₦airaland Forum

Opinions of people like us who are yet to attain national recognition may be greeted with shallow acceptance but that shouldn’t deter us from ‘putting mouth’ in national issues, especially ones that affect our collective well-being.

They say, when people move, it is a long process. Political movement is an aftermath of very long thought-out processes. Nigeria politics in particular has witnessed the most of movements; which range from exodus of renegade party members, often described as cross-carpeting, to calculative withdrawal of support effected by godfatherism.

At the core of this godfatherism is a recurring, renown figure whose personality rests largely on his legacy of being the first and only Nigerian military ruler to effect a successful transfer of power to a civilian government. At a time when arbitrary rule of the uniformed men was abundant in Africa, it was historical and somewhat a very rare display of patriotism to see the Nigerian general, Olusegun Obasanjo, cede power to a democratically elected government. That and many more occurrences that would happen twenty years later and beyond, made OBJ, as he is fondly called, the biggest tree in Nigeria political landscape.

Right from Nigeria’s democracy till date, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has either been the president or been the rain that teaches other trees in the political landscape how to dance. He does this either through direct support or by chastising through the blue on white. Paradoxically, he has chastised two of those he gave direct support, with the third embracing the comfort of a coffin before he could be chastised. Such is his prowess! The president that once refused to be chastised by rubbishing the blue contents on the white paper is now an ex-president. Although, he was going to be, but not as quick if he had adhered.

One man determining what is to be is very bad for a country full of intellectuals. By intellectuals, I mean the members of youth who despite their level of exposure and education, still allow an octogenarian the full power to call the shots, always and always. While we sing in our anthem that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain, we ought to be conscious of the fact that an octogenarian is of the past. Like an age-long African folklore posits: if you take a monkey to London and brings it back, it will still behave like a monkey. Even though being once the country’s president, travelling far and wide with lots of international recognition, an 80-year old man will always belong to the past. I want to make good my stance by highlighting the implications of persistence one-man choice on the youth.

1. Chaos on the choice of leadership in the event the octogenarian goes beyond. A large section of the Nigerian populace sees Obasanjo as the one to point to them who they will go down at the poll with. This is why his recent chastising of the present government is being over-celebrated by some particular groups. In a saner clime, where everything works as expected, a letter from the country’s elder(eldest) statesman to the incumbent government should be seen as a legendary ‘correctional facility' and not a pointer to what happens at the (next) poll.
2. Enthronement of genrotocracy. Of course, that is what we have in the country already. Continuous granting of OBJ’s wish at the poll will only elongate our years under old men rule. If OBJ’s letter could influence us to drive out a 58-year old ruler at the poll, substituting him with a 72-year old grandfather, it is safe to say that the same influence can be exerted to queue behind a 90-year old man.

Lalasticlala,
Mynd44,
Seun

3. Giving Chief Obasanjo the power he does not possess. By celebrating OBJ’s letter to the incumbent, we satisfy his egoistic needs. Every man has his ego, and watching Nigerians celebrating over his attempt to pull down a government is what OBJ enjoys doing. He had done it, and he is doing it. That he WILL do it is what the youth should come against. If it continues, it will result in a bad trend. Ex-presidents will find solace in bringing down future governments in retaliation for what was done to them. If they do not possess same OBJ’s statesman-like charisma to write letters, they may invent their own ways.

Importantly, to be noted, is that OBJ’s choice of candidacy and reasons for writing letters are both driven by self-satisfaction, and not for the betterment of the nation as he may want us to believe. No one can blame him for Yar’adua’s death, but the choice of Goodluck Jonathan was based on godson-godfather relationship and the ousting of Jonathan was NEVER for the good of the nation but to punish the son for daring the father.

Political calculation is indeed a very long process. OBJ must have taken his time in drafting out his recent letter to the incumbent president. He is aware of happenings in his erstwhile party and like the evil genius he is, he expertly put the PDP in a cloud, very well out of the masses' view. He instead, proposed a coalition of well-meaning Nigerians.

The two likely aspirants from the PDP are OBJ’s political sworn enemies – the Waziri of Adamawa and the Oshoko of Ekiti state. If all things remain equal, 2019 may be the year for the youth to save the future from the Obasanjo monotony. We have the choice to be influenced by his letter while we have no choice to see a youthful government. In reality, we have only one choice: REVOLUTION!
.
.

Chidozie Martins Ugwu, an undergraduate of Economics in the University of Lagos.




Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Seun

Sarrki, madridguy, ngeneUkwenu...... What are your views?

Let us rally together for Sarrki as President, Madam Ngenekwenu as Vice President and Madrid.guy as Senate President for a better Nigeria.

Umartins1:
Sarrki, madridguy, ngenekwenu...... What are your views?

Well said..btw,which nairalander are you going to vote if he/she decides to contest?

H

madridguy:
Let us rally together for Sarrki as President, Madam Ngenekwenu as Vice President and Madrid.guy as Senate President for a better Nigeria.

Lol. And I will be at the forefront of opposition

MichaelBukamzy:
Well said..btw,which nairalander are you going to vote if he/she decides to contest?

Sarrki. .. The guy has too many enemies, which shows he must be doing something right.

Nltaliban:
H

Do you think an article by a non-established author like me can make front page? This was not written by Dele Momodu nor a Nairaland mod

Umartins1:
Do you think an article by a non-established author like me can make front page? This was not written by Dele Momodu nor a Nairaland mod

If it's worthy of being on fp, it will

Nltaliban:
If it's worthy of being on fp, it will

Lol. Is Tonto Dikeh nyansh worthy of fp?

It is allowed.

Umartins1:
Lol. And I will be at the forefront of opposition

madridguy:
It is allowed.

Lol

One day, I'll be established as an author. I challenge myself.

Umartins1:
Chidozie Martins Ugwu, an undergraduate of Economics in the University of Lagos.




Lalasticlala
Mynd44
Seun

Excellent. The last line captures it. Just one choice. REVOLUTION! Hope this makes fp.

stancydg:
Excellent. The last line captures it. Just one choice. REVOLUTION! Hope this makes fp.

Wow. Thank you. I hope it does