-Kunle Rasheed
There was palpable tension in the air as Nigerians waited impatiently to know where the pendulum will eventually swing to in the just-concluded elections.
The anxiety was so strong that it became visible to the glaring eyes, and many could even touch it with their bare hands.
Eventually, the clock that had been ticking, TICK- tock, TICK- tock from the day the elections were conducted last Saturday, finally berthed at BAT-o-Clock.
At first, the Professor Mamood Yakubu-led INEC, did not help matters by what many tagged as the foot dragging that saw him reeling out the results in bits from Sunday till late Tuesday night before the ultimate announcement was made early this morning, declaring Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the deservedly winner of the February 25th Presidential Elections which makes him the 16th president of Nigeria.
It was not an easy journey for Asiwaju to emerge as the eventual winner because many pundits had thought the real battle would be between the opportunist Peter Obi, who sailed on the boat of the youths who were genuinely tired of the old order and needed a breath of the fresh air and Turaki Adamawa, Atiku Abubakar.
The belief was largely because of the ill-advised policy of President Mohammadu Buhari on the re-colourisation of the Naira that came at a time the country was experiencing sorrow and pain occasioned by persistent fuel scarcity.
But, like a man of destiny, whom the heavens decided to favour, what was meant to be a big disadvantage for him, soon turned into sympathy that more people decided to vote for Asiwaju especially the Northerners who had earlier resolved, it was only fair for a Southerner to emerge after President Buhari.
Now that Asiwaju has been declared the president-elect, is it not about time to remember that famous Nigerian artiste of the 90s Peterside Ottong who asked the question ' where are the prophets' in one of his songs?
Many pastors who are not different from those actively involved in betting activities like Betnaija, Nairabet and co, deceived many of their disciples and other gullible Nigerians by claiming that they saw the vision and God spoke to them revealing who the next president of Nigeria would be. Interestingly, none of them was briefed and not one of them saw through their telescope or binoculars that Jagaban would wear the crown at the end of the day.
Many of them, through their 'divine visions,' saw and proclaimed Atiku and Obi as the winners of the race, without a mention of the former Lagos governor. Meanwhile, just like what we have in the forecast world, all they did was to study the situation that they felt was a disadvantage to Asiwaju and gave predictions, oh, sorry, ‘prophecy’ on what was to come.
Now that many of them have failed woefully with their permutations, what would they do next to cover their shame? Is it not advisable that the next time they want to hear and see from God, they should clean both their ears very well and the lenses of their telescope and binoculars well so that they won't see Dubai or South East president and call it Nigeria or hear strange voices that will mislead them?
I know their ignorantly trusting followers will still clap for them in church on Sunday, instead of shaming them publicly for telling lies from God. One of the very famous ones who is always attributing every occurrence in the nation and around the world to his predictions, 'prophesied' sometime back that Liverpool will win the premiership because the English football club was doing so well that season. At the end of the day, Liverpool did not even come second; it came a distant 4th and I pointed it out to him through a write up I did then.
He invited and told me not to do that publicly since I have his private number. However, this ‘man of god’ seems not to have learnt any lesson. He keeps blabbing at any given opportunity. He always wants his voice and face to be heard and seen always like a politician, instead of his primary job of soul winning for Christ.
Should people even take them serious again after their failed multiple 'prophecies? ' The sad part is that these shameless pretenders who only thrive in selling hope to the public, will still give reasons for the fruitless and futile prophesy by saying they either prayed to avert it or the supposedly victim begged for forgiveness before turn-around was achieved and people will still stupidly suck it in hook-line-and sinker.
These elections have brought up many other issues. I saw daily how friends turned into enemies just because they have different preferences and political affiliations. They won’t ever learn from history how many of those they fought for and died in the process for, became friends and fellows in the same camp again.
This time around, the fight was not limited to friends and acquaintances alone, it rode into the make-believe profession. The actors were seen throwing mud on themselves as if they were in front of camera.
My only wish is that, they will realize on time that politicians do not like them, that they use them only for their personal interests.
Another interesting part of this election is the issue of the all-knowing, almighty Arise News anchor, Rufai Oseni.
Several times, I have pointed out how 'ruffy d fire' one of the presenters of the now very popular Arise News channel 'The Morning Show' has been partisan as a journalist. This brilliant young man allowed his emotions to becloud his sense of reasoning. Yes! he felt just like the youths, that the country should experience a different kind of leader who will be different from the old order which Obi erroneously though provided.
Even, till this morning, Rufai is still saying the elections were rigged and INEC did not respect the law about winning 25 percent in Abuja before any president can be declared.
Rufai, probably has forgotten that judicial precedence is one of the sources of law. Maybe someone should remind him that the Supreme Court has settled that in 2003 in the case of PMB vs OBJ. Today that Asiwaju has emerged, what will Rufai Oseni do than to refer to the man he nearly slaughtered with his tongue as the president-elect and ultimately 'Mr President.'
The interesting part is that he'll walk in everyday in his office to see the face of the man he hated so much hung on the wall.
Many people love Asiwaju because of his love for the people. He is so generous that he loves to put smiles on peoples’ faces no matter your tribe or tongue. Aside this, he has made sure he raised a lot of successful soldiers who are always ready to lay down their lives for him.
Disappointedly, as good as this sounds, there are still others whom he helped to climb the ladder of success that has turned against him like Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the outgoing Vice President of the federation. What could have been the sin of your benefactor that you openly displayed that you are not in support of his presidential bid? At least, I remembered it was my childhood friend, Rilwan Oshinusi, who put a call through to him for Asiwaju, when the news was broken to him that he would be the number two man in the country. Osinbajo’s attitude is such that one may tend to believe that it is not too profitable to help people in life, if betrayal will be the payback. I know by now, Osinbajo would be thinking regrettably though, why he failed to support his benefactor's bid.
Many Obidients have been shouting so loud that they were rigged out of this election and I wonder if they don’t live in this country. How would they believe Obi would beat Atiku and Asiwaju in both North East and North West of the country that have the biggest numbers in terms of electoral votes. He duly won the South East as expected and put up good showing in North Central because of the tribe and religious card he flew.
The INEC chair has thrown open the challenge that anyone who feels robbed in this election, should bring forth evidences and not live in 'rumourville'
I am just hoping that Nigerians will see reality quickly by discarding thoughts of civil disobedience or anger and join hands together with the new president in moving this nation forward.
Mo so yi, modu ro na.
*This is still Kunle Rasheed reporting LIVE from my inner mind.
0 Comments