Nigeria and 2023: The field of play

The Watchman

It’s August 2022 and we are on another vigil towards 2023 and an opportunity to make a choice towards the management of Nigeria for a minimum of the next four years.

At this moment, the permutations are wild. Peter’s Obi’s candidacy has thrown up the strongest opposition against the status quo, against which many young people are revolting.  To other political parties, it is also an opportunity to steal some limelight in the run-up to the elections. I have chosen a side. I am OBIdient!

The most common argument against the PO (as we often abbreviate) candidacy is that his approach to politics is naive, in total disregard to the politics of hatred and bitterness usually perpetuated. Well, since PO cannot be faulted in that regard, the attention has shifted to his supporters and supporters of the other front-runners are wont to transfer that aggression, to force the perception that it is business as usual.

PO’s candidacy in the two months since his official declaration, has stirred the waters, and I have learned things about the process of Nigerian politics and electoral system than I have probably ever known all my life. The camel that broke the straw was the delegate system, the effects of which were more evident in the primaries of the APC and the PDP, in constricting and reflecting the will of the highest-bidding aspirant than of the people.

A growing number of naysayings have been thrown at the PO campaign which have been successively debunked in the process of time. Two months feel far longer than the 7 years of misruling under the PMB government. ‘He has no structure’ is the rallying cry of all naysayers although by now that horse has been beaten to death already. PO’s response as being progressively attested to with each passing hour, is that 100 million impoverished Nigerians are the structure

Bola Ahmed Tinubu aka BAT is contesting under the APC amidst an escalating spate of security and economic woes. His most notable campaign slogan, emi lo kan  has firmly entrenched in my mind, that he is in the race to actualise an ambition he ‘graciously’ sacrificed in the successfully executed overthrow of the PDP in 2015. The APC administration at this point has served only to prove that the primary success of its birth is still its sole accomplishment – to seize power. Not much thought it appears, was given to actually governing the people over whom the power tussle was fought. The people have since only been collaterally damaged from that tussle. A serious contender for the mandate of the people would not have disregarded the likes of Professor Yemi Osinbajo to fly its banner and lend some credence to the implausible argument that it has any intent to write the wrongs or redeem the image of incompetent leadership that has been the hallmark of the past 7 years.

In his own words, PMB is eager to return to Daura after his tenure expires in May 2023 while implying that he has no interest in presiding over this nation in the time left. We are in the middle of a crisis and left to PMB, utterly rudderless. I pray there is a country to recover when those elections do happen.

Atiku Abubakar on the platform of the PDP, is set to claim an elusive candidacy going on 30 years since. For all his claims of inclusiveness, he and the PDP failed to respond favourably to the pulse of the intended governed, by conceding the ticket to the eligible geopolitical zone by the existing gentleman zoning agreement. The PDP has presented weak-to-nonexistent opposition to the (mis-)ruling party, and in no way, dispelled the conviction in many quarters that both APC and PDP are Siamese twins.

Omoyele Sowore of the AAC alludes to more than 30 years agitating against the government, and by this qualification being the sole candidate who stands spotless from the system he now seeks to upset. His detailed manifesto from at least four years ago, almost seems to take the back seat in his campaign, if that is what I would call the impassioned railing against other presidential aspirants.

Rabiu Kwankwaso would have been largely unheard of save for the media moment he and his NNPP got due talks of a potential merger with the Labour Party, an attempt he unsuccessfully tried to milk further when said discussions fell through.

The candidacy of Professor Kingsley Moghalu never saw the light of day, after being scuttled via the same deplorable delegate system as was employed by the APC and PDP. An hitherto unheard of Dumebi Kachukwu secured the ADC presidential ticket.

The entitlement stinks to high heavens. And the unacknowledged fact is that only the Peter Obi candidacy speaks to service. He alone has categorically stated that he is not desperate to be president. He has aligned with the people in opposition to the incumbent hegemony and all of a sudden, the ‘structure-less’ one is the main opposition contender. Perhaps these and many other facts, are more ignored than unacknowledged because the path PO has chosen is unprecedented in decades of Nigerian politics, if ever.

But in fairness, the PO campaign is barely two months old. There is still so much to unravel. So much to analyse. Plenty to speculate about.

One thing is paramount come 2023, God, save Nigeria! Give us a clean break from mediocrity, and may we be established in the true path of progress.

Lead us not into temptation, Nigeria - The frustrations of Brother Upright. P3

Did you read Part 2? 

