Picking Your Goons The Nigerian Way

The sins of Muhammadu Buhari are many. They are so many that they may cost him the elections in a few weeks time. Many people are worried that the n0-smiling septuagenarian still has dictatorial tendencies and may stifle free speech if he succeeds at the polls. Another crucial grudge many have against him is that of his choice of association. While the APC sings 'Change, Change, Change', many are quick to point to the politicians who surround Buhari as being fruits from the same tree that gifted Nigeria with talents like James Ibori and Lucky Igbinedion. The perception is that you can't preach change when the APC seems to be an extension of PDP given the number of defectors. Besides the seemingly disgruntled PDP elements, there are others from the ACN who flock around Buhari who appear to tarnish his 'clean' record. 

Nigeria has over 200 ethnic groups and remains the most populous black nation in the world. One can only imagine the diversity of interests and interest groups. Many people berate Ibrahim Babangida for a lot of things but do not give him credit for the two-party political system he instituted before the 1993 general elections. This 'forced' Nigerians to align their interests regardless of ethnicity and religion. Since then, we have returned to the multi-party system and the PDP has held sway at the Federal level for the last 16years. There were regional powerhouses like the former ACN in the South-West, APGA in the South-East and CPC and ANPP in the North but following the merger that produced the APC, the PDP has faced its sternest test yet. Another peculiarity of Nigerian politics is the role money plays in electioneering. You just must have a fat purse. This is because of the depressing levels of poverty and illiteracy in the land. We have now perfected the art of stomach infrastructure. So much so, that some states now have advisers to the Governor on stomach infrastructure. Our politicians are smart. They know hunger clouds judgment so they make people poor and hungry so when they appear with bread, they suddenly look like angels to the populace.

With these in mind, you can begin to understand how political parties aggregate and operate in the country. In 2011, Mr Nuhu Ribadu emerged as the presidential candidate for the ACN, a party led by Bola Tinubu. It was no secret that Nuhu Ribadu had investigated the latter who governed Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 for financial misappropriation. Here was Ribadu, a man with pristine character and anti-corruption crusader who allegedly turned down a cash bribe of $15million from James Ibori. But when it crunch time, he weighed his options and realized he didn't have the financial muscle to prosecute an election and shook hands with 'villains'. Does this make Nuhu Ribadu suddenly corrupt? I do not believe so. Today, that same Nuhu Ribadu is a gubernatorial candidate in Adamawa on the platform of the PDP. He is now in the same party with legends like James Ibori, Peter Odili, DSP Alamiesiegha, Buruji Kashamu and Olabode George! Has he now become a thief? Of course not. He is doing the needful. A means to an end. Realistically in Nigeria, any 'good' person who aspires to serve sincerely must associate with the seemingly corrupt crop since such a person is not likely to independently possess the financial and political requirements for such an Herculean task.

In 2007, Mr Jimi Agbaje contested for the prime job in Lagos on the platform of a relatively unpopular and now defunct party called DPA. Guess what? He lost! In the upcoming elections, he will be contesting on a PDP ticket. He hasn't automatically been transfused with Bode George's pilfering DNA but he has come to the realistic conclusion that if he stands any chance at all at winning then he must do the needful and align with some 'villains'. It's a means to an end. Mr Agbaje launched his campaign with a catchy slogan that subtly tried to explain this. 'I am not one of them'. I have listened to Mr Agbaje speak and I was very impressed by the lucidness of his thought process. He talks like a professional who can assert himself in any intellectual gathering. He may not necessarily like the people he dines with at the moment on a political level but there's a Yoruba adage that says 'eni t'oba fe mu obo a sebi obo' (he who wishes to catch a monkey must occasionally behave like a monkey). My assessment of him and Mr Ambode following a debate the two of them took part in is that in an 'ideal' world, Mr Agbaje would defeat his opponent by three planets. Mr Ambode sounds like a stooge. He talks like he's not entirely clear what governance is about. Yes, he is intelligent but that's not enough to make him a good leader. You need to have an aura of strong character; your body language and your ability to capture the attention of an audience when speaking publicly tells us. With all due respect to Mr Ambode, I honestly think he is unfortunate to be coming after a character like Babatunde Fashola. But that is for another forum.

Now, Buhari is communing with Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi and Abubakar Atiku. Seemingly corrupt men with very questionable pasts and previous association with the PDP. Again, the question is has this association suddenly conferred corruption on Buhari? I do not believe so. If Buhari desires to lead a country like Nigeria without getting his hands soiled by association then he isn't serious yet. That is the simple truth. The man isn't defined by his associations, especially in a complex country like Nigeria. He is defined by his character. Buhari's single selling point is his probity. Till date, nobody has successfully accused or investigated him for corruption even in the midst of all his other blemishes and sins. He certainly comes with a lot of baggage but he should not be judged based on his 'goons'. This is why I find it nauseating when people shout and scream 'vote for APC' or 'vote for PDP'. Parties are not people. Parties cannot be held responsible! Parties don't resume in offices every morning. People do and people are held responsible. Assess each man on his own merit. You can't vote for PDP or APC across board simply because of a party. You'd end up voting for imbeciles like that. What each man has to offer on a personal level should be the cogent question.

They say birds of a feather flock together and that by their fruits you shall know them. In an ideal world. Nigeria is far from ideal. If we continue to cast aspersions on credible people based on their 'goons' then we will keep going round in circles. As long as the PDP and APC exist with the current crop of politicians with no constitutional allowance for independent candidacy, nobody will get into power simply because he is 'good enough'. In Nigeria, you may have to dine with the devil as long as you do not relinquish your soul to 'him'. That is our reality. Any aspirant who thinks otherwise is obviously a landlord in Fools' paradise.

If you disqualify one man because of his 'goons' then we should hold the other man to the same standard. But we don't. Why one man can fondle Kashamu, Alams and Bode George publicly and the other can't beats me. 

What is permissible for A should also permissible for B. After all, 'ninu ikoko dudu ni eko funfun ti jade' (It is out of a black pot that white pap emerges).