Regurgitative Arguments of BATists -By Sunday O. Oladepo

For some days, and from my engagements with a few politically conscious friends, I’ve hitherto been repeatedly inundated with these arguments, particularly from the supporters of Tinubu. Let’s have them dissected and deconstructed.

Argument 1: The complexity of Nigeria’s problem isn’t for a weak man. Osinbajo is a coward. A very timid and unbrave individual. Nigeria deserves a strong-willed and courageous leader like Tinubu.

Response: How else would he has proved his bravery than his refusal to chicken-out of the contest despite the enomosity of blackmails and threats from the Bourdilion? A purportedly weak man that has stayed undaunted in the face of missisive abuses. This is an argument that’s cheaply dismissable. In this jostle alone, Osinbajo has proved to be a man of unwavering independence.

Argument 2: Osinbajo is a mere loquaciously eloquent man. Leadership isn’t defined in eloquence or oratory ability to deliver powerful speeches. What we need is a set of skills that can salvage Nigeria from her present woes.

Response: I see this argument as a consoling rhetoric to defend the mental vacuity of Tinubu by his supporters. Nothing more. Someone that said one of his prospective solutions to the alarming rate of unemployment is youth recruitment into the army and feed them with cassava and àgbàdo. It’s, therefore, not surprising to see his supporters whipping this fatuous sentiment. Whilst I’m not saying that all good orators are good leaders by default, but effective communication of ideas and plans, isn’t a despisable skill. You can check out great leaders in history.

Argument 3: Tinubu’s leadership dexterity is the reality of today’s Lagos. He architectured the economic prosperity of Lagos. He’s got a skill for sighting and nourturing young leaders. He’s the best for Nigeria.

Response: This is one agelong myth that has sadly come to stay. Lagos has always been a center of commerce even before Tinubu was born. Rapid urbanisation started in Lagos as early as 1850 due to the naturalness of atlantics. Lagos was Nigeria’s capital before Tinubu’s foray into politics. As far back as 1900, the city was urbanely governed by an elected Lagos City Council on order of colonial legislation. Whenever the argument that Tinubu built Lagos is thrown, please laugh it off. It’s sellable to only poor students of history.

Argument 4: Osinbajo has been in government for about 7years and the head of Nigeria’s team on economy. He has practically been a mannequin.

Response: This is not wholy true. Majority of the proponents of this prognosis are deliberate twisters. Whilst we can’t absolve Osinbajo of the present economic woes, it’s equally unjust to dismiss the reality that some positions are mere paper titles in Nigeria. Our vice-presidents, from Atiku to Sambo, and to the incumbent, have always been mannequins.

Sunday O. Oladepo is a Journalist and PR consultant. He can be reached via sunnexbobo@gmail.com