 

Part 3: The Jinx

They say Nigerians are the happiest people in the world, or one of the happiest at least. But I haven't heard those who propose such a claim try to substantiate it. I believe that Nigerians are skilled at laughing at themselves and their problems, giving the observer the impression that nothing upsets them. We make light of even the most serious situations. The average attention span over even the most scandalous issues that make the news is just about two weeks. Afterwards, it's on to the next topic.

We defend such an attitude with statements such as 'I cannot come and kill myself.' We live only for the thrill of the moment. Perhaps this explains how diehard Lagosians survive the hectiness of life in the city.

You'll also be left flabbergasted by how skillfully government constructs defenses against questions arising from its actions. Between the media reports on the issues and the infrequent responses from the government in defending the actions from which the issues stemmed, there is never a clear-cut conclusion, on which one could say the matter has been put to rest.

And it goes on and on. Unresolved problems succeeding and even conflating newer unresolved problems, till we are all overwhelmed and tired from the effort of trying to resolve them. This is the story of Nigeria.

When Nigerians discuss the country's problems, 9 out of 10 occasions, the discussions conclude with a sigh of resignation, a shrugging of the shoulders and a 'may God help us' or 'It is well' or any other iterations of such sentiments.

Lead us not into temptation, Nigeria - The frustrations of Brother Upright. P2

Did you read Part 1 ?

Part 2: A conspiracy?

When the National Conference was held in November 2014, I was hopeful that at last we were commencing the process of doing what we should have done all those years back. Somehow, five years down the line, the existence of a report of that conference is still a matter of speculation. The chances of implementation, if the report should be produced now, are virtually nonexistent.

Why did the colonial masters let us off so 'easily'? Was this an act of 'benevolence'? Callous as it sounds, it seems to me that a bloody rebellion against the colonial authority may have forced the Northern and Southern protectorates, to unite for a common goal, and thus to forge a true brotherhood, borne out of necessity, and mutual understanding of the unique strengths of the constituent groups.

Since 1960, rather than unite in every sense of the word, Nigeria has progressively divided along judicial, tribal and religious lines, producing more factions and boundaries - a nation that started out as three regions!

The misunderstanding that caused the civil war still smoulders, daily threatening Nigeria with a potential explosion. We consistently mull the idea of declaring a state of emergency on security and several other issues, but for now, it's all talk. Apparently, our leaders have some insight into our problems (which the average citizen doesn't) that makes them complacent in response. Or maybe they are just blind. Somehow, the man who would fight the injustice on the streets becomes incapacitated when he acquires actual political power to make even more significant difference.

Perhaps the looting of our national heritage by our leaders on assumption of office, is a reaction to the sudden realization of the desperation of the Nigerian situation. Perhaps they realize that they may need to abandon ship soon, and they need to stock up resources in that event.

Perhaps Nigeria doesn't even truly exist! Perhaps I am getting carried away with this fantasy.

All in all, something doesn't seem right with our country. And it is more serious than we portray.

It caused me to wonder, were we jinxed?

Lead us not into temptation, Nigeria - The frustrations of Brother Upright. P1

Part 1: In the beginning

First, a disclaimer. 

It seems to me that the founding fathers did not carefully consider the implications of the independence of a Nigerian nation - a nation not yet fully formed or structured, a premature birth that almost became a stillbirth only a few years down the line.

They did not consider in Myles Monroe's words, the burden of the freedom they sought.

Infactuated with the idea of sovereignty, not much thought was given to the path immediately following that sovereignty.

The same trend continues today. We seek the glory of Western advancement without laying the foundations to sustain the structure that will reach to the sky. Nigeria complies with literally every global standard, on paper at least. The reality is often far removed.

Even the infinitely wise God portrayed in the Scriptures, in granting us freedom from sin and its debilitating effects, did not leave us in any doubt about the weight of responsibility that was attached to the free gift He gave. The Scriptures labour to impress upon the follower of Jesus, the joys he will find, the peace he receives, as well as the tribulation that will follow his choice, the suffering that will try to frustrate his resolve...

Everything is clearly spelt out.

But our 'visionary' leaders did not see that far into the future. They were young and eager, excited at the thought of revolution. Did they seek counsel?

Today, many of those who were witnesses of the independence Nigeria, and have lived this long, still hold tenaciously to power - perhaps they seek absolution from their consciences for the mistakes of the past, mistakes that have now mutated into a monstr behemoth of trouble that seems suicidal to confront and resolve.

