When under the purported practice of democracy whose basic tenets are people oriented, you have a certain prominent political figure boldly laying claim to topmost leadership right without recourse to overall choice of the populace, then aristocracy cum autocracy are apparently incipient. Baring fear for sounding immodest, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential flagbearer of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, for the 2023 general elections, has not made mistakes portraying himself as a proponent of autocratic leadership systems.
His peculiar leadership style squarely buttresses every known form of government except that which covers the common interest, affairs, cares and improvement of the people as a unit – viz government of the people, for the people and of the people – democracy.
The choice of his native Yoruba language during the now viral EMILOKA speech declarations only goes to inform the notoriety and sectarianism texture of the egocentric assertion that ‘next Nigeria presidency is his to claim.’
For the avoidance of doubt, upon enquiry for the online definition of the forms of government, below is the selected illustration of what autocracy stands for – ‘autocracy – Russia has had an oligarchy for centuries, beginning in the 15th century to the modern day. The wealthy elite have long wielded undue influence in government. In particular, the Russian czars positioned themselves as autocrats and later after the revelation and rise of the Soviet Union, dictators like Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin also took on autocratic roles.’ This awareness of a government form brought home to Nigeria, please without prejudice whose self style political ideology among the tripod presidential candidates matches the foregoing interpretation?
Truly, my deep regards and respect for the eminent personality of Tinubu, former senator and governor of Lagos state, arguably the most populated in Nigeria, nay Africa, cannot be compromised. However, we cannot forget in a hurry one of the gallant fighters of tyranny and despotism especially during the late Sani Abacha junta under the auspices the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). NADECO was formed on May 15, 1994, by a broad coalition of Nigerian democrats, and those daring, bravely and eloquent democrats at the frontline was the amiable man Tinubu.
They joined forces to call to order the military government of Abacha to step down in favour of the winner of the June 12 1993 election, M.K.O. Abiola. This legendary and audacious combat, about two decades later in the President Mohammadu Buhari administration, later yielded fruit with the government recognition of Abiola as the true winner of the 1993 presidential election deemed the fairest, freest and credible held in the history of Nigeria electoral exercise. Similarly, he did marvelously and his sterling performances as Lagos state governor are entrenched in the archives.
One doesn’t require to begin to search for Tinubu’s milestones as a political juggernaut; they are as conspicuous as the clouded sky. As the scripture says, ‘there is a cloud of witnesses’ especially pertaining the landmark achievements of a man whose nativity, educational background and age status have been shrouded in controversy, notwithstanding. What a paradox! His ‘child of destiny’ toga which he does not mince words proclaiming, seems to have a sort of corroboration of a people’s value system erosion.
Like the afro beat legend Fela Kuti said and echoed by the flamboyant human rights activist and lawyer Femi FALANA, SAN during Chukwudifu Oputa panel that there is a stronger stigma between the use of words and phrases such as calling someone ‘a thief’ and or rather addressing the same person as guilty of ‘money laundering.’ The former is derogatory, reproachful, stigmatising whereas the latter sort of reducing the weight and impact of the same criminal conduct to mere fiscal misconduct, misdemeanour and malfeasance. Now, the noncomformist Fela would have none of such to sail all in the name of civilisation when we are supposed to cherish the traditional disregard for criminal injustice we hold dear and sacred.
‘He who comes to equity must come with clean hands’ thus goes the legal maxim. The baggage at his disposal are tremendously weighing him down and turning what is supposed to be an easy ride to the top into a drudgery. It takes, not just a naive critic and miserable opponent, but indeed an irrational and shortsighted propagandists or detractors to disrespect old age and grey hair which money cannot buy, and try to deface a man of Tinubu’s caliber. I refuse to join that mad throng. To attain such lengthy age of 87 in Africa of today is a thing of sheer gratitude and glory to God and calls for sober reflection of the people of a world full of troubles and tribulations.
But to be shy to identify with that rare life longevity all for the desperation of political gratification and aggrandisement (exaltation) is to be ungrateful to the giver of life and insincere to your fellow human beings. The fascinating thing about this entire issue is that there have been ample opportunities and fora open to the maestro of Bourdilon during which fortuitous period he could take advantage of to dispel as it were these rumours, and then set the stage for people like this writer to go out of my way to campaign for him, vigorously. But he has not stopped rebuffing the awesome opportunities such as the recent Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) conference in Lagos. Although I would have preferred voting for a younger Tinubu (in spite of the fact that he had publicly denied having a grown up child to be Nigeria’s president) because the weight and requirements of the Nigeria’s presidency require physical stamina, as much as political sagacity and clout perhaps acquired by experience in the field over the years.
Before I draw the curtain, few questions are really mind-boggling and the APC presidential flagbearer should find time to graciously attend to them, proffering satisfying answers. 1) Mention three of your primary and secondary school mates (either females or males) still alive. This is important to ascertain both your age and educational background . 2) What was your original name and what informed the change of name, if applicable? 3) Do you have any record of drug trafficking or belonged to a cartel in foreign lands? Have you been complicit for any illicit deals in the past or engaged in any improper business? 4) What business engagements do you operate and or what are the various sources of your stupendous wealth? Finally, 5) Can you swear on oath that Bola Ahmed Tinubu is your birth name and that your acclaimed septuagenarian status is your true age?
When you have satisfactorily answered these questions, especially so endorsed by the overwhelming populace and curious electorate, I will boldly confirm that no jupiter will stop you from making a landslide victory come 2023 presidential election. But anything outside this, wisdom demands that dissipating efforts and election campaign expenditures are spared henceforth. Boycotting open fora and presidential debating events with the hope that certain discouraging factors can be concealed will ultimately make a bad situation worse.
Let us stop playing the ostrich and face what is facing us and conquer. We admire the unparalleled courage exhibited so far and we cannot forget your audacity. For the love of Nigeria, let proven competence, constructive creativity, commitment, character and capacity reign supreme over ethnicity, politicking, uninspiring leadership, sectarianism, and the analogous practice of geriatric political leadership. God bless Nigeria and Nigerians.
Orajiaku, investigative journalist and security strategist, writes via 08035530832,
[email protected]
