The beauty of politics is the longing to win, the flipside is the gulf between politicians
and the people…Ena E. Orugbo
History will remember Professor Yemi Osibanjo (SAN) as an excellent acting president
but nagging vice president. At the 40th anniversary of the Association of Friends in
Lagos, the vice president blamed the government of President Goodluck Jonathan, for
Nigeria’s unscientific debt. But as an acting president, Osibanjo led. In August of 2018,
Osibanjo sacked Nigeria’s former Director-General of the Department of State Service,
Lawal Daura. The gulf between Osibanjo as vice president and acting president is
understandable. Pastor Tunde Bakare says “the best of men are still men”. Osibanjo is
a good fit for 2023 but in Nigeria, the gods must be crazy, quod erat demonstrandum. Atikulate
Political vultures could be blamed for the Obasanjo-Atiku feud because they needed to
fed fat. Professor Yemi Osibanjo has no one but himself to blame for the systematic
belittling of his office. Firstly, his castigation of Goodluck Jonathan’s government has
boomeranged. Secondly, as a seasoned lawyer, he should have avoided booby traps
like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issue. Thirdly, the appetite
of the Northern elites is concerted and ravenous. Atiku fought to fend off imaginary and
malicious corruption allegations against his person. TraderMoni exponent, if your hands
are clean, Atikulate. But if you made any human error, please ask for a soft landing.
Apologise
President Muhammadu Buhari is a veteran and wise leader. Hear him, “President
Jonathan was a worthy opponent and I extend the hand of fellowship to him”. In
November of 2018, Buhari further extolled Jonathan. “The life journey of the former
president remains an inspiration to every young Nigerian of the possibilities that await
anyone willing to learn, work hard and participate in making the country great”. The crux
of the matter is, Osibanjo made the media trial of Jonathan’s government his pastime.
When it is an open secret that corruption has not abated in Nigeria. Incompetence is the
highest form of corruption so Jonathan deserves an apology and Osibanjo our prayers.
Arise
The mandate of this current administration ends on the 29th of May, 2023 and the vice
president is left with three main options. Firstly, to retire at the end of the tenure into
comfortable irrelevance, Statesman. Secondly, to resign now as a precursor to avoid
being caught up in the epicenter of the 2023 succession tsunami. Thirdly, to resign to
fate. Whatever path Professor Osibanjo decides to tread, two things are certain. He
needs to tread cautiously because the pruning of his aides is Act 1 Scene 2. 1 Samuel
18:14 says “And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with
him”. Also, Nigeria’s vice president must arise and defend his name. Law 5 from the 48
Laws of Power states thus: “so much depends on reputation, guard it with your life”.
Conclusion
Succession battles transcend politics as corruption transcends financial rascality. In
2018, Obasanjo belatedly endorsed Atiku for president. As imaginary, malicious or
factual corruption allegations against the vice president go viral on social media, history
will be unkind to Osibanjo. He was fixated on the debt stock of Goodluck Jonathan’s
government. Alas, this government has also gone borrowing. In August of 2019, Forbes
Magazine flagged Nigeria’s biggest economic problem as “the country’s growing public
debt”. Diplomacy doesn’t harm because human error is constant. However, Osibanjo
was a superb acting president and has endeared himself to the electorate for 2023.
Dr. Enameguolo Orugbo
jetageNG@gmail.com