Omolola Pedro
The Presidential election of the Federal Republic of Nigeria held on the 25th of February. And if course, it featured deaths, violence, ballot box snatching, and voters intimidation, our regular trademark. It’d have been a huge surprise if we had an election devoid of any of these.
Then, the most crucial and highly anticipated part of it, INEC’s announcement of the selected, sorry elected “winner”.
The “frontliners” as the media and people refer to them (even though I don’t find it okay. Everyone should have a fair playground. You don’t automatically sideline the other people, because you think they do not have the clout) have been involved in series of campaigns, with all of them sharpening their skills, trying to convince the people why they should be the “Messiah” they so desire, like an Ibadan boy trying to tell a girl “I loff you so much, and I’ll do anything for you. Kas, or sek”.
Well, I must say, unlike the regular display of theatrical talents by these guys, where they suddenly remember to help the woman roasting corn by the roadside like she has not always been there, or they all of a sudden remember there are school kids who don’t feed well, the campaign this time is issue based, safe for the periodical comic relief we got from the now President -Elect of our CORNtry, the Bala-Blu crooner, who got even more popular after showing Nigerians that our renowned skit makers now have a strong CORNpetition in the industry.
One amazing and outstanding part of the election season is the fact that the youths have developed a strong interest in the way their country is run. It is said that the 2020 #EndSARS protests is the inspiration. A very commendable turnaround, as against the usual “it’s not my business” attitude the youths display during elections, in the past. Then the Peter Obi effect that detroyed the virus of voter apathy in many Southern Nigerian Youths.
Let’s talk about the peculiarities of these frontliners.
1. Bola Ahmed Tinubu with his Renewed Hope Mantra.
The Jagaban of Lagos, who is now interested in being the Jagaban of Nigeria. I mean why not? Have you seen daddy? His physical appearance alone suggests that he’s either a Jagaban or Jagabandit, depending on the circumstances of your first meeting. Some may even say Jagbajantis. It’s all perspectives.
A spectacular thing about his campaign was that while others were telling Nigerians what they have in plans for them to make the country better, Daddy Jagaban was busy trying to convince the world that he’s “fine”. He had to ride on a stationary motorbike to convince us that he’s okay. A video which was later found to be an old one. The people before now, have been of the opinion that even though Jagaban has the right to contest in an election, he is however too old and frail to do anything. The shocker we got is that BAT travelled round the country for his campaign. He visited the Northern, Southwest, Southeast parts of the states, even though on various occasions, he had to be helped to stand or walk, lest he fall.
That’s okay. It’s tiredness. I understand. The reason BATists think BAT is the best is because “he built Lagos”. Have you all seen Lagos? Goodness! The best thing after amala and abula, I know Ibadan people won’t agree. Tinubu was in AD, which later became AC, then, ACN and finally, APC, after forming a coalition with CPC, ANPP and other parties to defeat our gentle Ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan.
2. Atiku Abubakar with the Recover Nigeria agenda
Atiku wants to recover Nigeria with Ifeanyi Okowa, the incumbent governor of Delta state. This was the 6th time Atiku has tried to recover Nigeria but y’all won’t let him . What’s his offence? This man while he was Vice President to Obasanjo performed exceedingly well, unlike our BDSM VP, Yemi Osinbajo. One of Atiku’s phenomenal successes is the constant electricity we now enjoy, after investing billions to procure darkness, sorry dark light. Dark light because we have sight problems in Nigeria. I heard it’s caused by too much garri. Not like we don’t have what to eat, garri is just our favourite. Atiku was in the PDP, then to APC where he massively donated to General Buhari’s election, and now back to the PDP.
3. Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso and his Red Cap Movement.
A two time Governor of Kano state, who enjoys the love and support of his people in Kano. His running mate, Bishop Benson Idahosa is from Edo State. Kwakwanso was in the PDP, then to the APC and now to our redemption party, NNPP. Asides Kano, he didn’t win another state, and not much was heard about his red cap Kwakwansiya movement down south.
