By Tochukwu Ezukanma<\/p>\n
Nigerian politics is dominated by dangerous leaders. A dangerous leader
\nis a man or woman whose desire for power is motivated not by the public
\ngood and commitment to serve, but greed, personal gains and clique
\ninterests. The excesses of these dangerous political operators was made
\nmanifest in that, even, an important and solemn event as the election of
\na presidential nominee by party delegates was reduced to selling and
\nbuying of votes. The sordid convergence of untrammeled selfish ambitions
\nand craven opportunism striped a party convention of gravitas, and
\nreduce it to the banality of street market haggling and trading, with
\nparty delegates selling their votes to the highest bidders.<\/p>\n
Consequently, it was the wealthiest of the political contenders, with
\nthe greatest willingness to pay for votes from delegates that emerged
\nthe presidential candidate. So, it was not qualification for leadership
\nthat dictated the emergence of the presidential candidate, but the depth
\nof a profligate big spender\u2019s pocket. This nauseating political modus
\noperandi facilitated the emergence of the muddled-headed, crooked, and
\nshady as presidential candidate. It has, over the years, foisted on the
\ncountry at different levels of government plutocrats of questionable
\ncharacter and sources of wealth.<\/p>\n
Refreshingly, in a bold and punchy swipe at this outrageous political
\nmethod, the presidential candidate of the Labor Party, Peter Obi,
\ndeclared, \u201cI will not give anybody shishi\u201d. It was a defiant, gutsy
\nand iconoclastic declaration that dramatized resolve and will to
\nrepudiate the status quo; and chart a new course. It smacked squarely in
\nthe face of business as usual and the amoral methods of the evil
\noligarch that has, for long, retained a stranglehold on Nigeria.<\/p>\n
The evil oligarch is personified in the two other major presidential
\ncandidates, Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. They are inextricable parts
\nof the oligarchy that has, for long, held the country in the throes of
\neconomic misery, social injustice, lawlessness, and insecurity.
\nNigerians are deeply troubled by the horrifying prospect of either men
\nbeing elected president because, as many political observers have
\nrightly pointed out, the choice between them is essentially a choice
\nbetween Otapiapia and Sniper. Both are potent, lethal poisons.<\/p>\n
It is not only about Peter Obi\u2019s defiance of the status quo and
\ndetermination to chart a new course. It is also about his proven
\ncompetence and indisputable qualification to be the president of
\nNigeria. Nigerians have been impressed by his knowledge, versatility and
\nincisive mind. We are impressed by his credibility, and the
\nverifiability of every aspect and detail of his life. With a blend of
\nadmiration and astonishment, we doffed our hats for the humility, and
\nrefined and disciplined sensibility of this former governor, who carries
\nhis own bag flies economy class and refused to be paid pension as a
\nformer governor. We are awed by the integrity and incorruptible
\nuprightness of the two-term governor that left office without a scandal
\nor any question to answer from the Economic and Financial Crime
\nCommission (EFCC).<\/p>\n
The bewildering complexities of our national problems demand novel and
\niconoclastic solutions. And Nigeria is in a desperate need for a
\nrevolution – not the sanguinary and anarchistic revolution of murderous
\nfanaticism and frenzied zealotry – but a revolution within the confines
\nof the law; anchored on democratic tenets and principles. Obi\u2019s
\nillustrious performance as a servant-leader in Anambra State exemplified
\nnovelty and iconoclasm in cracking entrenched and seemly intractable
\nproblems, and revolution within conventional confines.<\/p>\n
The Peter Obi phenomenon resonates with the generality of Nigerian,
\nespecially, the youths. The for long dispossessed and disregarded, and
\nfor long patient Nigerian youths, in the #End SARS protest, were saying,
\n\u201cEnough is Enough\u201d.\u00a0 In that protest, the youths spoke for the
\ngenerality of Nigerians as they sought an end to police brutality and a
\nreformation of the entire political system. The Peter Obi phenomenon and
\nthis earlier youth rally for change – transformational change – are the
\nexpressions of the same impulse for a democratic revolution.<\/p>\n
The youth are inspired by Obi\u2019s presidential candidacy. They see him
\nas personifying their awaken aspiration for a more equitable and just
\nNigeria; the right man in the cockpit of the revolution. Not
\nsurprisingly, in unison that straddled tribal, religious, socio-economic
\nand zonal fault lines, and with the moral courage to do what is right,
\nirrespective of personal consequences, the youths are coalescing around
\nhis presidential campaign. Also rallying to his standard are the
\ndowntrodden masses of Nigerians aware that they have been denied a fair
\nshare of the enormous wealth and opportunities of their country by a
\npolitical elite unsurpassed in its scornfully indifference to the
\nlegitimate aspirations of the people and their worsening economic
\nplight.<\/p>\n
These include the poor consumed by the drudgery for daily survival; the
\nforgotten at the bottom of the economic ladder consigned to
\nhomelessness, hunger, ignorance, unemployment and desperate, gateless
\npoverty; university students longing for education but forced to remain
\nindefinitely out of school due to the insensitivity and misplaced
\npriorities of the Buhari administration; Nigerians displaced, terrified,
\nafflicted and traumatized by the murderous rampages of bandits,
\nterrorists and other criminal predators due to the failure of the
\nfederal government to uphold its constitutional responsibility of
\nprotecting lives and property. And the list goes on.<\/p>\n
Collectively, we are orchestrating a massive, momentous movement that
\nwill inundate and sweep away the evil oligarchy.<\/p>\n
Tochukwu Ezukanma writes from Lagos, Nigeria.<\/p>\n