The high-wired intrigues that characterized events leading to 2019 shows that the general elections will throw up a lot of surprises. To some, they are delicious, like the luscious little apples that grow in the orchards of Winesburg while others view them as irreversible shadows of more injurious grim reality hence the unmistaken desperation.
Politics is an art reserved for shrewd and sly elements among the human race; which means, you have to learn the rules of the game to assume the master status.
The recent shuttles made by President Buhari to Kano, Nasarawa, Adamawa States, his visit to Fulani militarised state of Taraba and his planned visit to other grieving states remains litmus test conducted in an electoral laboratory to feel the pulse of the peoples, size his following, engage in extensive consultations ahead of his second term declaration to enable his strategists to fall back to their rigging drawing board in the perceived weak states.
His visit to Taraba or planned visit to the troubled states has nothing to do with empathy for the bereaved but a cosmetic and unattended showmanship to shore up votes for his candidacy ahead of 2019. This is in contrast with the statesman disposition of President Trump in the wake of the Florida saga, who promptly visited the hospital where many of the victims were treated to empathise with them. President Buhari did not visit the plagued communities but met politicians and returned to Abuja. The development is so sad because the timely physical response of the President encourages the people that they are not alone in their grief and would heal the wounds faster.
The most painful part of Mr President’s Taraba visit was the bloodletting comparison made with the killings in other troubled states. That statement was the height of hate speech and a brazen case of politics taking too far against Governor Samuel Ortom and his kinsmen.
While Nigerians are still basking in the euphoria of deceitful change mantra staring them in the face, it was shocking to hear President Buhari promising Ghanaians of his unwavering support to help them tackle the menace of endemic corruption. That statement was not only intended to fly-kite but a political bazaar carefully crafted to market Mr. President before the international community and earn their support as the image of anti-corruption in Africa thereby rendering Transparency International rating of his government null and void and give it out as the handiwork of the oppositions in Nigeria. This calculation became necessary to avoid the Goodluck Jonathan experience where the international community moved against him.
To be honest, with all due respect to his office, Mr. President does not have the moral authority to pontificate on corruption sermon inside or outside the country because his government has made mockery of anything ostensibly remaining of their moral capital.
The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the Presidential script plotted via the hate speech bill to gag the media and cow anti-government critics into robots. That bill is not only anti-people but one of the traits of a military democracy because silence is the worst form of hate speech in the face of injustice.
One cannot totally divorce the ordeals of Dapchi School Girls from 2019 permutations. Expect more desperate actions from the present government which might include implicating and arresting of some moneybags funding oppositions political parties, engaging social media spy agents to checkmate enemies of the government etc.
It is not yet time to pop champagne politically but time for sober reflection(because the killings are going on unabated) and proactivity towards 2019 schemings.
GOD BLESS YOU
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