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“These Puzzles We Now Face As A Nation Under One Supreme God Are Superfluous For A Rational Mind To Fathom.”

“What INEC did as alleged in its primitive wisdom simply was meant to frustrate the eminent change to suit the status quo. This is why the beneficiaries of the various court verdicts as it now appears hardly would see anything wrong with the outcome and inadmissibility of the documents pleaded in the various litigations as it has turned out in the last appeal court judgements presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani assisted by four other Justices. But was it true that this was so in the actual sense? Those are the issues which the consciences of their lordships, INEC, including those who benefit from the judgement which majority of the citizens acclaimed to be highly insensitive and devoid of the truth of what took place, would have to bear individually if at all they still have their consciences intact as the bases, sadly.”

“But the truth remains the truth. This is why the matter has refused to fizzle out as it was with the previous election at that level. The parties involved as we speak have all proceeded to the Supreme Court for a clearer interpretation of the issues canvased whether or not they win is never the issue but the lingering feelings of discontent on the part of those who claim their votes did not count and have refused to give up, is what should concern every peace-loving Nigerian that the matter be given a “human face” in the light of the prevailing truth for the amicable resolution of the matter other than claiming what did not happen in the true sense of it.”

“In my many years of experience in partisan politics, I often limit myself in the area of my professional competence where I derive pleasure as a ravenous essayist in using my articles to analyse, showcase, promote and defend the integrity and desirability of whoever I have embraced as our candidate who may be vying for a top political office. And I do so selflessly. Consequent upon that I do apply myself in the act of shooting down whatever trash-talk and sentiments meant at promoting hate or blackmail thrown at the candidate by our opponents in the course of which I learnt to accept two things fundamental to the success of a candidate in an election to a higher office such as Governor or a President.”

“One of those things I observed was that no matter how a party is deemed popular and highly populated coupled with the power of incumbency, if the sentiment around the candidate of such a party is weighty and contains what assailants could take advantage of which goes contrary to the wish of the electorate for that office, the party is bound to encounter difficulties in the contest that may ultimately account for its poor showing at the polls except they had hoped to eventually resort to self-help or outright connivance with the umpire, such a party is likely to lose. The second thing that I realised in my participation and commitment to see to it that my candidate cruises to victory in the various campaigns in support of such a contender, shows that a party may be popular and launches a great campaign hoping to prevail based on its size but the electorate as the determinant factor intrinsically are usually more concern with the history, character as well as the antecedent of the candidates in question and all that they know about him as a person around, more than the party or the numerous promises offered by it during the campaigns. It also would depend on how the image handlers showcase the candidate as well as their ability to adequately erase the erroneous impression hitherto held by the electorate against their candidate and to do so consistently and convincingly.
Otherwise, a mere campaign where issues are generally canvased or highlighted for a few minutes may achieve very little when the electorates have made up their minds against such a candidate based on an earlier opinion held or that which is currently in circulation. I guess that was what played during the last presidential election in Nigeria in favour of Peter Obi who was seen as an underdog or a lesser evil if you like.”

– Obi Ojage

The simple truth of why the outcome of the last presidential election result went the way we saw it go in the manner it was represented in the various states and prominent cities in the country, is what I want to be reiterated in this discussion which I felt necessary to throw some light on as a stakeholder in the Nigeria project being a politician myself and also an opinion moulder.

In one of the articles I wrote early this year titled, “Rhapsody Of The June 12 Imbroglio, The Conflict Arising from Peter Obi’s Portraiture As an Enigma,” that writeup I explained how Mr. Obi faulted by not allowing those whom he asked to “take back their country” in that powerful phrase filled with allegory to insist on having their votes counted anyhow the knew how, while he stands aloof and watch the unfolding events than making the issue to revolve around his person and further conceding to the option of rushing to seek redress in the courts. And I did ask rhetorically the nature of the court where he was going to achieve that. Is it the court operated by Man, the gods or the Lord? What I foresaw has played out nonetheless.

It is incumbent on me to converse with my huge audiences, supporters, friends and admirers alike about the intricacies involved in this matter and to canvas the truth as they are objective as I can; as an analyst and a Christ Devotee.

What I can adduce in the whole sleight as it relates to the Presidential election that took place in February this year was simply that of apathy on the part of the electorate given the condition the masses were facing in the country and still do.

The preferences changed substantially theretofore owing to those factors, and many of the actors who would have been so unnerved by the new perception refused to acknowledge their precedence but rather dismissed the trend as a prank on social media taken too far which, when given time, according to their estimation will fizzle out at the same speed with which it surfaced. Sadly enough, that didn’t happen.

Given such a repressive notion by those who were supposed to change their approach to the issues as it did affect their principal one way or the other, but they relented and felt all was okay except the outgoing president decided to think differently over what was extracted in their discussions with him on the matter. Otherwise, they were fine in every critical sense, given the fact that they had every instrument of cohesion at their disposal as incumbent, they had assumed all was well.

