The 2015 Political Frenzy In Nigeria -By Star Arinbomen

“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.” The foregoing quotation is an excerpt from William Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’; and it means now or never.

While the foregoing quotation connotes seizing an opportune moment to effect a scheme; it is imperative to underscore that the success or failure of such a scheme is contingent on the choices or decisions that characterized the resolve to actualize it. Making the right choices facilitates the success of a scheme sought to be achieved now or never; however, making the wrong choices often sounds the death knell of the scheme. Right choices are well-thought-out and informed by foresight and sound judgment. Wrong choices, on the other hand, are predicated on sentiments and selfish interest.

Among the several milestones in the history of Nigeria, the 2015 political transition is one of the few that will remain evergreen in the psyches of Nigerians. In 2015, a tide in the affairs of Nigeria had to be taken at the flood. The two major political gladiators, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were at the centre of the country’s political amphitheatre. The citizens were at the crossroads- a decisive choice had to be made. Unfortunately, Nigerians made a choice that was predicated on sentiments- one that has now been shown to be akin to cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face.

The PDP had held sway in the country for sixteen years; and it intended to maintain the reins of presidential power. The APC, a composite of splinter groups and a haven for political pariahs, was determined to wrestle power from the PDP; having failed a couple of times in the past. To reflect their resolve for victory in their latest quest, the APC adopted the mantra ‘change’.

Taking the tide at the flood by the political parties required the instrumentality of the citizens’ votes, at least legally. So, there was the dire need to appeal to the sensibilities of the electorate. In the run-up to the polls, the APC resorted to unconventional tactics- one that involved giving a dog a bad name in order to hang him. They libelled, slandered and satirized the reigning PDP honcho. To the level-headed, APC’s agenda was crystal clear- discredit the PDP boss, undermine the integrity of his reign, and then inveigle themselves into the affection of the myopic electorate. Alas, their scheme panned out. Soon, the ‘change’ mantra was spreading like a wild fire.

Personally, I was deeply pained and disappointed. That the ignoramuses were taken in by the APC propaganda campaign didn’t come as a surprise to me. However, the fact that the supposed intelligentsia could not read between the lines boggled me.

On the D-day, Nigerians were agog with one desire: wrestling power from the PDP honcho and ennobling the APC flag-bearer. The smack of this singular desire rent the air. The unprecedented frenzy among the citizens to get to the nearest polling station; the ceaseless chanting of the ‘change’ mantra; the tone of the live commentary at the various media house; and the news of clandestine schemes at the presidential villa all attested to the ‘unanimous’ desire for the ‘change’ agenda. Anything short of APC’s victory at the polls would be unacceptable to Nigerians.

Finally, the die was cast in favour of the ‘change’ group. The position of the reigning president was being awaited. In the meantime, incendiary clouds were gathering over the nation. The sounds of cocking guns and rattling sabres were gradually accentuating.

Eventually, the man of peace, the man who believed his political ambition was not worth any bloodletting, the reigning PDP honcho, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), capitulated. GEJ accepted the results of the polls; and he congratulated the president-elect, the senile commander, General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB).

Soon, frayed nerves became calm, guns were holstered and swords sheathed. Drums were rolled out in celebration of the ‘national’ victory. A great day it was for the APC. For the PDP, however, it was a dark day. Deep down within me, I knew Nigerians had made a costly mistake- one that we would have to live with for at least eight long years.

After the whole fete of euphoria that attended the entrenchment of the new reign had dissipated, it was time for the APC to make good on their campaign promises. The APC government spent their first tenure in office chasing ghosts. State resources were squandered on political vendetta and propaganda; while offering a safe haven to the supposed guilty PDP members, who agreed to join the APC camp. At the end of their first tenure, they blamed their political incapacity and woeful failure on the actions of their predecessors. They strung Nigerians along, saying they had spent their first tenure dismantling the faulty structures put in place by the previous administration, while laying a formidable foundation for a better Nigeria.

Despite the obvious lapses in their judgment, perhaps being too ashamed to come to terms with their betrayed gullibility, the citizens joined the APC in preaching the ‘gospel of patience’. Laying the foundation of an enduring edifice takes time, they would say. Then, I wondered if Nigerians were oblivious of the same gospel while the previous administration held sway.

It’s been seven long years since the APC took over the reins of power. What is the situation like? APC has proven itself to be the proverbial pot calling the kettle black. The party’s reign has been characterized by king-size corruption with unfulfilled campaign promises. Insecurity has remained an enigma in Nigeria; poverty has taken an unprecedented toll on the proletariats, redefining their existence; inflation is soaring higher by the day with the naira daily undergoing devaluation; hitherto affordable basic commodities have become luxuries. Despite the sheer failure of the APC government, they have shown no sense of remorse. Their focus now is on 2023 elections. They are daily scheming how to perpetuate their reign of political incompetence.

The Nigerian electorate has finally come to terms with having been used by the APC to achieve their political agenda. Even the intelligentsia, who facilitated the peddling of the APC political propaganda in 2015 and 2019, have been humbled by the grand failure of the political party they sold to Nigerians. Perhaps the most interesting part of the saga is the admission of failure within the APC camp. Seeing that their cleverly contrived deception with their political ineptitude has become common knowledge, they have resorted to a new tactic in order to inveigle themselves into the affection of Nigerians one more time. They are currently scheming to feature a candidate whom the citizens hanker after, even if not within their fold.

As part of their current clandestine scheme, the APC kingmakers have been wooing GEJ, the erstwhile president whom they incited the electorate to vote out of office on grounds of being bereft of political ideas. It’s been widely reported that the APC plan to make Jonathan their flag-bearer for the 2023 general elections by consensus, GMB consent inclusive. Well, GEJ should be smart enough not to be taken in by APC’s ploy. Jonathan has earned himself international recognition and honour by proving himself to be a man of integrity. He should guard his hard-earned reputation jealously. Accepting this Trojan horse may strip him of the trappings of honour.

‘Once bitten twice shy’, as the saying goes. Nigeria’s destiny is in the hands of its citizens. We can decide to either change the status quo for good by making the right decisions; or maintain the status quo by making decisions that offer only temporary gratification. The chickens always come home to roost.

Arinbomen Star,
Ibadan.
(starins4real@yahoo.com)