Osinbajo’s emergence, Tinubu’s ‘patriotism’, Christ-like Jonathan… 10 news from last week

It was an intensely political week, economically questionable and morally far from satisfactory. From Okupe to Buhari, Shekau to Sanusi, Okonjo Iweala to the Nigerian people, the journey to 2015 gets bumpier and rougher.

Here are 10 news that shaped media discourse last week.

FINALLY IT’S OSINBAJO

It took just five days, but these five days were longer than eternity. They were unending days of anticipation. On Friday, December 12, Muhammadu Buhari picked the APC presidential ticket through an electoral process, and everyone was expecting a running mate in the next “five hours”. There were a whole lot of twists and turns: from Rotimi Amaechi, governor of Rivers state and arguably the highest financier of the Buhari campaign; Adams Oshiomole, governor of Edo state and a Christian alternative; Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state; to Bola Tinubu, APC national leader and Yemi Osinbajo, a former attorney general of Lagos state.

If one was to use political might, the slot would have been Tinubu’s. If it was money that was to be considered, Amaechi may just have been the one, if it was intellect and politics, Kayode Fayemi, a professor politician would just have taken the slot.

The race, however, has proven once again that it is not for the swift, nor for the rich, nor for the political bigwig but for the one who most compliments the flag bearer. Hence, Yemi Osinbajo, Obafemi Awolowo’s in-law, was chosen.

OKUPE AND HIS MANY CONTROVERSIES

Doyin Okupe, the senior special adviser to the president on Public affairs, had an eventful week. He was utterly criticised for comparing his paymaster, Goodluck Jonathan, to Jesus Christ. He found a safe place to hide, by saying he was following the tenets of Christianity, which seeks that Christians be Christ-like.

However, two days after making the statement, Okupe added to his controversy by alleging that the APC presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari had an empty mind. He went on to add that the choice for 2015 election year was between his boss, Goodluck, and the opposition, which he tagged, badluck.

SO, SHEKAU WANTS TO KILL SANUSI?

In one of his numerous videos, Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram leader, vowed to kill Muhammadu Sanusi II, the emir of Kano and former governor of Nigeria’s apex bank, whom he described as a fake Muslim.

“Listen to me, you are only but the King of Kano, King of Central Bank, King of money,” he had said.

“Because you are made the emir of Kano that is why you called on the vigilante groups and hunters to attack us but the hunters and the vigilante groups will fail you. We would kill you and take your people as hostages.”

He added that Boko Haram’s government was“defined as government of the Allah by the Allah and for Allah”, not like “government as the government of the people by the people and for the people”.

May Shekau fail in his latest inordinate ambition.

FAYOSE’s STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE

Peter Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti state, came through on his promise to continue the highly criticised “stomach infrastructure” programme, by beginning the distribution of chicken, raw cash and rice to the people of the state.

At his swearing-in on October 16, Fayose said he had been grooming chicken for Christmas for the people of the state.

“Already, I am grooming your chicken for Christmas, I am getting your rice ready to do stomach infrastructure,” he had said.

“When I defeated them, they said it was as a result of stomach infrastructure. I will dedicate myself to your service, I will banish hunger in your midst, I will work hard to put food on your table.”

Apparently, Fayose was telling the truth, having shared over 80,000 birds and 100,000 bags of rice to Ekiti citizens.

For those who love icing on the cake, Fayose’s icing was raw cash. When asked why he gave out cash, he said: “They need to buy pepper, salt, maggi, palm oil etc to cook the chicken.”

NIGERIA’S BUDGET 

“This budget is based on few indicators, the $65 a barrel benchmark and we are going to stick to it for now despite the declining prices because we feel the average price next year will be around $65 to $70. The production level is 2.27 million barrel per day.”

That was a very disturbing statement from Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, coordinating minister for the economy, who should know better.

It becomes all the more disturbing when you read Anatole Kaletsky’s review of the falling oil prices, with the prediction that crude oil could go as low as $20 per barrel. Setting oil benchmark price at $65 per barrel isn’t good for the economy, not in an election year.

What if oil prices go lower than they are today? As at Friday, we had the prices ranging from $62-56. And with the “battle of supremacy” between the United States and Saudi Arabia is still active, the prices are logically expected to go down.

What would happen to the Nigerian economy if crude oil sold at $50-$20 in 2015?

NOW, ITS #BRINGBACKOURWOMEN

In April, more than 200 girls were kidnapped from government secondary school, Chibok. This led to a global movement #Bringbackourgirls, but till date the girls have still not been brought back.

On Thursday, more than 185 women and children were kidnapped in Gumsuri, Borno state, by suspected Boko Haram members. This didn’t cause Nigerians to blink; we heard it and returned to business as usual. No more energy to dissipate on women who would likely not return.

For how long shall this terror last? Would there be an #Bringbackourwomen campaign?

VP/DG AMAECHI

After losing the APC’s running mate slot, Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers state, was selected as the director-general of the party’s presidential campaign organisation. He is expected to devise creative means by which the party would win the 2015 presidential election.

Amaechi actually seems to be the best man for this kind of job, seeing his utter opposition to the government of the day. Another four years for Goodluck Jonathan would be detrimental to the governor’s political relevance in the country, so VP or no VP, Amaechi surely wants his party to win. Let’s hope Amaechi doesn’t go outside the law to make this happen.

54 SOLDIERS TO die for fearing death

How many more soldiers are we expected to lose as a nation? According to defence headquarters, three Nigerian soldiers were killed in two separate missions to repel Boko Haram attacks in Borno state. Many more have died in the line of duty over the past few months.

However, some who were said to have rejected the probability of death by rejecting assignments given by superiors are to face death by firing squad. A Nigerian army court martial sitting at the army headquarters garrison, Abacha barracks, Abuja, sentenced 54 soldiers to death by firing squad.

THIS GOVERNMENT CALLED TOMPOLO

It is interesting enough that a Nigerian citizen can be christened “Government”, but much more interesting is that an ex-militant who was granted amnesty under the leadership of President Umaru Yar’adua can now dictate who becomes what in a states government.

Tompolo, as Government Ekpemupolo is fondly called, is currently in the business of dictating the political movement of Delta state, having “hijacked the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) party structure”, hence dictating what happens in the state chapter of the state.

A source told TheCable that not even Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor of the state, could challenge the might of Tompolo, adding that Ifeanyi Okowa, his candidate, beat Tony Obuh, candidate of Uduaghan, to the state governorship ticket.

However, Government’s government has faced opposition, as his selected running mate for Okowa is being rejected. Would Tompolo have his way? 2015 would tell.

TINUBU, THE PATRIOT HE SAYS HE IS?

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Jagaban of Borgu and national leader of the APC, tagged himself a patriot for rejecting Buhari’s offer of what could eventually become the position of vice president of the county.

Merriam Webster online dictionary defines a patriot as “one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests”.

Did Tinubu support the interest of the country?

If he had picked VP slot for himself, the former governor of Lagos state would have presented a Muslim-Muslim ticket to Nigerians, which would not be good for the competition our democracy needs. Should Tinubu therefore be considered a patriot?