The Elections Have Come But Not Gone… (Part 2)

Phew! I mean Phew!! And a big PHEW!!! Finally, the elections have come and gone, oh have they? Your guess is as good as mine. The main koko was the Presidential elections but we all knew the gubernatorial elections would be more hostile and of course they were. The President might be the most important person in the country and on whose table the bucks stop, the governors are the ones who truly deliver the “dividends” of democracy to the people. They are the ones who truly reflect what our democracy is all about to us the most populous sector of the government.
The truth is being a resident of Lagos state, I am more concerned with what happens in the state as much as I am concerned with what happens in my home state where no gubernatorial election was held. So with no emerging governor in my home state to look forward to, I focused my attention on the Tinubu/Fashola/Ambode vs the George/Obanikoro/Agbaje thingy because in the end it was another smear campaign not an ideal electoral campaign. During the course of campaign, Ambode once referred to Jimi Agbaje’s pharmacy as a chemist store while the Lagos state PDP tried to milk the very stupid statements that spewed out of the mouth a man who is supposed to be the Oba of Lagos (I am still very disappointed at Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the man messed up his hallowed crown). There was a debate and for people vying to lead the most influential state in the country, they both performed below standard. In the end it was going to be based on sentiments and the choice of parties because honestly if there was a “sounder” mind and if there was another mega party aside the two, both men would have been taken to the cleaners.

Now to the reason I am writing this piece; have you noticed the way Igbos have been sulking and lamenting about the loss of President Goodluck Jonathan; even more than those from the South-South who have become tired of their name-calling and throwing the blame around? The Igbos had put their eggs in one basket with no finesse or ideology and have succeeded in turning themselves to the laughing stock of post-election Nigeria. I don’t expect President-in-waiting Muhammadu Buhari to be vindictive as someone like former President Olusegun Obasanjo would be even though I know he has the tendency; I still expect somethings to “fly” Ndigbo as a lesson for their blind followership of a man they knew was offering the country next to nothing in terms of the potentials at his disposal. I expect Buhari to be a father to all but like as he said recently; na dos wey work go first chop. Ndigbo went into the elections with no plan A talk more of plan B and the collection of some greedy men called Ohaneze Ndigbo as always have not been anything useful to the Igbos. I ask again; what have they contributed to Ndigbo? Afenifere are also another body that has so many things in common with Ohaneze, even though they have done more in the past for their people. The most formidable “tribal” body has always been Arewa and they would continue to be until the others realize they are there to serve their people not to fill their pockets with dirty money.

The Igbos should have themselves to blame though; while the North and the West were creating a powerful alliance which stood behind Buhari and Osinbajo (though I can say emphatically, if President Jonathan had performed well, they won’t have had any prayer), they were busy chasing sentiments and bickering about GEJ serving his second tenure like there is a place in the constitution that says any president is mandated to serve a second tenure regardless of how he performed. The North and the West showed real political maturity; I’m sure there were major players behind the curtain whom we might never know about forever while the South were hoping their son would gain some sympathy and the East who think the most surprising stance of all were citing the past of Buhari and how the previous presidents from the North had wasted our resources like that was what was at stake. They dug their grave and expertly buried themselves in it.

Away from that, Rivers state is still on fire as the losers of the elections are still shouting “I no gree” “I no gree” forgetting say I no gree I no gree dey tear shirt. Looking at the figures which were reminiscent of the ones gotten from the presidential elections, it is fair to say that, they should quickly gree because we don’t see any change coming in that aspect. Rotimi Amaechi, somewhere, somehow lost the plot and stopped carrying his people along and now his boy Dankuku has to take his shots. Veteran Comedian Ali Baba tweeted something funny even with a #RotimiAmaechi hashtag; He that kills with the gun dies by the gun. Someone should please tell me what that means. The APC phenomenon swept over the West as they left other parties in their. Again another veteran entertainer; movie producer Fidelis Duker pointed out that if the Oyo state Labour and Accord Parties had formed an alliance against the APC, they would have the elections but one thing he forgot to check is; if the y formed an alliance, one of the governor candidates would end up forfeiting his ambition for the other and in so doing might even choose to move over to the APC with his supporters and he would get them to support the APC incumbent Governor.

I have concerns about the security of some states in the country but I know God who has kept us safe from harm’s way and made these elections peaceful would continue in his infinite mercies to guide us. While I still hold the belief that Professor Attahiru Jega is the most important person in Nigeria now, we should not forget God is the one who made everything possible and directed the paths of our electoral process and we say may all glory and adoration be unto Him.

God bless Nigeria!