In one of my previous articles “Olusegun ‘St’ Matthew Obasanjo, Afe Babalola and ‘interim government’.” I had alerted the nation about surreptitious activities of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his co-travellers plotting and scheming for a self-serving misadventure – “interim government”.
It should be noted that I have made several contributions, warning about the anti-democratic tendencies typically characterised by greed and self-centered mind-sets of disgruntled elements parading themselves as elder statesmen.
By Richard Odusanya
Admittedly, our realities showed up during the recently concluded presidential election. For those who do not know, former President, Olusegun ‘St’ Matthew’ Aremu Okikiola Obasanjo, was among those, who conceived and midwife the Interim National Government, ING, in 1993, against popular expectations for the declaration of the Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO), of the blessed memory as the winner of June 12 presidential election.
Firstly, it is important to be informed that Olusegun Obasanjo’s inglorious era laid the foundation of where we are today as a nation. Secondly, Obj is the protagonist of do-or-die politics with a mind-set of it must be “My own ways or nothing” like the saying about a runaway nun who would always speak ill of the convent; Obj predecessors, successors and would-be leaders.
Obasanjo in his moment of delusion, willfully suggested truncating of a democratic process in the full glare of the whole world by advising the sitting President to abort an ongoing process through an undemocratic method which is similar to the events leading to the annulment of June 12 1993 general elections.
It is against this backdrop that this contribution will be examining series of unfortunate events and undemocratic activities of Obj’s protege and sponsored candidate in the just concluded general elections Peter Gregory Obi, of the labour party, his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed, given their penchants for deceitfulness, incendiary comments and promoting violence.
Furthermore, it will completely align with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, for asking the Department of State Services (DSS) to arrest the flag bearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed for allegedly ‘riling up’ their supporters popularly known as ‘Obidients’.
Additionally, the International, Diplomatic and Intelligence communities should take note of the inevitable responsibilities of keeping tabs on the activities of the aforementioned disgruntled elements pushing for change through unorthodox means; Olusegun Obasanjo, Afe Babalola, Emmanuel Iwanyanwu, Peter Obi, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Fr Ebube Muonso and many others including the so-called movement “Obidients” which sadly have become very dangerous and a threat to the survival of Nigeria as a nation.
Sadly, the aforementioned disgruntled elements well known for anti-democratic tendencies have successfully heightened tension, weaponized the twin evils of ethnicity and religion leading to unwarranted divisiveness, spreading falsehood and deceitfulness. What is more, Nigeria is sitting on a time bomb as exemplified by the situation all around the country particularly the happenings in the nation’s economic capital city Lagos.
Finally, I like to conclude this article that focuses on the unity of our beloved country Nigeria by appealing to the conscience of stakeholders, our compatriots home and abroad, leaders of faith, royal highness and statesmen to rein in the gladiators promoting divisiveness, encouraging disobedience to constituted authorities and unwarranted attack/hateful campaign against the personality of Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President-elect Federal Republic of Nigeria.
