2023: Separating reality from myth

The storms and brouhaha of running mate is over, it remains the rigorous campaign that will separate boys from men. Again, the craftiness and stupidity of both the elite and masses will be tested, the strong man will once again move to and fro amidst the breath.

As it stands, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stands on a tripod of All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) with the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) garnering some votes to dictate the political undertone in the North-west; a zone considered to be electoral big wit in the country.

However, before the final whistle will be blown; there is need to separate the wheats from the weeds instead of waiting till the harvest day.

Setting the record straight, 2015 general elections gives some latitude of power to social media space; as any political party that managed to set the internet agog always have easy ride to the seat of power; but as important as the social media is, so important is the structure from 774 local government areas in the federation.

Therefore, before deciding on the choice of candidate, there is a need to separate the myth from reality, to serve as pointer and not confusion at the point of decision. The planks of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is insecurity and corruption. Unfortunately, after seven years as president, Buhari has proven to be nothing but a better failure compared to previous administrations. Lest we forget, the adminstration scored high on the issue of infrastructure with Lagos to Ibadan express way, Abuja to Kaduna rail project, Second Niger bridge and many more.

But it failed in the aspect of insecurity with Abuja Kaduna train attack, Kuje prison attack, Owo massacre, Enugu massacre, Kaduna constant attacks, Aso Rock burglary, Presidential Guard attack, several attacks on security checkpoints which resulted to death of many of our security men.

2023 myth

Peter Obi’s messiah claim

2015 experience should have served as a pointer that there is no messiah anywhere, a man who is proudly associated with evil is not far from evil; as you succumb to social media pressure and the messiah claim one should always prepare his mind for the flop ahead.

Tinubu developed Lagos claim

Compared to its counterpart, Lagos was former Nigeria’s capital. The state has been developed from time immemorial, though time evolves but the fingerprints of the colonial master and the federal government cannot be neglected in the status of today Lagos.

Atiku’s unifier claim

A popular Yoruba adage goes thus ‘charity begins at home’, a man that can not manage his home cannot manage a society, PDP’s current crisis is a refuter of his unifier claim.

However, all party supporters should know that there is life after election, they should free themselves from politics of hatred, there is much more to life than 2023. All those politicians are friends in their secret place; and to them there is nothing like go away in politics but come over here.

Peter Ojelabi
Ogbomoso
[email protected]