The solution points in one direction - a comprehensive review of our constitution - the definition of Nigeria and what it means to be Nigerian.

For some reason, this solution seems very difficult to implement.

Was there a conspiracy...?

Lead us not into temptation, Nigeria - The frustrations of Brother Upright

Disclaimer

 My allegations may disparage without intent, the memory of our heroes past,
But it is of necessity, in view of my frustrations with the fruit of their labour,
To examine whence the issues that plague and bind us today, stemmed
Every attempt at a consensus on the way forward for Nigeria, ends in a deadlock, a dead end
It's like the dilemma that the question poses;
Who came first, the chicken or the egg?
But today, I retrace my footsteps to the creation story
The answer lies there - the chicken came to be, and then there were eggs.
Follow me on this journey of discovery. May we truly discovers Freedom's Way and deliver ourselves from the mire we have found ourselves in,
This mire called Nigeria.

So, in the beginning...

Of Benzes and puddles: Part 4

Adrenaline rising

I was stuck!

The weight of premonition with its attendant responsibility came crashing down on my conscience, as the words of that opinion formed in my mind.

For some reason, panic failed to engulf me at the opportune moment. With the dawn of realization came an anti-climatic but oddly pleasant sense of resignation. Perhaps I had lost the capacity to be shocked or this shock had lost its edge.

I calmly placed the gear in Reverse and tried to edge out of the quagmire. The old Merc heaved in her customary fashion and rolled back a few inches before her right rear wheel was once again spinning helplessly.

Another glance in my rear view mirrors revealed that the train of cars had caught up to me, and from their hesitation,  I sensed that the driver of the car right behind me was weighing his options in the light of my predicament. Our predicament, I should rather say.

The old dame must have felt quite undignified in the position she had become stuck in. Her hindquarters were inclined towards the sky, revealing her most intimate secrets to the wary onlookers. She edged forwards once again in the hope of taking advantage of her momentum to extricate herself from this uncomely position. Without success.

I'm sorry I got you into this, I whispered to her.

Her efforts only served to taunt the other cars who from a sudden blast of horns, seemed to have grown bored of the unintentional strip tease. Her ego was further deflated, as the lead car approached and proceeded to go by her.

We watched as the car passed by, taking the leftover approach to ford the puddle. With relative ease, he was soon beyond the puddle and on his way. Emboldened, the train of cars followed suit and each one successfully forded the murky waters.

Bae and I sat there as each went by, no one showing us any compassion. Each driver studiously kept his eye averted as we silently besought help. There was glee on the faces of some, and a fleeting glance of pity from others but none stopped to help.

Then we heard the strangely familiar sound of an engine, and a car drew up alongside in a bid to pass. He hesitated and finally came to a stop just before he had to descend into the water. A quick glance sent a jolt of joy surging through my veins, more so when the door opened and his driver stepped out.

Standing right there, and obviously eager to help was a silver pre-facelift w202.

Bae spared a moment of contemplation to wink at him. I smiled at her.

'Ooops, so sorry. Let's get you out', A man's voice announced. Bae and I heaved a collective sigh of relief.

The End

Of Benzes and puddles: Part 3

That sinking feeling...

My courage floundered and I applied the brakes briefly, while I considered my next line of action.

I had gained some distance from the nearest car behind me. In my rear view mirror, I noted from the pattern of headlights that the other cars were following my exemplary maneuver. A surge of confidence jump-started my despondent spirit. I edged forward cautiously.

On one side and towards the extreme end of this pool of water, I saw a muddy embankment that seemed well trodden, perhaps by cars that had passed previously. It was my intent to approach that embankment from an angle as a last resort, in the event that I had misjudged the depth of water I was about to enter. Muttering a prayer, I inched forward cautiously, looking for hints of solid ground along which I could ford the 'river'.

My right wheel kissed the water, and the fording began. My pulse quickened as the nose of the car descended. As in the movies, I saw the water level rise faster than I had thought. My panicking mind estimated that it had already risen twice as high as before, and was rising still.

Abort! Abort!! my head screamed. Have faith, my heart urged. I obeyed my heart.

Finally, the bumper seemed to be leveling off. Hope rose within me. As suddenly as it had started, the car came to a halt.

I had been glancing at the advancing flood and gauging its advance, through the imaginary cross-hairs formed by the outline of the hood-mounted ornament on the edge of the bumper. Now, I glanced at my instrument panel and at the gear lever. 

