I once saw a comment by someone on social media platform, Facebook, that Nigeria should have a YouTube channel because the country is full of drama. I couldn’t agree more.
The past few weeks have been politically charged as the political parties held primary elections to elect candidates for respective political offices.
Apart from the intrigues, betrayals and upsets that were witnessed, there has also been a lot of drama, enough to keep people entertained for a long time.
In no particular order, let me refresh our memories about some of the drama that should probably make it to the big screen.
First was Adam Sambo, son of former Vice President Namadi Sambo who was defeated at the PDP primaries for the Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
The younger Sambo, after his defeat, had engaged the services of local vigilante to recover the money he splashed on delegates to vote for him. He reportedly gave each delegate N2 million, doling out N76 million in all.
Even though a lot of people were entertained, he insisted there was nothing dramatic about his demand as there was an agreement to the effect that delegates will return the money given to them by all aspirants but the one that emerged winner.
Enter Sen Shehu Sani, governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got two votes at the primaries but had received calls from over 300 delegates all claiming they voted. He had said on Twitter that: “Two delegates voted for me without paying them kobo; But I have received over 300 calls from Different Delegates claiming that they are the two that voted for me and want to come and see me…See me se wahala abeg.”
While people were doling out millions to delegates, presidential aspirant of the APC, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who had once told his congregation that it had been revealed to him that he’ll be the 16 president of Nigeria, after Buhari, reportedly sent bulk messages to them to solicit their votes.
In as much as I personally frown at the delegate system of primaries which has become cash and carry for the highest bidder, they say if you cannot beat them, join them.
As I imagine what the content of the bulk SMS must have been, I’m also wondering if he brought them “Calvary greetings.”
Placeholder system has been a thing in Nigeria’s politics. This is why it was possible for Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi to go back and pick the gubernatorial ticket from his SSG, after losing at the PDP presidential primaries. Others who also contested and lost various positions then went back to get their tickets from the placeholder include Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State,
Some were, however, not that lucky as the placeholders have refused to relinquish the tickets.
In Akwa Ibom, even though Jackson Udom, media aide to Senator Godswill Akpabio, who contested but stepped down for Bola Ahmed Tinubu had announced that his principal won the APC ticket for Akwa Ibom North Senatorial District,
Udom Ekpoudom, a retired deputy inspector general of police, who had earlier won the ticket in a primary election conducted by a parallel faction of the party in the state, insists that he is the rightful candidate and will not relinquish the ticket.
As it is, the APC in Akwa Ibom may not even have any candidates for the forthcoming election over factionalisation and leadership issues in the state chapter of the party.
In Yobe, candidate of the APC for Yobe North Senatorial District, Bashir Sheriff Machina, is set to retire Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, who has been in the National Assembly since 1999.
There have been moves by Lawan to reclaim the Yobe North ticket, after losing at the party’s presidential primary.
Machina, who was returned unopposed, insists that he is the candidate and is ready to slug it out with other candidates at the election.
On the day of the APC primary election, aspirants were given very short time to pitch to the delegates. One aspirant, Ikeobasi Mokelu, a former minister under General Sani Abacha, took the stage and was rather campaigning for Buhari, and asking those who love the president to indicate by raising up their hands.
One would have though since it was an APC affair, all hands will be in the air but this was not the case. Even President Buhari seemed not to be impressed with that level of bootlicking as his facial expressions suggested.
Some other thoughts
Emeka Nwajiuba
What point was the former Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajiuba, trying to prove by staying away from the APC presidential primary where he was an aspirant?
Until he became minister, Nwajiuba was largely unknown and even as minister, not much was known about him. It, therefore, came as a shock to many when he resigned his position to contest the presidential election.
His reason for staying away from the election was proof of his political naivety, if anyone was earlier in doubt.
Youth arise
The statistics must have changed by now but as at 2018, data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), showed that youth, between the age of 18-35 constitute 51.1 per cent of the total number of registered voters in the country, with 42,938,458 registered voters.
The age distribution showed that middle-aged persons between the ages of 36-50, constitute 29.9 per cent of voters with 25,176,144 registered voters; elderly between the ages of 51-70 constitute 15.22 per cent with 12,788,511; while old person’s between the ages of 70 and above, constitute 3.69 per cent, with 3,100,971 registered voters.
This statistics shows that the outcome of any election in the country can be determined by the youth who hold the ace because of their number.
But where are the youth and how are they organising themselves?
Sadly, the majority are on social media expressing their frustrations with the system and calling for change. The question is, are they doing the real work that needs to be done to mobilise support for a candidate of their choice, beyond the bickering on social media?
Many of them have expressed support for a candidate of one of the political parties and claim they’ll rather waste their votes on him than vote the other candidates.
When you read things like this, you begin to wonder if they’re really serious about the change they yearn for.
There is real work to be done beyond retweets, likes and hashtags to get a president that will be a departure from the old order.
Until then, the candidates if the other political parties are already mobilising and winning support bases.
Candidate of the APC, Tinubu, for instance, has been paying visits to all the presidential aspirants of the party he defeated. The same goes for Atiku Abubakar, who has been in and out of various strategy meetings, positioning himself as the beautiful bride.
