Just like the proverbial biting more than what one can chew, of recent, Nigerians are once again dragged into another debate of who is to occupy the devil’s seat come 2007, while the controversy shrouding the 2003 election is not even fully addressed. We know that one among the aspirants must be chosen to occupy the most coveted seat of the presidency. As a Nigerian, when that time comes, I would lend my total support to the great General, the cat with nine lives, Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo.
Obasanjo? Yes, Obasanjo! Don’t mind the fact that he ruled Nigeria in the past as a military from 1976 – 1979. Don’t also consider the fact that he was opportuned to narrowly escape the hangman’s noose to find himself in the cosy Aso Rock seat, the seat he retained for the second time as civilian president (1999 to date). He could still get another opportunity to maintain the seat come 2007 because he loves (another name for hate) Nigerians and they love him better than any breathing soul in the country. Don’t forget that, it is the love Nigerians have for him that warranted him to be increasing fuel prices leading them into penury, and hardship.
Credibility? Who is more credible, transparent and honest to deserve third term than Obasanjo? Don’t even waste your time to mention Buhari to me, the man is too honesty and cannot match the prowess of Obasanjo, who is more skilled in outsmarting the police, the SSS, the INEC, the Labour Union and even journalists to clinch the 419,2003 selection (election) via fraud, massive rigging, wishful display of threats, intimidation and of course Ghana Must Go bags. Who dares challenge this credibility of Obasanjo to beat him in 2007? That is why I will support him in 2007, so that I may learn the dirty tricks from the master himself (who knows, I may join the candidates to vie for the same seat in the near future) and that must be after the emperor quits the stage, that is after “retiring” because the man is planning to de kempe for life.
I will support the man come 2007, for his sense of sincerity and the love for his country and its citizens. I want him to continue selling my country’s investments, in the name of privatization because doing that is the best act of nationalism and sense of reasoning, worthy of a good president as Obasanjo.
I hear you say Babangida? Who is he to challenge Baba Aremu? I don’t want the billions of the petro-dollar windfall to get missing in the thin air again, despite the Pius Okigbo report. I should rather support Obasanjo, so that similar billions would be deposited in the private coffers of Stella and Okonja Iweala for their rainy day; not minding the pauperized masses that are daily dying from hunger, unemployment and diseases. I would not even trust Buhari, the man may quickly waste it through PTF, to spoil the people with equipped schools, roads, food etc while he forgets that the masses have to remain in perpetual hunger and poverty as a sacrifice to their fatherland. That is one of my reasons for choosing Obasanjo, won’t you join me?
If 2007 comes, I will not pitch my tent with Atiku. The man could not deliver because he is too loyal to muster the gut of challenging his celebrated boss, too loyal to the extent of even shunning his religious ethics to serve the interest of his master (remember the Shari’a status quo ante)? I would rather support Obasanjo, who can best dance to the dirty tunes of IMF policies of bequeathing more hardships on his countrymen, women and children. Don’t you know that it is a good virtue, a worthy record for a leader to deny his people good education, good roads and potable water? It is only good for a leader like Obasanjo to be shuttling around the globe to invite chaos and calamities to them. That is the quality of a good and honest leader, worthy to be given another mandate in 2007.
Buba Marwa? Why should you resort to electing an errand boy? Leave him to succeed in leading his airline and shower his passengers with Albarka. As far as 2007 is concerned, the best candidate, I tell you and would continue to tell you and others who can lend their ears to listen is Obasanjo. The man is damn serious wooh! He is the only one that can earmark a huge sum of money in his yearly budget for security and yet in its place you would find insecurity, to the extent that the lives of big shots like Bola Ige, Harry Marshall, Okadigbo and Dikibo could be in the hands of assassins, talkless of a common man like you and I in the lower cadre. That is the best security incomparable to any of its kind in any part of the world. That is why the good leader that can provide such form of security to his people is the one worthy to be elected in 2007 and not Buba Marwa. Forget about his small record of transforming Lagos state, during his military days, into peaceful and Area-Boys free society.
Let me elaborate further my reasons on why I would give my vote to Obasanjo in 2007. I like the way the man is treating members of the National Assembly. The way he distributes Ghana must go bags to them, the way he tames them in his Sokoto pocket, the way he employed his errand bespectacled boy to ridicule them and nickname them “Fools” and even the way he asked him to apologise really fascinated and amused me. I regard these acts as the best form of comedy, produced by a very fine film producer. You know, I like films and drama. That is why I respect people like Wale Adenuga, Ishaq Sidi Ishaq and now the best Nollywood Producer, Obasanjo. That is why I want to give him another chance in 2007, so that I may watch many dramas. Don’t be left behind, have you bought the new released box office from Aso-Senate Productions, titled I Slap You Slap? Many of such jaw cracking films await you come 2007, if your great producer is re-elected.
The last but not the least, why I would support Obasanjo in 2007 is because of his memorable unbeatable legacies. Legacies like killing agriculture with 2% of the annual budgets, construction of multi-billion Naira national stadium and sponsoring another billion Naira COJA while the masses are perishing in the name of hunger and unemployment, the refineries are malfunctioning, our roads reduced to death-traps, while NEPA continues to give epileptic service. At least, these and many more agonizing issues are worthy legacies of a great leader of Obasanjo’s caliber. That is why he deserves another mandate come 2007 and I would surely not even vote for him alone but campaign for his re-election, putting into consideration all the above discussed legacies.
Malumfashi is the Secretary,
Association of Nigerian Authors, Katsina State Chapter.
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