cultural affinities and reverences to the elderly.
Well I’m not denying the fact that there are old people who lack wisdom, tact, intelligence and responsibility.
Afterwards, it’s the same stupid boy or girl that grows into a stupid old man or woman. So, why, doesn’t a man who built Lagos, built people, built business empires and is still a Master Political strategist, deserve respect and admiration?! Death knows no age and strikes with no definite formula or design.
More necessary, Asiwaju BAT has shown that he knows how to assemble experts and technocrats to do his vision. The position of President and C – C is sovereign and titular, it’s to espouse visions and directions of Governance . It requires to delegate, insist on and monitor your vision.
Therefore why not we pray and work for the grace of God, to create the enabling societal environment that whoever becomes President, 2023, will lead by example.
That he will bring to bear the courage of conviction, audacity, bravery and strength of character very much needed to begin the arduos task of re-building and re-shaping the destiny of NIGERIA.
9. CORRUPTION
Chaii, this depressing noun? Well, everyone knows that corruption is the bane of Nigeria, the hydra-headed monster that has ensured that this country does not, no, has not come anywhere near the actualization of her vast potentials and incredible promise of greatness and leadership of the African continent, upon attaining independence on 1st October, 1960.
Yet, is this situation the creation of Asiwaju BAT ? Is the vilification justified? It amounts to crass hypocrisy and a shameful glossing over of the Truth. But what is this truth?
That It is a collective, a disease that has insidiously eaten deep into the innermost fabric of the Nigerian narrative. From the political, Economic, Religious, Traditional, Academic elite leaderships down to the market women and men, civil servants, bus conductors, artisans, friends, relatives and family. In fact there is a street lingo that the numbers of people in Nigeria waiting to chop government money are far greater than those already “opportuned” to be currently, or at present frittering away the commonwealth into their private pockets.
In fact most depressing is the recent revelation and confirmation arising from the rogue oil pipeline in the Niger Delta, “discovered” recently, that corruption is actually organized and modified by and from the highest echelons of Government.
But, seriously speaking, our hypocrisy must allow us to look beyond persons and individuals and concentrate on building systems and Governance infrastructures and frameworks that will make corruption less attractive.
Who doesn’t remember Donald Trump and his Tax dodge accusations prior to his election in the US ? The man simply, in his endearing candour, said he was a smart businessman who chanced on and exploited some loophole in the Law. Quite instructive, isn’t that?
So, let us move away from vague, unsubstantiated allegations, and insist that the agencies of Government, a plethora of them, – EFCC, ICPC, Police, Judiciary, NBA, etc. wake up to their sacred duties and responsibilities to the Nigerian people by thoroughly investigating, prosecuting and sanctioning offenders.
What serious country can make progress when most of her Government officials and political leaders all have corruption cases, allegations and indictments hanging over their heads? Ranging from Governors, Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, LG Chairman, DGS of agencies, Ministries and Departments, Permsecs, etc.
Also, it’s a platitude, that were Tinubu to be complicit in drugs – related crime in the United States, OBJ would have turned him in and handed him over to America. GEJ would have done the same thing.
Furthermore, the PDP knew exactly that the rising opposition represented by BAT was a huge threat, if therefore the drugs gist is true, that Party would have possibly used it against him, if you consider the predilection of the ruling African political parties to want to cling to Power.
We are and should be a Country of Laws – we also need Leadership that inspires loyalty and followership. The story of BATs emergence as the APC Presidential candidate is another Kettle of Tea altogether proving BATs acceptance by loyal and grateful party members….…, we leave that for now.
Perhaps, at this juncture, one recalls the speech by erstwhile Chief of general Staff to General Abacha, Gen Oladipo Diya who made a passioned speech on national television in 1993 when they took over power, and said among other things that “ … Let us draw a line and start afresh…”
In conclusion, we must focus on issues and stop mudslinging and vilifying candidates, thereby obfuscating the fine qualities, pedigrees and antecedents in governance of the candidates.
The most enduring legacy of democracy in a plural society is constituted in the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of choice, opinion, association, movement, right to life, property, etc. We must be bold enough to recognize the fine line between theory, utopia and the verifiable peculiarities, fault–lines and the socio-cultural and traditional characteristics and potentials of the Nigerian mosaic.
The Chinese, Indians, Japanese and many other countries have managed to give to themselves home-grown democracies, and in our own case in Nigeria we need not rely solely on western theories alone, we must look inwards and be original, evolving along the lines of our peculiarities and social realities as a people, so as to harness our unity in diversity and build a New Nigeria.
A new Nigeria that will be opaque to ethnic irredentism, ethno –religious bigotry, the culture of impunity inherited from several military interregnums and that will finally enthrone the rule of law, and the equality of every citizen before the law.
Politics is not a game of emotions or emotionalism; it is a game of numbers, of strategy, of planning, of negotiation, of lobbying and of deft execution.
Particularly, 2023 is looking like a watershed in the political history of Nigeria.
The rot in the system, the entrenched culture of maladministration, sense of entitlement, the law being not for the elites and the monied or connected class etc. is too deep and has permeated the intrinsic fabrics of the society, government and all .
And, a system is best fought from within and not from the outside. Let’s not make the mistake of equating Nigeria with some places where people recently came from the “Outside” to win the Presidency. Ours here must take the collective agreement and stoic resolve of every living Nigerians – both the leaders and the led – to begin the arduos task of pulling down the rotten and dilapidated edifice and erecting a new one from the foundations.
Change, they say, is the only permanent feature in life, the only constant, no doubts about that. But, against the backdrop of the Euphoria and innocent, sincere expectations for a better-run country, that has always greeted previous changes of government, be they military or Civilian, and the Subsequent let-downs, 2023 shouldn’t be the year for experimentation and tentativeness.
No idea, yet, can be stopped when its time comes. With sustained momentum, like John the Baptist in the Bible as forerunner, salvation is soon to come. And, this is for the benefit of our children and future generations of Nigerians.
These perspectives on Aswaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be incomplete without this one-liner for the likes of his detractors from his home state of Lagos – “ Success breeds Jealousy”!
WAY TO GO ?
Ethical Reorientation, overhaul of the value and reward systems, leadership selection processes, civic and patriotic education, affirmation of Nigerianness over ethnicity etc, etc, etc.
©️PASCAL N. UNICHI, BA, LLB, BL. 08029134190, 08057060997