But the opposite became the case which is why all of the frivolous and arbitrary assertions are taking place with very many who are known for their outspokenness now playing to the gallery hoping to be compensated one way or the other by the president on sit. That is not what will save our democracy or bring the peace we so desire. But the truth will.

What will save our democracy firstly, is for the actors, as well as the juries who do preside on election matters to allow the purpose of the almighty for our country to prevail moving forward.

Indeed every other aspect of our human endeavour must be anchored on truth and fairness in all of our dealings with one another in whatever engagement and agreements, especially in the game of politics which involves governance with those at the helm of affairs being allowed to be in total control of the resources of the state unhindered in which the fortunes of her citizens lie, especially so because they are saddled with the responsibility to provide the necessary change in the overall circumstances of their subjects.

Therefore, whoever is preordained to occupy whatever political office should be allowed to be there purely on merit as affirmed by the true will of the people in a contest that is truly democratic. Anything short of that is an imposition and that is where the trouble will begin.

Those who didn’t do well in their states during the presidential election were not as popular as Peter Obi or Atiku Abubaker at those places, whether anybody acknowledges that or not is a matter of interpretation in the tilt he or she chose to duel on, but those were the facts in the issue devoid of partisanship.

In my many years of experience in partisan politics, I often limit myself in the area of my professional competence where I derive pleasure as a ravenous essayist in using my articles to analyse, showcase, promote and defend the integrity and desirability of whoever I have embraced as our candidate who may be vying for a top political office. And I do so selflessly.

Consequent upon that I do apply myself in the act of shooting down whatever trash-talk and sentiments meant at promoting hate or blackmail thrown at the candidate by our opponents in the course of which I learnt to accept two things fundamental to the success of a candidate in an election to a higher office such as Governor or a President.

One of those things I observed was that no matter how a party is deemed popular and highly populated coupled with the power of incumbency, if the sentiment around the candidate of such a party is weighty and contains what assailants could take advantage of which goes contrary to the wish of the electorate for that office, the party is bound to encounter difficulties in the contest that may ultimately account for its poor showing at the polls except they had hoped to eventually resort to self-help or outright connivance with the umpire, such a party is likely to lose.

The second thing that I realised in my participation and commitment to see to it that my candidate cruises to victory in the various campaigns in support of such a contender, shows that a party may be popular and launches a great campaign hoping to prevail based on its size but the electorate as the determinant factor intrinsically are usually more concern with the history, character as well as the antecedent of the candidates in question and all that they know about him as a person around, more than the party or the numerous promises offered by it during the campaigns.

It also would depend on how the image handlers showcase the candidate as well as their ability to adequately erase the erroneous impression hitherto held by the electorate against their candidate and to do so consistently and convincingly. Otherwise, a mere campaign where issues are generally canvased or highlighted for a few minutes may achieve very little when the electorates have made up their minds against such a candidate based on an earlier opinion held or that which is currently in circulation.

I guess that was what played during the last presidential election in Nigeria in favour of Peter Obi who was seen as an underdog or a lesser evil if you like.

If for instance, Alhaji Atiku Abubaker was still as popular as he used to be in the past, no one amongst the two or three leading candidates that took part in the presidential election of February could’ve defeated him anywhere in the North, part of the East and the South-south despite the wranglings within his party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).

Governor Nyesom Wike of River State then or even now wouldn’t have been able to sway or influence an average Northerner including the elites against Atiku. That could have been a herculean task for Wike.

In the absence of former President Mohammadu Buhari who enjoyed cult-like followers in the North, Atiku was arguably the most acceptable of all those who were contesting the election including Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, propaganda aside.

The same scenario applied to the current President, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu. The population of Nigeria including the youths and professionals all over regardless of tribe or ethnic sentiments all wanted a change from the old order, especially with what they heard or were told of the many misgivings concerning the candidate’s antecedents predominately in circulation acted as a fatters.

The handlers on their part were not providing enough counterclaims in response to the numerous allegations brought against their principal but rather they were engaged in dealing with the mundane where they busy themselves chunking out fake news and being carried away by the noise coming from the Obedient elements which acted as a distraction that helped to whittle away their concentration from the main issues as it were.

This was where Mr Obi got his leep from essentially as the new personality in the equation that fits that narrative with uncontroverted messages and hype which were in tandem with the undertow In his favour of what the electorate counted as credible. That is an undisputed fact.

Consequently, that was what necessitated the massive support you saw going for him everywhere, regardless of the tribe or region. Any other reason adduced in the light of what happened during the presidential election in particular cannot stand the weight of applied logic be it from a SAN or the juries.