I applied some more throttle and watched as the triangular ESP warning indication illuminated. Then the sound of a spinning tyre broke into my subconsciousness.  I could tell it was mine.  But all else was motionless.

.

.

.

.

.

I was stuck!

 

Of Benzes and puddles: Part 2

To be forewarned...

I survived two other bumps and light puddles without further event, and approached the bend in the road. By now, I was both leader and pathfinder of a growing line of cars behind me.

As I rounded the bend,  I came face to face with a large, road-dividing puddle. My heart sank. For there was not a single oasis to be seen in that vast watery desert. I hesitated slightly, considering my options, then surged on. Perhaps it's not so deep, I thought. 

Some innate sense directed my actions as l descended into the flood. With every moment, I hoped and prayed that a solid feel of terra firma would halt this descent. It did eventually, but by this time, I could see that my front bumper was halfway submerged. By good fortune, the car sank no further, and the trepidation I felt gradually eased off into a blooming euphoria. I felt proud of her! My daredevil Mercedes!

As I emerged from the pool, I flicked my headlamps to full beam and scanned the horizon. Another road-dividing puddle even more ominous than the first beckoned.

My infantile euphoria died the death of a stillborn....

Of Benzes and puddles: A short story

Part 1: The shortcut

'Who send me work?'

Having closed much later than usual from work today, I was confronted by standstill traffic a few miles from the office. As I came to a halt behind the stationary vehicles, I was just adjacent an alleged shortcut route that I had never attempted before in the day time, much less when there had a been a rainstorm earlier in the day, with the attendant likelihood of leaving puddles of water. A strong mental debate ensued. I had only a few moments to decide my course of action, before the opportunity would be lost, and I would have to deal with the uncertainty of how long the traffic jam would last.

With impatient drivers honking behind me and growing agitation to get home as quickly as possible, I made a choice. I turned off the main road into the intersecting street. Several other drivers quickly followed my lead.

In the glare of my headlights​, a small sedan was navigating what appeared to be a series of mounds of earth along the route. The apparent ease with which it did this encouraged me. So I eased my '99 Mercedes w202 onward.

A sign?
As I approached the first mound, the small sedan was getting out of sight around a bend in the road. I carefully adjusted my speed to ensure that the stylish bumpers of my c230 Kompressor would not strike the ground.

As I reached the summit of the bump, I could also see that there was also some water in the puddle thus formed. It was of little consequence, I mused. At the summit of the bump, I adjusted my approach to descend gradually into the water.

For a brief moment, the car did not move. Then I felt the left rear wheel losing traction. I applied some more throttle and the car eased forward.

I wondered how such a seemingly lowly obstacle could dare to inhibit me. My agitation though, peaked slightly and I felt some discomfort with my decision. A voice urged me to turn and go back.  My Kompressor felt ready though. So I advanced...

My daily testimony

I am glad to be alive!

You see, it is a real privilege to see a new day each morning. The novelty of every moment ahead can only be anticipated. Although my conventional day follows a routine, I am usually also looking forward to all the out-of-routine experiences; the unforeseen and impromptu moments.

There's no monopoly on how we can respond to the mundaneness of even the most routine day. Sometimes we respond better and at other times worse, to the same circumstances, on different days. It's a human thing. But all humans want to out their best foot forward.

As a follower of Jesus, there's a new dimension to my daily experiences. Both routine and impromptu moments are opportunities to get better at living life. The prospect of daily growth and improvement adds spice to the process of living.

But again, this is just a symptom of my relationship with God in and through Jesus. Among other things, this relationship has given and continues to give me, a unique perspective to life - a Godly perspective. So it's not as if uncertainty doesn't make me anxious on occasion. It's just that every anxiety pales in contrast to the assurance of God's lavish store of love and care, for each day.

My priorities are completely altered. My ambitions are far lofty than any the world could conceive. They are out of this world - heavenly. It is my ambition to be like Jesus. Nothing else merits my attention. It's a narrow focus too, so I can't afford to carry needless weights. Looking at life's circumstances through the eyes of Jesus makes me see things in true colour. For instance, I can find hope in the midst of the most desperate situations.

 

I aspire to the most perfect standards - they are God's standards. By aspiring to them, I exceed the human benchmarks set for me. My purpose in God gives structure to my life. It defines all else.

And my relationships? They improve everyday in direct and even multiple proportions with my relationship with God. The best view of other humans is through Jesus' eyes. And it is my privilege to love them with His love and relate to them with His compassion...

 

Is there any reason not to live?

It's a great day to be alive.