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In the history
of the United States’ politics, never has any presidential election
assumed such a universal phenomenon like the present electoral exercise.
This phenomenon becomes more phenomenal when one is reminded of the
fact that the U.S. Presidential Election is still at primaries level.
Then, one would want to ask, why this unprecedented upsurge of global
interests in an affair that bothers on a single country. Asides the
cliché that whatever touches the U.S. touches the world, one major
factor is the entrance of Senator Barack Obama. It seems very difficult
not to be enchanted by Obama’s extremely charming aura. He has come
to redefine and give a new face to the US politics through his charm
and his sharp intellectual profundity. Even the worst apolitical pessimists
around are beginning to find trouble with self-induced sleep as a result
of the alluring charm of Obama. Across the length and breadth of the
globe, the name seems to be resonating louder as much as Osama, though
the latter is synonymous with catastrophe while the former symbolises
positive change and hope for better tomorrow.
Obama’s appearance
as one of the American Presidential hopefuls tends to make the present
global political process more interesting and participatory, even more
glamorous than ever before. It has elicited debates from the least expected
individuals and quarters around the world, social commentators have
gone back to trenches in readiness for rational comments in favour of
or against his candidacy. Media houses and journalists also have been
more than vociferous in their preferences as encapsulated in their respective
editorials and articles regarding Obama’s dream and life tale. They
appear to have subconsciously added some piece to the age-long journalistic
toga of only providing facts and figures for the public to make up its
mind; they have gone a step further by telling the public the great
prospects in Obama presidency.
A-list celebrities
are not only listed for endorsements and supports but are also prominently
included in Obama’s phenomenal political machinery. Americans by nature
are unique set of people. The United States stand out in the league
of all nations, its tradition is different and its culture, such as
the hip-hop is incredibly infectious. The dominant and ubiquitous nature
of its style and adoption speak volume. Perhaps the most fortunate beneficiaries
of Obama’s image are the young Americans, most especially the African-Americans
whose mentality has been abused against possible upward mobility, hence
they chose opportunity for greatness in drugs and gun crimes (often
glamourised by hip hop culture).
Beyond America,
one could still found a few political personalities similar to that
of Obama, just as in the UK, the youthful, articulate and vibrant current
leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron fits perfectly into
Obama’s shoes, except for his white colour. But unfortunately, such
image may remain far discovered on African continent, particularly in
Nigeria, which political atmosphere is dominated by over-recycled geriatric
politicians, whose simple definition of politics means DIRTY, therefore
the whole society goes with the assumption that politics is a dirty
game, hence it should be left to be practised only by dirty figures.
Dirtiness in all sense of it; they interact with the electorate in different
dirty languages and deliver their empty political manifestoes in filthy
style.
They often
looked unkempt, with lack of dignity and ill mannerism. Many of these
people keep dysfunctional and overcrowded family unit, but can cockily
influence enormous fiscal allocation for population control and family
planning without any scruple. It might not in any way appear like huge
moral burden to anyone of them to sleep with his son’s wife, rather
overlooked as one of the benefits of power and also seen as practicable
strategy for the promotion of healthy sex life for older generation.
It is only within Nigerian politics that politicians fork out exorbitant
amount for the procurement of bogus academic certificates and honours,
as if they were pre-requisite for good governance.
Looking beyond
his interest in the White House, Black (Barack) Obama has influenced
a new generation of young people, with his crisp combination of style
with substance. Perhaps Nigerian aspiring young politicians would borrow
a leaf from this. Obama’s personality profile is impeccable; a husband
of one wife with two beautiful daughters, an intellectual of genuine
academic credentials and a young man with amazing charisma. A likeable
figure that can easily be mistaken for a Hollywood star. It is unarguable
that his attempt at fashion, would not fail, his fitness class may be
bombarded for advance booking. And his collection of books would top
as best-sellers. What a decent way to approach politics than the Urbane
Obama style.
Nevertheless,
decency could certainly still find its way into our political lexicon
in lieu of the DIRTY definition, only time will tell.
Lekan Fatodu, London.
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Authors 
Posted by Robot| 28.02.2008 21:24