By Amatare Mozimo
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The craze for politicking and campaigns are here again. And usually in Nigeria, this phase comes with a fanfare of razzmatazz as citizens pit one political figure against another in trying to sell their preferred candidates. Since people think differently, perception and reception of the political messages differ. This breeds anarchy of some sort. Thus, fueling a more grueling impact on the populace; creating an uneasy atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.
The supporters of Peter Obi, popularly dubbed, “OBIdients”, have been adjudged the most insensitive of this era as they do not fail to throw tantrums at any and all who do not accept their idealistic ideology that Peter Obi is the Messiah for Nigeria we earnestly seek at this point in time. They cannot fathom the rationale for such abysmal view as they consider Obi different from the lot of corrupt re-cycled political effigies that dominate the landscape. They do not fail to rain convective at opposition as they consider it a waste of votes to thump for the old breed of Atiku Abubakar and Bola Tinubu – who they feel should be better buried in the political rubble than be given another chance to pilfer the till.
For the supporters of the Lagos Lord of Bourdillon, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, popularly tagged “Bobo Chicago” sorry, BAT, for short; as an acronym for his adopted name, long before Amuda was thrown into the Atlantic oblivion. to fit his new status of a freed slave. His supporters termed BATists, see him as the human development expert who had not only set the pace for the transformation of Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria, but has also been successful at empowering so many personalities including Nigeria’s incumbent Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and given them a better lease of life than they would have got if their path had not crossed with BAT.
For the proponents of the Cameroonian-born Waziri of Adamawa, His Excellency, Atiku “Sadiq” Abubukar, a former Vice President of Nigeria, they believe that considering his exposure to governance as a former Vice president, his ability for man power development during his heyday in the corridors of power is second to known. They are eager to tell you that it was Waziri who discovered the like of El Rufai, whose landmark policies set the tone for the transformation of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory to its present elite-state! Atiku’s scouting prowess for human capacity development in spite of his old age at 75, going 76, is still very much in the business of human capital poaching to bring out the best that can do the job of transforming Nigeria from her present comatose state!
These top three candidates – Obi, Tinubu and Abubakar – are the three Musketeers in the forthcoming 2023 Presidential election. While their supporters bicker and jostle among themselves on who the presidential cap best fits, let it be known that Nigeria had never had it so good of having three varied options to choose from as the next president. Regardless of the feelings of opposing supporters and their stance against the other, a view of these men from an optimistic purview show that they all have what it takes to give Nigerians the new lease of life we all earnestly crave for. This view might not be palatable with many critics, especially, political idealists, who prefer seeing the cup half-empty than half-dollar. But none the less, I dare to buttress my points in the affirmative.
One thing Nigerians have agreed upon so far, regardless of their stance on who gets the plum job of being Nigeria’s next president, is that one out of these top three candidates of the Labour Party (Obi), All Progressives Congress (APC) – Tinubu – or the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) – Atiku, might be the new Sheriff in Aso Rock come 2023, baring any unforeseen circumstances that might give all three a taste of the poisoned chalice before the D-Day.
Do not look at these trio from their negative perspectives as being bandied about by detractors. Yes. they all have shortcomings that might appear unforgivable, but who does not have one? That is why we are only humans with frailties and black spots, any way. For Bobo Chicago, apart from his ageing controversies, controversial certificate brouhaha and a tingling left arm, (obviously a symptom of Parkinson’s Disease, associated withe the aged), he also has the excess baggage of being perceived as a political warlord in control of a band of Lagos “Agberos” – street urchins with daring blows on traducers who cross their paths or interfere with the destiny of their benefactors!
BAT is also eyed as a staunch capitalist who would stop at nothing to fleece the treasury at the slightest touch once he gets the choice seat at Aso Rock. Critics of his, have cited his various jobs as Lagos helmsman, a two-time governor that has produced other governors since then on and used the opportunity at taking choice contracts especially those of internally generated revenue collection including the Lekki Toll Gate, the site of the infamous ENSARS Protests in October, 2020.
His AlphaBeta company is cited to have raked in billions of dollars to his kitty. For this capitalist posture, BAT IS perceived by many pundits in the opposition as a persona non grata for the Aso Villa vacancy in 2023 – A view that I vehemently disagree with regardless of his ageing status and health challenge!
As for the Waziri, his Achilles’s heel, has always been that apart from belonging to the Septuagenarian club of the old hags, he is also a recycled politician of the old breed that do not deserve another taste of Aso Rock having served two terms as Vice President under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration from 1999 to 2007. Atiku is contesting for the post of the President of Nigeria for the sixth time. From 1992 to 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and now again for the 2023 Presidential Election. What has Atiku forgotten in Aso Rock that he must become Nigeria’s President to recover in his life time?
Atiku’s testimonial of alleged corruption is better known by his erstwhile boss, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who in his book, “My Watch” does not fail to describe Atiku as “fantastically corrupt” to borrow the phrase of the Bishop of Edinburgh, and that the monies fleeced from the Nigerian state treasury and other sources during his tenure as Vice President is able to feed generations for as long as eternity. However way it is put, Atiku is perceived by critics as part of the corrupt breed of Nigeria’s political leaders who do not deserve another shot at the Presidency! A view, again, I personally disagree with!
