Sunny Agboju
From all indications, the political elite is doing everything possible to erode the success being made in what appears the beginning of rebuilding Nigeria. Meandering through the labyrinth of political maneuvers, socio-economic gimmicks, deception, arm twisting, barefaced lies, open threats and outright blackmail, those who must have power by all means have used the courts, sponsored violent demonstrations, etc, to agitate the canoe transporting Nigeria to the promised land. Just this morning I read in mainstream media that Oluomo’s organization (a known BAT loyalist and APC stalwart), has won the contract (from INEC) to transport all voting materials within Lagos. Doesn’t that ring a loud bell?
Well, we are waiting, and we are watching. As I survey the political horizon and read the staccato innuendos emerging from the marketplace of our ongoing campaigns, I cannot but be glad about one thing: the resurgence of patriotism in the average Nigerian.
Many months ago, most Nigerians, aside the political actors and their cohorts, nobody wanted anything to do with the election. The common reaction was that it wasn’t worth their while to waste their time for a thief, because either way, both candidates of the then only prominent parties (APC and PDP), were two sides of a coin – known thieves and accredited criminals. If nothing else, how they emerged candidates of their parties put off whatever was left of the hope that some somewhat credible leader like Osinbajo, Kwankwaso, etc was going to emerge. When it didn’t happen, the few Nigerians who had hope simply shifted their attention to their daily struggles for survival. And with that they resolve not to bother to vote, because it wasn’t worth anything queuing up on election day to vote for a thief.
But, as soon as Peter Obi emerged on the political scene, the atmosphere changed – and charged! In years past, political campaigns used to be awash with scenes of political pretenders and party clowns eating roasted corn by the roadside, hugging babies in orphanage homes, buying roasted plantain and hawking groundnuts in popular street corners, all to show their solidarity with the common man. But not this time around. Peter Obi’s appearance splashed a paint of seriousness on the scene and elevated the dignity of campaign. Very serious issues of concern became the themes of discussions – insecurity, the dying economy, corruption, fuel theft, injustice, etc. Town hall meetings, press appearances, interviews, lectures, intellectual engagements, became the order of the day. And suddenly, those who planned to dance or eat roasted corn or visit orphanage homes to hug babies, have fizzled out.
And suddenly too, the flag bearers of APC and PDP fled from press interviews and conference invitations. They ran! They couldn’t muster the confidence to stand before a now serious-minded audience ready to scrutinize their backgrounds, interrogate and x-ray their agenda in forthright, intellectual debates. They ran!
If nothing else, and no matter how you look at it, Peter Obi has clearly redefined the political landscape of the Nigerian nation. His commanding presence, his homely, humble, uncomplicated style, his thematic apperception, his methodical and unarguably distinctive and incisive focus on issues of relevance, all have combined to leave most Nigerian youths with no choice but to fall in love with him. He has succeeded in giving them hope where there was none. He has woken them up with his clarion call to reclaim their country.
Suddenly they see hope, possibility, and silver lining ahead. Quite unexpectedly, the citizenry is galvanized and there’s a resurgence of patriotism, not just amongst the youths but also amongst even old men who had thought they’d never see a beautiful Nigeria before they pass on. Now, the labourers know they can get rewarded for their labours, the students know it’s possible to graduate in four years and even get a job, and even children sing and dance with his name on their playgrounds.
My prayer is that may the political elite, especially those who have, and continue to undermine, our country, read the handwriting on the walls and know where to draw the red line in their inordinate ambition to seize and harness the country like a farm behind their house. When there’s an awakening such as we currently have, when people realize they have the power, only a non-discerning, overambitious fool will stand in the way.
Come February 25, 2023, the Nigerian people will speak, and thunderous and deafening will be the bang of their collective voice… Fellow OBIdients, keep up the good works – it’s only a little while more. Reclaiming the soul of our country is an idea whose time has come, and no army in the world can stop it!
Sunny Agboju is a Management Consultant based in Lagos State
