Comrade Umar Osabo
Politics in Nigeria has been a wash in the babbling for power without a corresponding patriotic contents.
The political scene of Nigeria has not only been saturated with petty issues like age, religion and my tribe hasn’t occupied the seat of President since 1966 among other trivial issues.
And the seemingly social media actors (youths) had their full day adding sault to the injuries of the country.
Taken a cursory glance at what mutated to the outcome of February, 25th Presidential and National Assembly elections, my pen sojourned to every nook and cranny of Nigeria. Here are what my pen gathered:
Let me Salute Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) for a huge breakthrough.
Even though many analysts described the votes he got in the last contest as a “protest votes”, he has climbed the ladder of formidable forces in Nigerian politics.
It is a protest votes because of the APC Muslim- Muslim ticket, Naira redesign and fuel scarcity which were deliberately created to incite Nigerians against the ruling party.
Whether it was a ploy by the cabals to end APC reign or the Naira redesign was meant to end votes buying or fight corruption, the entire policy appeared to be ill-timing and executed!
Many pens have shifted blames to PMB who refused to think outside the box as though he was acting under a spell! Thank God, he later apologized to Nigerians.
Going back to Obi and the use of the pulpits for campaigns and the application of extended metaphors or conceits that portrayed himn as a Saint from the East we must all vote for or perished as a nation! My pen was just laughing!
The South East and Christian communities across the northern Nigeria channeled their energies in a ballot box of Obi. It was a subtle Islamaphobia in action orchestrated by an archangel!
What would future elections in Nigeria be like if we play politics along religious’ line considering the numerical strength of Muslims in Nigeria?
Atiku Abubakar of PDP is another political bulldozer in Nigerian politics who has been contesting for the seat of president since 1993. I was in JSS2.
Being Peter Obi’s boss who seems to have a deeper understanding of politics, he also campaigned by the principle of Naka sai naka( your own is your own). Suggesting that the northern Muslims ought to vote him because he is from the north!
Atiku’s obsession to become the next president of Nigeria appeared to have blinded him. He too played a politics of region and religion . My Pen only saw emotion at work!
I sincerely appreciate Peter Obi’s performance despite his divide and rule campaign strategy, he was able to achieve what no Igbo man has achieved politically since 1966.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC was at a point so emotional when he sensed antagonism from the cabals in Muhammadu Buhari led government.
Emilokan (It is my turn) ought not to come out from his mouth no matter the frustration.
But, he didn’t base his campaign on religion, region or clan. He seemed to be aptly cosmopolitan in most of his political speeches throughout the electioneering campaigns.
Though, I was never in support of a Muslim-Muslim ticket of APC at first instance. But when I used my political lens to x-ray northern Nigeria and their huge votes, if Tinubu had chosen a Christian from the north he is most likely going to lose most of the votes he got there.
But is the same religion’s ticket a new thing in Nigerian politics?
Let me start with General Yakubu Gowon who ruled Nigeria for 9 years, his Vice was Navy Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey, a Christian.
Major General Aguiyi-Ironsi’s Deputy Head of State was Babafemi Olatunde Ogundipe, a Christian.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s running mate in the 1979 General elections was Philip Umeadi, a Christian.
Dr Nnamdi Azikwe’s running mate in the 1979 General election was Ishaya Audu, a Christian from Kaduna State.
The running mate of MKO Abiola in the 1993 General election was Baba Gana Kingkibe, a Muslim from Borno State just like Ibrahim Kashim Shettima, Tinubu Vice Presiddnt-Elect.
The most difficult paragraph to swallow in this my short piece is this:
Tinubu must work hard to identify our differences and look for suitable ways to celebrate them!
That was what Abraham Lincoln did in America that made him the best president of America ever!
Mahatma Ghandi of India and Pa Nelson Mandela of South Africa all used this principle to heal the political wounds of their countries.
And my appeal to Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi is: Follow the legal path of settling your grievance, please.
Nigeria is the only country we have. Therefore, it must be placed above any person or group of persons’ interests throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
May God bless Nigeria
Comrade Umar Osabo is a Creative Writer, Journalist, Teacher and Public Affairs Analyst