As for the new found idealist – Peter Obi, this man gives me the goose pimple as I laugh each time I see him or hear him talk. His views of policy direction are so detailed, backed up with unverified global statistics to display his knowledge as one who has done his homework right but they are so laced with a tomboy narrative that leaves much to be desired. Those statistics gotten from UN and the likes are only data! That’s what they are. At best, figures on soft graphs and pictograms. Here, in Nigeria, where the facts on ground are far from being authentic. These data are incorrect and largely distorted. So. Obi’s reliance on such statistics are at best delusional! Obi is seen by many as the bridge builder considering his public outlook as a man of integrity and transparency. He has less exposure in governance than other major counterparts, though he was a two-time Governor of Anambra State whose stay in power was so topsy-turvy as he spent more times fighting the system until his tenure elapsed.
In spite of Obi’s sterling attributes that set him apart from the other bigger two of the three Musketeers, he still has some obvious shortcomings. Obi is considered stingy. He does not give out cash. In fact a popular slogan of the OBIdient Movement as captured in local pidgin parlance has: “we no dey give shishi!” Meaning, “we don’t give out money for waste!” Compared to the others who have empowered so many businessmen and political war horses working to secure their return to power again, Obi, has little or no money bags to dole out free cash for vote buying which has become the order of the day to win over gullible, poverty stricken electorates – who are ever ready to sell their votes for a paltry pot of porridge or a pack of salt or even kulikuli if made availbale on poll day.
Beyond being stingy, Obi is perceived as not having the political structure and wide exposure needed by a Nigerian president to solve the myriads of challenges that confront the president on daily basis. This view, I beg to distance from. Obi has been part of Nigeria economic team for years. He had served as Special Adviser on Economy and as such had been abreast with the peculiarities of Nigeria’s challenges and economic woes that need urgent fix.
Having perused the views and perceptions of these top three candidates ahead of the 2023 presidential poll, it can be observed that they all have their frailties and weaknesses as well as their strengths. While their various supporters used the negative sides to puncture the ego of perceived opponents, and emphasized their own strength to strengthen their camps desire to be in Aso Rock come 2023; they deliberate omit the strength of the opposing camps so as to score points and advance their political cause.
The point is, we are all humans. There is no perfect person. There is nothing that guarantees that having a perfect candidate is the only way to fix Nigeria. An imperfect candidate with his negative sides might also be a ble to fix Nigeria. Donald Trump America’s 46th president had his weaknesses of being loquacious and out-rightly arrogant but he had his better side too as a shrewd business man that could turn around America’s economy for the better. Did he succeed in keeping with his mandate? Your guess is as bad as mine! Barrack Obama too, had his frailties of being an inexperienced black man with a stunted view of foreign affairs relations and other international diplomatic requirements for a US-nation with a global stake. This was in spite of him also having the trait of him being a brilliant young lawyer who represents the future stock of America’s revolution! He also had his shortcomings too and whether he succeeded as America’s president or not is yours to tell. But in all, the point is, every one aspiring for the office Nigeria’s president deserves a chance to be given the opportunity to be proven right or wrong.
Any of these top three musketeers can make Nigeria work again. Their supporters do not need to fight one another. If Obi gets the job, it is fine. He is sane and transparent enough to bring the desired change to Nigeria so long as others work with him to achieve this set goal. If Atiku or Tinubu gets the job, it is also fine and good. Atiku and Tinubu have shown capacity for recruiting and assembling egg-heads that can change Nigeria for good. His age not withstanding. After all how old is the incumbent president of America? He is 79 years old and counting and still working. What about Donald Trump and George Bush? They were in their late 70s as presidents in White House. Age is nothing but numbers. Atiku or Tinubu, we should forget this age ramble and focus on governance. It is even the young ones that are shouting thief, thief that have been shown to be more susceptible to pilfer the treasury than these political hags who are at their twilight years!
YarAdua was young and in his mid fifties when he became president. He was the one that left us mid way in spite of his young age. So no one should play God to use age as a barrier to leadership. A younger age does not guarantee good leadership. The older the wine, the sweater it is! No one gave president Mohammadu Buhari a chance to life when he was clamoring to be President. Many thought he wouldn’t survive eight years of two terms owing to his frail health, then. But today, we are all shocked at his strength and perseverance! He has outlived even those who wished him death! Age is nothing but numbers. Allow Tinubu and Atiku to achieve their dreams, who knows what miracles can happen? It is only God that knows the future not you and me!
The crux of this article is to look at these too three major political contenders from the optimistic prism. Despite their shortcomings, three of them have what it takes to turn around Nigeria regardless of what rival opposition forces want us to believe. Obi can transform Nigeria just the same way Atiku and Tinubu can. They have all done it in their previous capacities as public servants and by our support, any of them can do it again. This is my stand!
Let us explore this optimistic option as a win-win for all of us. These three musketeers represent the three major tribes of Nigeria. Yoruba (Wa) – Hausa (zo) – Igbo (bia): WAZOBIA! It is time we all worked together for Nigeria’s unity and economic liberalization! Say no to smear campaigns of calumny that divide us rather than unite us. It is an ill wind that blows no good! We are better and stronger as one in this Trinity! What Tinubu can do, an Obi can do and even better! What Obi can do, an Atiku can do, and even better! What Atiku can do, a Tinubu can do and even better! But together they can be best. Each one, should embrace the other during this electioneering period. After all, only one of the three can win. We are better together than apart!
-*Amatare Mozimo, an essayist and social critic writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