This was responsible for the high turnout of voters who were out to vote for their new dream which Obi represented in highly populated big cities like the capital territory Abuja, where he won. And equally so in the almighty Lagos being the supposed capital of the southwest, Kanu, Kaduna, Kebbi, Yobe, Gombe, and Plateau in the typical north including the state of the former President, Katsina all voted for the opposition including Nassarawa state won by Obi, Enugu and all the Eastern states followed suit. Calabar my state of origin was not spared.

Akwa Ibom, Edo, and Bayelsa didn’t vote for the current president. It is perhaps logical to argue in such a situation that nobody except members of the ruling party account for those who voted for the current president the way things are in the light of the above chart.

Is unlikely to be found in the history of current democracy where an incoming president of Nigeria fails to win a majority of the votes in the big cities such as Lagos, Kanu, Kaduna, Abuja, Ibadan, Enugu in the east and Port Harcourt and other relatively smaller states in the South-south such as Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and claim the people voted for him. Who then are these people if I may ask rhetorically?

Virtually all the states in the South-south region voted in the same pattern apart from Port Harcourt even though with a Governor who is a member of an opposition party but gave their votes to the ruling party as expected in a controverted manner and circumstance understandably so.

These actions were intentional and glaringly meant to vote out the presidential candidate of the ruling party. And that was what happened except for INEC’S Abracadabra.

People especially politicians are merely trying hard to twist the pattern of how the election went just to suit partisan collaborations to please their supporters on either side, including my humble self as an APC man who was once a Buhari die-hard.

The argument back and forth regarding what took place are all products of partisanship laced with frivolity, short and simple.

It has become so pervasive that many of those the society holds dearly as principled men whose words are highly respected in the country have now carved, in support of the falsehood that now characterises the election issues and their precipitations mostly based on tribal affinity. While they turn to ignore the truth as it occurred.

That is why the resistance on the part of those whose votes are being denied inclusion persists because those the society expects to say it as it is are dodging the issues and perpetrating lies to replace truth. Otherwise, a way out of the logjam would have been sought to mitigate the differences that exist thereto and find a meeting point for peace’s sake rather than the grandstanding we are all witnessing based on falsehood.

But the truth remains the truth. This is why the matter has refused to fizzle out as it was with the previous election at that level. The parties involved as we speak have all proceeded to the Supreme Court for a clearer interpretation of the issues canvased whether or not they win is never the issue but the lingering feelings of discontent on the part of those who claim their votes did not count and have refused to give up, is what should concern every peace-loving Nigerian that the matter be given a “human face” in the light of the prevailing truth for the amicable resolution of the issues other than claiming what did not happen in the true sense of it.

It is not very encouraging to be identified with falsehood as a Christian that we all claim to be or one with the fear of the almighty as it is so proclaimed by those of other religions. It makes you compromise your resolve cheaply thereby rendering yourself a willing tool for destruction in the hands of the evil ones who are relentless in scanning for who to devour amongst those who are homogeneous where their spells of entrapment can easily magnetize without their victims knowing it.

This is why we still have this imbroglio and unnecessary litigation that has turned topsy-turvy breathing down our throats endlessly and the seems to be no way out on how to appease the aggrieved.

What INEC did as alleged in its primitive wisdom simply meant to frustrate the eminent change, to suit the status quo. This is why the beneficiaries of the various court verdicts as it now appears hardly would see anything wrong with the outcome and inadmissibility of the documents pleaded in the various litigations as it has turned out in the last appeal court judgements presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani assisted by four other Justices. But was it true that this was so in the actual sense?

Those are the issues which the consciences of their lordship, INEC, including those who benefit from the judgement which majority of the citizens acclaimed to be highly insensitive and devoid of the truth over what took place, would have to bear individually if at all they still have their consciences intact as the bases, sadly.

“Nigeria all over were clamouring for change in the system from the old order to something new. Peter Gregory Obi of the opposition party who is now the issue in contention with less and less mention of the name of Alhaji Atiku Abubaker, was considered an underdog in the whole equation and happened to fit in that new awakening gregariously as one who had less baggage and with a message that was more resonant and appealing to the ears of a large number of people invariably compared to the three other leading contenders for president who relied on factors which were mundane and were seen as a recurrent decimal in their estimation unknown to them that there had suddenly arisen among the people, especially the youths including most highly evolved professionals, a deep craving for a new “wine” even if the jar would still be the same old one.”

“That was the simple justification and the truth of what transpired involving the total summersault of the electorate to vote differently at the time of election and why Obi was able to win in all the major cities including his home States overwhelmingly. It has nothing to do with the credibility or otherwise of the elections and the later unassailable attitude of the election umpire as some had alluded to in their arguments which were highly parochial with an infusion of partisanship against what took place.”

“I surmise that adhesive to the truth as the facts in a matter in dispute put one in a comfortable situation where no harm can reach you in whatever is been said or done by the gods or whoever is aggrieved regarding such a dubious and highly contentious issue. That’s my take.”

End Time Message….!

GOD WITH US….

StreetReporters.ng