THEY were no friends. They had a cat-and-mouse relationship. Turbulent. One was the President; the other was a governor whose state’s monthly allocation had been seized- in a strange show of power that shredded all democratic credentials and mocked the laws on which institutions are built.
Then, the two of them found themselves on a flight. A row broke out on politics and other issues. The former President threatened to push the former governor off the helicopter. A former Commonwealth chief stepped in to stop a potential disaster. Dear reader, sorry; no prize for guessing who the former president and the former governor are.
The duo may have been frank about the thoughts they harboured about each other. I doubt if others are this blunt. Many see politics as a game of lies, intrigues and treachery – all in a bid to get power, power as an end in itself and not a vehicle to service that will bring joy to all.
The other day at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan was addressing the congregation at the chapel. He placed one hand on former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s shoulder and held the microphone with the other as he spoke nicely about him. Obasanjo was chuckling. What was on his mind? Was the President being frank? Or was it a case of “Pikin Deceive Papa”?
After the post-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mini convention thanksgiving service, the duo strolled indoors, chatting and smiling , like a bride and her groom walking down the aisle. What were they discussing? What went on behind those glossy doors? Some home truth? I doubt it.
The next day, a pro-Jonathan group condemned Obasanjo’s moves to lead the settlement of the PDP crises, saying he was, in fact, the architect of the ‘civil war’ that has turned the largest party in Africa – all size no sense? – into a laughing stock. It said Obasanjo, who was not at the rancorous convention, was recently in Jigawa eulogising Governor Sule Lamido, one of the seven governors pushing for sanity in the PDP. Besides, Obasanjo has been lashing the Jonathan administration on its response to Boko Haram and unemployment, among other issues.
Why do our politicians lack the boldness to speak the truth when they meet one another? Is it simply out of their character to so do? Are they afraid that an encounter could result in violence? Let’s consider some chance meetings.
When former State Delta Governor Chief James Onanefe Ibori finishes serving term in Britain, he will surely return home. He could run into Obasanjo at Heathrow. Will they shake hands? Obasanjo’s face will suddenly wear a frown, a grin and a scowl. He will chuckle and mutter: “If anybody dey vex, dat na im toro. I no send anybody any message.”
Will the Ogidigboigbo just walk past? I doubt it. This being a family newspaper, I won’t like to bother you with the expletives that are likely to follow. Will they come to blows? I won’t guess.
I do not know if Dr Chris Ngige, the charismatic former governor of Anambra State – he is in the November 16 race – has met Chief Chris Uba, the self-acclaimed godfather of Anambra politics since the 2005 incident in which the then governor was kidnapped and held incommunicado for hours. Ngige claimed that Uba asked him to surrender the treasury keys, but he refused. He had to pay the price. Ngige survived it all and ran a purposeful administration, which achieved so much. Should Ngige and Uba meet today, will they be all smiles? Uba’s brother, Andy, is in the desperate battle to secure the PDP ticket for the November race.
Or consider a chance meeting between Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his former Chief of Staff, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of State for Education. Wike is said to be interested in succeeding Amaechi. The governor says this will not be right as both of them are from the same ethnic group; others should be given a chance. Ever since, Wike has been pouring invectives on Amaechi whose camp has also been attacking Wike. Nobody wishes to witness their supporters’ show of strength as it once happened at the Port Harcourt airport. But should Amaechi and Wike, who are said to be highly temperamental, meet, what will happen? Handshake? Pleasantries? Blows?
Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi may some day run into his predecessor, the exuberant Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala who has been trying to forge an alliance with Accord chieftain Rashidi Ladoja, the former governor who was elbowed off his seat by lawmakers loyal to the late Lamidi Adedibu. Ajimobi has transformed Ibadan, the capital city that suffered so much neglect in the Akala-Ladoja years. Other parts of the state are feeling the Ajimobi touch, but his opponents are doing their all to revile his efforts. Will methodical Ajimobi smile when he sees ebullient Alao-Akala? Will he be cheerful on seeing Ladoja to whom he gave so much space in his administration but got regular abuses in return? Will they embrace or settle it all once-and-for-all? Remember, street fighting, it is said, is Ibadan’s ailment (Ija igboro larun Ibadan).
PDP chair Bamanga Tukur has been having it rough managing the rebellion in the party. One of his adversaries is Murtala Nyako, his state governor who has joined forces with six others to insist that Tukur should be removed. Tukur’s son is said to be interested in succeeding Nyako, who is against such thoughts. To pave the way for the young Tukur’s emergence, it is said, Nyako had to lose control of the party. Ever since, he has remained bitter against Tukur, with President Jonathan suffering some collateral damage. Just imagine Tukur and Nyako meeting at the Villa?
Will former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Farida Waziri smile and bend her knees if she runs into Obasanjo at a social event. Obasanjo believes Ibori got Mrs Waziri the EFCC job. The woman said she never met Ibori before getting the job. Angry, she said: “I will like to warn that those who live in glass houses don’t throw stones and, as such, Obasanjo should not allow me open up on him. Respectable elder statesmen act and speak with decorum.” Besides, she listed her academic achievements and doubted if Obasanjo could match them. Since then, the former President has held his fire.
I do not want to guess what may happen should Obasanjo and Mrs Waziri- dark goggles and all- meet.
In the run-up to the 2011 election, Senator John James Akpanudoedehe was set to give incumbent Governor Godswill Akpabio a run for his money. The senator, who was Akpabio’s campaign chief in the 2007 election, was popular, confident and bold. Akpabio saw the danger quite early. He unleashed the massive state machinery on Akpanudoedehe. He spared nothing in fighting the battle. Many heads were smashed and properties worth a fortune were razed. The senator was exhausted. I do not know if they have ever met since then.
When Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai suddenly returned from a 10-month medical trip, frail and enervated, he moved swiftly to get his grip back on power. He wrote the Assembly that he was back at work, disbanded the executive council and appointed another Chief of Staff and Secretary to the State Government. But, his deputy, Alhaji Garuba Umar, reversed the actions, insisting that his boss could not have done all that were ascribed to him.
There was confusion. Then the PDP stepped in to announce a strange plan under which Umar will continue to run the show, even as he consults Suntai. Has Umar seen Suntai since then? How will Suntai receive his deputy who some see as being power hungry and duplicitous?
When will politicians and public servants be truthful to themselves – and to the rest of us?
Credit: @omojuwa
No comments:
Post a Comment