4. Peter Gregory Obi, with the New Nigeria mantra.
Peter, the delight of the youths, or at least the southern one.Peter was somehow able to convince the youths that he’s whom they need. What they’ve been waiting for, all their lives. The youths said they want someone away from the old order, and this is Peter. Not from the old order, even though he was a Governor in Anambra state under APGA, a running mate to Atiku in 2019, under PDP, and now in Labour party, as the presidential candidate, barely three weeks after he joined the party. Need I remind you that LP already had a flagbearer before then? Well, new order.
PO represents hope for the people, albeit short-lived, he has been able to let the people know that there’s a people’s power that can be used to get the people’s will.
It wouldn’t be nice of me not to mention that PO’s supporters, who call themselves Obidients, are the Buharists of this electoral season, maybe even worse. Blackmails, Cyber Bullying, Harassment, were an integral parts of the Obidients movement. While the APC unleashed physical harassment, the Obidients gave us the Electronic mode. It was crazy, believe me. If you were not for PO, then you’re a very wicked person who is not interested in Nigeria’s progress and “you have a corn in your pocket”.
According to the Nigerian Fact-checking Coalition, the most misinformation/disinformation in this electoral process, was from the Obidients camp. Doctored images, old videos with captions relating to current situation, Fake letters and Speeches of Endorsement, and the most recent one, the Doctored letter allegedly from fhe European Union, seeking that the 2023 elections be cancelled.
My overall take:
A unifying feature in these campaigns is the Tribal/Religious lines that candidates ran their campaigns. BAT with the “Yoruba Ronu”, they always tell Yoruba to Ronu only when it’s in their interest. Yorubas don’t have to ronu when there’s a common looting among the elites, Yoruba don’t have to ronu when Igangan people were dying and BAT was silent. Yorubas also didn’t have to ronu, when in a Southwest state, Yoruba children lost their lives to an easily avoidable massacre. Should we mention Afenifere? The Afenifefebis who are only interested in their interests. Yoruba Ronu. Wait, where’s Sunday Igboho? BAT also played the religious card, when he picked a Muslim Northerner to be his running mate. A Muslim-muslim ticket in a country like Nigeria is unacceptable for religious people. What happens to other religious groups? But BAT needed that for his Northern alignment, and I can say it’s one of the reasons more people tilted to the PO side. A Christian -Muslim ticket! Then the Presidential candidate is Igbo, after a long term wish that Nigeria also experience an Igbo President, PO came through. A large percentage of the Igbos went all out and it’s interesting to see. Even some non-Igbos supported PO because to be fair, Igbos too should be president. After all, we have tried Hausas and Yoruba.
PO also played the religious card. He went from one Christian gathering to another. Dunamis, Redemption Camp, Catholic camp ground, and had a lot of photos with respected and influential church leaders in Nigeria. Prophesies were flying around. Nigerian pastors can never be found useless in this regard. To be fair, almost all the candidates had photo sessions with religious leaders, save Sowore.
INEC has announced Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President -Elect, as many of us predicted. I’d as a matter of fact be rich in millions now, if I had taken up a bet offer. However the announcement was welcome with a loud silence. Safe for the people in his camp, there’s silence in the country. No joy. No enthusiasm. Some youths are so disappointed that they have begun to break their PVCs. They wanted a political Revolution.
Well, Peter is going to court. Atiku is going to court. They both want to reclaim their mandate.
It’s actually the people’s mandate which can only be made manifest by a Pro-masses candidate. A people’s candidate.
Because you can’t beat these guys to their games! They’re key players. Although, I must acknowledge that the Obidients had great outing the election. Labour party won Lagos state. That’s phenomenal. If nothing else, that’s a great win already.
The Nigerian people, particularly the youths should know that you can’t fight the Establishment with a Pro-establishment. You can’t do things the same way, and expect a different result.
Nigerians are lazy people and are looking for an easy way out of these problems. We do want to put in the work. To sensitise, organise, and mobilise by ourselves to achieve our goals. We want an already made politician. An establishment made.
We shouldn’t give up yet, because it’s not over until it’s over. Until we have an anti-establishment, backed by people’s power, we’d only continue to go in a circle. Freedom is not given, it is taken!
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