Two desperadoes operating in opposition to Nigeria

For a very long time, Nigeria has bandied round what has amounted to a delusion that whoever seeks the presidency hardly will get it. Historic observers have variously posited that what we now have virtually at all times had are “unintended” presidents—males reluctant to step out for management roles however who by some means, via whimsical engineering of destiny, discover the presidency thrust on them. A run via the checklist of our previous leaders, civilian and navy, attests to this. It was a delusion that held up till Main Common Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) confirmed up and ran till he finally turned president in 2015. Properly, Nigeria’s luck additionally appears to have modified as a result of the age of the unintended president appears over. In 2023, two of the candidates who will run on the platform of the main events are probably the most determined politicians Nigeria ever noticed. And these are males which have been operating longer than Buhari.

You realize it already, however I’ll state it anyway: each Abubakar Atiku and Bola Tinubu—related in virtually each respect—are operating in opposition to the nation. One in all them will doubtless change into the president, however will probably be to Nigeria’s loss.

Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Get together, who has been on the march since 1993, and Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress have a number of issues in frequent. One, their said life ambitions have at all times been about changing into the president. Political ambitions aren’t essentially dangerous however these are males for whom the presidency is an finish. Two, each should be acutely conscious that point is not on their aspect. In the event that they lose in 2023, the following 4 years shall be extra advanced whereas the following eight years are too far off to ensure something. This time would possibly effectively be their final probability to fulfil their respective private ambition. Whereas 2023 is yet another strive for Atiku, it’s Tinubu’s first emergence as a presidential candidate. Their respective ages (and therefore organic realities) are sufficient to drive them to mad desperation. Their time is now or by no means.

The third issue that unites these males is that Nigeria ranks low on the size of their priorities. They need the presidency for its sake; Nigeria comes solely later.

Atiku particularly has run in virtually each presidential election since 2007. Every electoral enterprise should have bled him financially however he by no means appears to tire. He nonetheless reveals up for one more election. Figuring out how shut he’s to his life aim now, one can wager that the upcoming cash rain shall be akin to God opening the home windows of heaven. Fortunately, our society takes it without any consideration that the cash that funds elections in Nigeria can not however be soiled. We have now even given a euphemism for such shady cash: a “warfare chest.” That method, we not less than mute the pangs of conscience earlier than it reminds us of the cash supply.

Tinubu then again has a based popularity of successful elections utilizing each means doable. His latest outburst in Abeokuta when he thought he can be denied the social gathering ticket is sufficient to inform you how badly he itches to be gifted the presidency. It’s onerous to recover from that asukungbade act. An previous man crying, convey this factor (the presidency); it’s my flip aptly illustrates the diploma of his desperation. For him to be aching so badly to be made president, he’ll cease quick at nothing throughout electioneering. Within the coming months, he will certainly convey out his putative “warfare chest” and match Atiku greenback for greenback (the naira doesn’t depend on this recreation), ego for ego and desperation for desperation.

It’s by some means tempting to lament how our presidential selections have been largely bracketed between these two lacklustre candidates however that was within the offing all alongside. The poor selections of Atiku and Tinubu didn’t creep in on us; we zombie-walked into their emergence over time. The PDP’s destiny was already tied to Atiku and I don’t suppose anybody who knew Nigeria sufficient anticipated that the APC conference that ended on Wednesday can be any redeeming both. In actual fact, one of many realities that emerged via the entire occasion at Eagle Sq. was how a lot additional the management pool in Nigeria has thinned out. We had a number of brilliant spots in some unspecified time in the future however a number of the characters turned out to be simply mere props that had been sponsored to return and unfold a patina of legitimacy over the worst of all of the aspirants.

It was irritating that a number of the candidates who had supposedly paid N100m to suggest their pursuits selected to “step down” on the final minute. When youthful candidates don’t see any prospects in themselves past “stepping down” for a debilitating previous man, you have to know such an surroundings is just too poisonous for something to develop. In any case, all of the “eleyis” who selected to step down within the warmth of the second as a result of it was expedient should know they did us an enormous favour. With their actions, they confirmed us that they might not have stepped up for Nigeria even when ever given an opportunity. One would have imagined that having come that far, they’d not less than have stood their floor and demonstrated a conviction to serve. They won’t win finally, however they might have used the chance to say another imaginative and prescient for the nation. However no, they needed to promote themselves quick. Anyway, we can also do with out their unrelenting subservience to paternalism, their small-mindedness coupled with their blinding myopia, and even their time-wasting antics. Good riddance to all their dangerous garbage.

It’s attention-grabbing that come 2023, Nigeria shall be saddled with two bland selections, each of whom are related in a number of respects. With vp Yemi Osinbajo defeated, Tinubu’s supporters will relaxation the propelling narrative of “betrayal” that has animated all of them these months. The conspiracy theories of a looming RCCG-fication agenda too are nearly as good as lifeless (not less than for the second). They may quickly want different metaphors of sowing disaffection to set off primal instincts. In contrast to 2015, each Atiku and Tinubu are Muslims; elevating the spectre of one other purported Islamisation agenda is unlikely to have a motivational influence on the polity. Except they pitch the standard of their Islamic religion in opposition to each other, faith will not be a differentiating high quality between them. You may need seen although, that sure folks have began to discuss with Tinubu as “Alhaji.” They could begin racing to show who loves the Prophet extra.

Mockingly, each males have a public popularity for gross corruption and abuse of workplace. You can not narrate the historical past of corruption in Nigeria since 1999 with out carving a considerable portion of the account for Atiku and Tinubu. In a way, that public notion is lucky for his or her marketing campaign as a result of neither one will trouble to tackle the opposite on problems with corruption. If both one touches on that sensitive topic, they’ll see themselves with out the help of a mirror. The optimistic aspect of such mutually assured embarrassment is that Nigerians shall be spared the upcoming destiny of being subjection to hypocritical claims of anti-corruption by males who ought to have lengthy been locked up in Kirikiri Custodian Centre. After Buhari, “integrity” as a prerequisite for public management is nearly as good as lifeless anyway.

The joker they’ve left is area/ethnicity. The approaching months will doubtless be devoted to whipping up a North vs. South sentiment. The safety state of affairs within the nation will give them loads of materials to dispense for that objective.

When I was filled with hope for Nigeria, I’d have enjoined that folks look past the politicking and demand a plan from these males. Given how a lot Nigeria has suffered, nothing else ought to matter than the candidates’ plans, applications and viable insurance policies. Nonetheless, watching the identical folks whose lives have been systematically despoiled and more and more diminished by the politics of the final eight years mouth “betrayal” has, admittedly, tanked my positivity. Individuals are too cheaply swayed by drama and that’s the gimmick that shall be used to stroke them within the coming months. They’re those betrayed by those that promised higher in 2015, however they barely noticed that. Quite than advocate for their very own good, they ignored the APC betrayal and as a substitute obsessed over the mere contest of ambitions between Tinubu and Osinbajo.

Copyright PUNCH.

All rights reserved. This materials, and different digital content material on this web site, might not be reproduced, revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in entire or partially with out prior specific written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]