"ATIKU FAILED IN MINNA, HE CAN'T EXPECT TO PASS IN OTA" -OBJ

By Desmond Ekwueme

The kind of words, comments or statements we hear especially from our political rulers once we approach election or election year are most times amazing and at the same time amusing. Same goes for the sort of photographs one sees on social media....photographs showing the "saint-side" of our aspirants.

Recently, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was quoted as saying "Atiku failed in Minna. He can't expect to pass in Ota. “This suggests that the former Vice-President has failed to scale through the election cum leadership or presidential test under the supervision of former Military-President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. And there may not be any need for him to visit the Balogun of Owu Kingdom in Ota as the "Ebora" of Owu himself is not ready to welcome or endorse the Turakin Adamawa who he says, "I know him very well and he knows I know him. He failed in Minna. He cannot expect to pass in Ota."

The message is very clear to all Presidential aspirants, be prepared for examinations in Minna and Ota and perhaps elsewhere. If you don't get the endorsement of these Generals of Nigeria's politics or democracy then, bury your dreams and ambition of securing Aso Villa keys.

In this scenario, it is only commonsense to assume that President Muhammadu Buhari will have a smooth ride to second term come 2019. This is so because none of both men, IBB or Obasanjo can stop him with their jankara examinations. PMB himself is a General of fearsome class and status. And he enjoys great support at least in the North than any of the two examiners.

But I just keep wondering why and how people who should take the back seat will continue to determine the future of Nigerians and the happenings in our political atmosphere. Sure all Nigerians seem to have given in to the dominance of these men. I saw the photograph of IBB which has gone viral on social media and I can't but conclude that MAN IS HIS OWN ENEMY.

We don't learn lessons at all. Man keeps making himself an object of ridicule. Man's gregarious nature always exposes him to immense embarrassment yet he know not. The garrulous attitude and actions of man in trying to play God often times reduces him to mere vegetable. Man wants to win all but fails to realize that those he has defeated or beaten in the course of trying to be great are also human. Sadly, no man reigns forever!

As for Atiku whose return to PDP was treated like a thief walking into the Church auditorium for Sunday service/worship, I think his media team is doing a very bad job. He doesn't need to eat with school children or destitute to prove that he is a good man/leader, after all, he didn't do it six months ago, so why do it now? Those photographs of Atiku drinking a sachet of pure water is simply ridiculous and an act of desperation. We all know that Atiku and his class do not drink such kind of water, at least before now, so why deceive the masses? 

If you ask me, Atiku needs no introduction at all as a former Vice-President. If at all he wants to associate with the poor, less privileged and destitute he can capture all that in his campaign, program and manifesto...but not to take the people for granted with these photographs and show of desperation. He should simply tell Nigerians or those he is identifying with what he hopes to do for them rather than show Nigerians how fit he is with his pictures in a gym.

There is more doubt that Atiku has friends across board and across the six geo-political zones and as a result could spring surprises. But when you defect in search of a presidential ticket and here you are trying to prove how much you love the poor in an election period, you may have shot yourself on the toe. Again, I say Atiku's media team is doing a horrible job. A lot will count on Media and Publicity in the coming election....The social media must not be taken for granted in any election by any serious candidate.