Let me begin with the indelible words of Distinguished Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, a sitting senator in the current 9th NASS, a medical doctor and Nigerian politician from Enugu State. Sen Nnamani previously served as the Governor of Enugu State from 1999 to 2007.
The Senator representing Enugu East in the National Assembly, in a recent tweets posited: “Peter “Gringory” Obi has set the Igbo political trajectory 24 years back. He has become a twin blight and scourge on the land. His devious opium served to Christians within sections of Nigeria and to Igbo domiciled in different sections of Nigeria is wicked and dangerous.”
Furthermore, an extract from Dele Alake, which goes thus; “……for Obi, he would go down as Nigeria’s most dangerous and divisive politician. He elevated his well-known clannish mentality to a most unfortunate height by openly anchoring his campaign on religion and ethnicity.
“He presented himself as a poster boy for and a champion of our country’s fault lines. He took advantage of our youths whose expectations are fast paced, who are uninterested in excuses, and who were in search of a hero. He pumped up their sentiments and rode on their emotions while grandstanding as a saviour.”
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Given this scenario, I have tried, thus far, to search through history and situates the political rage called ‘Obidient’ Peter Obi’s phenomenon which certainly will become just a thick, dark cloud without the expected rain! In these regard, one brilliant English writer once said that politicians should never read history books and should cultivate short memories. He believes that many owe their downfall to misguided attempt to translate the lesson of the past to current policies.
In one sense it appears like a cynical advice and in another it’s a wise admonition. It should, therefore, not surprise anyone that this contribution is focusing on the Peter Obi’s phenomenon. Hence, the issues of allegations of a “stolen mandate” in which the Labour party candidates claim that they won the elections based on their own collated results from the polling units by their agents and must be declared. Sadly in their twisted minds they have a “mandate” that was stolen.
Coincidentally, there seems to be similarities between Peter Obi, his protege in the Lagos governorship election, their postulations and the recent message from Donald Trump, which goes thus: “This is the most dangerous time in the history of our Country,” the former president wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. “World War III is looming, like never before, in the very dark and murky background. ‘Leadership’ is solely responsible for this unprecedented danger to the USA, and likewise, the World. HOPELESS JOE BIDEN IS LEADING US INTO OBLIVION!!!”
Coming in its trail, the presidential election results and the subsequent Governorship election of 18th March 2023, has successfully heightened tension. This is an ominous sign of the dangers ahead, if left unchecked. Olusegun Obasanjo’s poisonous letter and many other criminal misadventures including Peter Obi’s inciting statements and that of his protege in the Lagos election, instigating violence have similarities with January 6, 2021 of the capitol hill insurrection.
Following the defeat of U.S. President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, a mob of his supporters attacked the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. The mob sought to keep Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the electoral college votes to formalize the victory of President-elect Joe Biden.
In conclusion, the significance of today in the United States of America where Donald Trump’s arrest is imminent should serve as both a wake up warning and an eye opener to the likes of Olusegun Obasanjo, Peter Obi and many of them who may be on the same trajectory with Trump. Finally, permit me to share with us an extract from the encouraging message from our President-elect:
“The physical and verbal assaults committed are unacceptable and antithetical to democratic ethos.
“Elections should be a celebration of our maturing democracy and freedom of choice and ought not to be moments of grief. I am particularly pained by cases of ethnic slurs, which are capable of creating needless mis-characterisation reported in some locations.
“My appeal is for us to rise above our differences, which, in reality, are fewer than the valued strings that bind us together as a people irrespective of the circumstances of our births.
“As former governor of Lagos State, I can attest to the strength in our diversity and togetherness. As your President-elect, it is that spirit of inclusiveness we engendered in Lagos that I intend to bring into national governance so that together we can attain our full potentials. I will give priority to expanding the civic space and safeguarding citizens’ freedom to exercise their rights within the bounds of the law.”-
Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President-elect Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Richard Odusanya
odusanyagold@gmail.com
