How bad is too bad?

Two months ago, this column warned that Governor Ibikunle Amosun should be called to order as his actions in bifurcating the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State did not bode well for the party’s future. I’m no clairvoyant, but the piece was based on interviews and analysis of the politics in the home state of President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The chickens came home to roost on Monday, February 11 and if not for the dignified way President Muhammadu Buhari’s security aides handled the sad incident, only God knows how many lives would have been lost. In a clear breach of not only protocol, but of decency and dignity, Mr. Amosun not only behaved irresponsibly, he kept touching and prodding the president to the extent that one would have thought that he was going to assault him physically. But the entire blame of what happened should be laid at the doorsteps of our president. He seems to have forgotten the English saying that you can’t run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. His duplicitous or hypocritical actions of trying to have the best of both worlds led to what happened. He wanted Amosun so that he can still enjoy the support of the new party his associate since their CPC days was floating.

Buhari’s clear embrace of Janus- faced Amosun’s politics of who succeeds him made a rod for not only his own back but also the APC’s back as well. Laying the red carpet for Amosun and the APM’s governorship candidate in Abuja sowed the seeds for the horror show we witnessed yesterday. And that’s the message he has been heralding in some states where the APC is having issues. Vote for me on February 16 but when it comes to governorship, vote your choice, a clear case of having his cake and eating it. A major reason of why four years after he was elected our country is still the way it is, a reason why it took two years after one of his top aides was accused of cutting grass for millions of naira before he could be arraigned and also a reason why groups and citizens who filed Freedom of Information requests for his assets declaration forms cannot access them. We also do not know how much has been spent out of the $1 billion released from the Excess Crude Account to fund the fight against Boko Haram, but we all know how successful the battle has been. He says something and does another.

Simply put, our president is no different from the average Nigerian politician he demonizes regularly and rant about. His famous statement of “I’m for nobody but everybody” could actually be interpreted to mean “I’m for myself alone.” This is important as we go to the polls this weekend in an obvious referendum on his performance in office as an incumbent usually runs on his record in office. It is up to Nigerians to vote for him or any other presidential candidate among the plethora of options available on the ballot. My interaction over the last weekend with young adults and older folks revealed that there is still a legion of undecided citizens who are neither enamored of Buhari or PDP’s Atiku Abubakar. Apparently, they are seemingly disgusted with what the two parties offer and cannot be bothered. Two young women told me on Sunday that they would vote Fela Durotoye just as I have met supporters of Kingsley Moghalu, Tope Fasua and Omoyele Sowore. Now, it is quite possible that they change their minds or they were not saying exactly the way they will vote, but supporters of Buhari and Abubakar should not underestimate those who are angry with their candidates.

With what happened in Abeokuta, we are only a stone throw away from violence, as all the indices are palpable. It is up to all citizens, however, to ensure that this does not happen. We owe it a duty too to comport ourselves well as we vote on Saturday, as only one person will emerge winner, we hope too that the loser will concede as soon as possible. The electoral body and security agencies should remain impartial and transparent enough for citizens to see so that whatever outcome will be easily accepted by all. We have seen APC and PDP pulling crowds in most cities they’ve campaigned so far just as we have seen a governor threatening to put election observers from foreign countries in body bags, a regular occurrence with him – he talks before reasoning. A hypocritical complaint of someone whose presidential candidate regularly cavorts with foreigners, and who prefers the company of foreign journalists to local ones.  For the people of Ogun State though, giving a red card to Amosun this weekend in the senatorial election will be a good reward for his betrayal.

May the best candidate wins on Saturday.