By Adebayo Abdulrahman
1.
I have watched with keen interest the dimension of political conversations in the country over the last few weeks and analysed the implication of these conversations repeatedly. On all occasions, I arrived at a single and very disturbing conclusion, neither the Nigerians at the grassroots nor the intellectuals (!?) on social media are currently equipped with the required level of political consciousness to vote for good governance.
2.
Let’s start with Yemi Osinbajo, the political parasite whose hands have always been tied — until now. First off, it is important to note that as a qualified Nigerian, his decision to run for the office of the Presidency is not only normal but also constitutional. Any individual (read as Tinubu’s supporters) who tries to paint his presidential bid as a betrayal is bereft of the basic concepts of politics and politicking.
3.
Having said that, it is, however, MORE important to note that Osinbajo’s sudden ability to free his initially tied hands is a confirmation of what many of us have always opined, he is one of the most wicked politicians to have ever occupied the office of VeePee, and he is as complicit in the failure of the current administration as Buhari. Together, they both represent a mistake that should never have happened.
4.
But revisiting the mistake- of 2015 is very integral to understanding the message in Osinbajo’s monumental declaration. It confirms one very sad truth that many Nigerians have refused to come to terms with. The sad truth is that currently, the power to decide who wins major elections in Nigeria lies in the hands of a few members of the ruling class. Take 2015 for example, the fate of Buhari’s electoral victory was sealed on two occasions. One; the day El-rufai, Tunde Bakare and others successfully convinced Buhari and Tinubu to work together and commence the process leading to the creation of the country’s first merger party. Two, the day Goodluck Jonathan reneged on the promise he made to Northern Governors ahead of the PDP Primaries in 2011 not to seek re-election. These two occasions birthed the series of events that led to the branding of Buhari, a man whose tenure as a Military Head of State bears the mark of a wicked and ineffective leader, as the best man for the most important job in the country.
5.
So when Osinbajo described Buhari as a “patriot” and expressed his intention to “continue the good works” of the current administration, he was not appealing to the Nigerian populace. Not even you. Yes, you. He was appealing to the more important political structure of his principal, the President. Osinbajo understands that at the moment, he needs the President’s support more than that of outraged Nigerians. Sad, right?
6.
Away from Osinbajo, it’s important to discuss the lion that reportedly has knee problems, Bola Tinubu. In Tinubu’s presidential aspiration lies several questions about the polity of the Nigerian state. To be clear, Tinubu’s strongest campaign point so far, from my point of view, is that he deserves the office of the Presidency as a reward for the sacrifices he has made. Lol. He is not presenting a clear-cut plan of how he intends to transform Nigeria’s deeply rooted multidimensional problems. There is also the question of whether he has the physical and mental strength to man the rigours of the office.
7.
While discussing Tinubu’s ambition, it is important to x-ray the largely illogical noise from his supporters so far. Highlighting this noise is important because it shares the same trait with the ‘sai baba’ noise of 2015 that brought about the biggest electoral mistake in the country’s political history. Tinubu’s supporters have done a good job telling Nigerians how he has made his loyalists successful politically. NOTHING ELSE. However, they have hilariously failed to accept that Tinubu is as complicit in the moribund problems facing the country today as Buhari and Osinbajo.
8.
If you are in doubt, ask yourself if Tinubu, as the National Leader of the APC, has disagreed with this administration, policy-wise. As a matter of factly, when the time comes, if that’s what is required to get Buhari’s support at the primaries, Tinubu will not only call the President a “patriot”, he’d also bring back that analogy of how nations of the world turned to former military generals when they need true leadership.
9.
In the end, the decision regarding who would be the flag bearer of the APC at the 2023 elections would be made largely by Buhari, the same man we all agreed has failed monumentally. As for the PDP, the old brigades are circling, but we all know where that ticket is headed.
10.
But the biggest problem is that rather than discuss the plans of aspirants, analyse their manifestos and weigh their level of effectiveness, we are left with nothing but mere rhetoric that has no impact, policy-wise. That, dear reader, is the issue. And until we begin to rise above these shenanigans, including those from political e-rats, nothing will change.
