TheCable

Each time we are having elections being conducted in Nigeria, it usually puts me off, because everything is by and large sent to bed, by those in the corridors of power. And the political-thugs they employ in order to retain themselves in power are very good at enveloping the country with fear. As an effect of the fear of being killed by stray bullets, schools are closed; offices and markets are placed under lock. These and more constantly happen in a nation that professes to be 21st century compliant.

Also, during elections, instead of all of us to come together, speaking as one man, many enemies are consciously and unconsciously made, both online and offline, dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines.  Since last week Saturday, I have taken my time to evaluate the just concluded Presidential, National Assembly and House of Representatives elections and it is observable and palpable that most Nigerians are not serious a hoot. People would complain and lament as the weeping prophet—that the country is not doing fine—in every aspect of our national life, but when elections come, they would vote along ethnic and religious lines, rewarding callousness, lack of empathy, mediocrity and cluelessness. Nigeria is probably the only nation where leadership-tragedy is rewarded with victory.

After voting on Saturday, I expected to see two clear trends, but to my chagrin, I couldn’t see them. How do I mean? I expected those in IDP camps in the northern part of Nigeria to massively vote against President Buhari because of their needless suffering and I also expected most voters to vote against Atiku Abubakar because of the major role his political party played in destroying Nigeria for sixteen (16) years. I know there is no difference between those in the PDP and APC, but as far as I am concerned, the brand of the PDP is dead and buried in Nigeria. In 2015, we carried it’s coffin!

After it became clear to me on Monday that many millions of Nigerians have rewarded PMB with victory, even while they and their children are swimming in the pool of defeat, I know that people’s agitation and stir is never about Nigeria, it is clear as water that it is about selfish interests. While I will continue to objectively hold the administration of PMB and subsequent ones accountable, my position on the suffering of the common man has changed. It is needless to fight for those who enjoy suffering.

Everything that makes political-leaders lose elections in sane climes happens here, but instead of punishing our own here by sending them to their varied villages, we reward them with victory, celebrating leadership-letdown. There cannot be true and enduring development in Nigeria for now, because no nation grows when the people are sectional and merely religious. We are not ready yet as a nation!

Furthermore, the just concluded elections have revealed that every ruling political party behaves same way in order to retain power. Posterity will reveal whether money was spent by the APC (in the just concluded elections) same way it was spent by the PDP in 2015. To retain power in Nigeria, what you spend is not integrity, what you spend is money, heavy-duty money!

Humorously, the Sun has finally set (at noon-time) on some political leaders in Nigeria. The influence they used to wield and exert in times past has finally crashed like an aircraft and a new political leader is here, I do not like his style of politics though. Who am I talking about? I am talking about Bola Tinubu!  As far as I am concerned, he is the ‘greatest’ politician alive. He removed a president and he has also successfully secured another four (4) years for another one!

I advise the likes of Dr Obasanjo Obsanjo and other passing leaders—to retire finally from both active and passive politics. The time has come for them all to start playing the role of Statesmen as Yakubu Gowon has been doing since he left power some decades ago. They all brought us to the ignominious state and place we have found ourselves today as a nation, so they should go hit the sac, asking for forgiveness from God and Nigerians, because the day of reckoning beckons.

While there isn’t much that makes one happy about the just concluded elections, it is worth mentioning the voting out of some politicians. I did smile when I heard that some ravenous politicians were voted out of power by their people. It is morally wrong to have been a Senator and Governor and still wanted to become a Senator again. We all know that it is not about selfless-service anymore. It is all about free-money.

I do know that folks like Godswill Akpabio and Abiola Ajimobi would be given fresh appointments by President Buhari, but folks as Bukola Saraki and others would need to endure being politically-jobless for the next four (4) years! It can be so painful missing out on free money for the next four (4) years. This is the major reason our politicians kill to retain power, because power is not used for service in this clime, it is only being used for personal aggrandizement.

Also, I appeal to the INEC to stop using our Corps members for their obsolete and outmoded way of conducting elections! Some days ago, I was shown the picture of a lifeless Corps member—whose promising life was cut short by a stray bullet. It can be so painful being killed at that stage of life, after suffering for years to go to school, studying while wrestling both hunger and power-outage. You may not like this, but the truth is; Nigeria is not worth dying for. If I am wrong, while is it that the children of those in the corridors of power are not being sent out to go and die for Nigeria?

Lastly, President Buhari’s political second-coming may not be different from the first one that ends in the month of May, 2019. While he looks healthier now than he was when he first came to power in 2015, I doubt if it is in him to lead us one people. Nigeria is currently divided and cannot be led as she is. It will take a leader, who is not sectional to bring together every tribe in Nigeria. Is he going to be able to do that? Is he going to stop being sectional beyond May, 2019? Will he sack some quiescent Ministers in his cabinet? Is he going to be fully in-charge as the President of Nigeria? Answers to these questions and more, you will find out in the days ahead.