OBJ: EATING HUMBLE PIE AT HIGH NOON

 By Michael Egbejumi-David

Well, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) convetion has come and gone.  As we had come to expect, that Party did not let another opportunity pass it by to display its intolerance for democracy.  It is a very strange contraption that seems to abhor any free voting for fear of the unknown.  That military culture had really suffused that Party.  We had been promised and looked forward to a staight electoral fight between Obasanjo’s candidate, former Governor Sam Egwu and Pius Ayim, a former President of the Senate.  What took place instead was an anti-climatic dud.  Sheepishly, most of the also-rans were herded out on stage to announce their withdrawal for Vincent Ogbulafor.  The word “consensus” is being redefined in the PDP. 

A number of PDP insiders have said that Yar’Adua was betrayed at the convention.  They insisted that the servant-leader wanted an elected (that is, a voted for) Party Chairman.  However he, as is now the norm, did not lead from the front.  He imagined his desires as being enough.  You’d think he would have learnt better by now.  In any event, Yar’Adua did not get his wish.  Nature and power abhors a vacuum.  The PDP did what it does best: presented the nation with a fait accompli.  The governors saw a vacuum and a chance to put Obasanjo and his overbearing self in the shade and they took it with both hands.

A few months before the convention, Obasanjo had gallivanted across the country selling, in his usual brusque manner, (the only method he knows) his candidate, Sam Egwu.  For added emphasis, he employed the services of two Mafia dons: Ahmadu Ali and Lamidi Adedibu.  Ali, never tired of reminding everyone in the PDP that a signed banishment order awaits whoever goes against the wishes of the Party’s leadership as represented by himself – as Party Chairman, and Obasanjo – as Chair of the Board of Trustees (BoT).  Adedibu on his part chipped-in that Obasanjo’s candidate would prevail come hell or high water. 

However we were given a heads up that something was in the offing early on Saturday when one high Party official said the matter had been resolved and it would be an interesting convention.  What I immediately thought was that OBJ had sewn-up everything again.  Well, I couldn’t be more wrong.  It turned out that the “father of modern Nigeria” was being prepped for a large serving of an ice cold humble pie to be eaten in the open.  To be fair to the man, no one deserves it more, and he sat there and took his public shagging with equanimity. 

But I am not quite sure how calm the gentleman would be this morning when he reads the words of two PDP Governors immediately after Ogbulafor was crowned:  Governors Gbenga Daniel of Obasanjo’s home State of Ogun and Gabriel Suswan of Benue State.  Both Governors said among other things that as Chair of the Party’s BoT, Obasanjo ought to be the father of all in the Party; accommodating all and resolving conflict.  He should not to be the source of those conflicts, and he ought not be seen canvassing openly and strongly for his own preferred candidate.  They said he should in fact take a back seat and rest as he had contributed his quota to the nation and the Party.  He was advised that it is infinitely better to quit the stage when the ovation is loudest; but that he had not.  They said that the Party’s Governors would no longer tolerate imposition on the Party by just one individual or by the Party leadership.  They weren’t quite done yet.  They then declared that the era of “sleeping with one eye open” in the Party is over as members no longer have to worry all the time about being ambushed by the Party’s national leadership.  Finally, it was revealed that, 26 out of the 27 PDP Governors decided to go with a candidate of their own choosing, and had instructed their home State delegates to so vote.  The only dissenter, understandably, was the current Governor of Ebonyi, Egwu’s home State.  In other words, they were saying that Obasanjo was, and still is the problem of the PDP.

They proceeded to give Obasanjo a public lesson in incumbent power.  The rug was not just pulled from under his puggy feet, it was jerked off.  Governor Daniel said that the Governors opted for Ogbulafor because he was the Party’s National Secretary under the leadership of gentleman Audu Ogbeh.  Now, that is saying a lot.  If we recall, Ogbeh (and his team) was forced to resign by Obasanjo.  Though Daniel said that going with Ogbulafor at this time would symbolise reconciliation with disaffected erstwhile Party members; what was left un-said but clearly implied was that Obasanjo got rid of the best Chairman and team to have led the Party and that the Governors want to bring back that era of democracy and civility.  This was a very complete and a very public repudiation of Ahmadu Ali and Obasanjo and their leadership style.

But you have to wonder about Obasanjo and his mentality.  This man who is not the greatest genius in the world has ruled Nigeria for about 12 years.  He is in his mid 70s. He has a flourishing farm and other businesses to oversee.  He has stolen plenty of money and lives a very posh lifestyle now.  Our servant-leader gives no impression whatsoever that he will move against or probe him.  He is supposed to be in school doing a diploma course in some lie lie Christian Divinity.  He is not short of all types of female companionship – familial or otherwise.  You would think that is enough.  So what is he still looking for?  Why has this petty man preferred to shun the path of a Statesman?  I mean, look at Mandela of South Africa.  Our own OBJ doesn’t come close at all in comparison.  Instead he is still wallowing in the murk of dirty partisan politics.  In fact, he orchestrates and revels in the divisive type.  He admires and recommends Adedibu’s type of politics whose values are steeped in lying, cheating, stealing, rigging, and thuggery; and wants to replicate that mess on a national scale.  He hopes that what obtains in the provincial and amala politics of Ibadan would do just nicely for the whole of Nigeria with him pedalling that rickety rickshaw.  What manner of a man is this?   He still goes about showing that cantankerous face of his we’d just as soon prefer not to see on a regular basis.

So it was a pleasant sight for me to see him get humiliated in the manner he was last Saturday at the Eagle Square.  Obviously, he knows what Nigerians at large think of him; and now he knows what his Party members really think of him too.  They would rather he goes away and leave them alone.  They want to be left alone, unmolested; to salvage what they fear is a collapsing Party.  Adedibu had asked snippily:  “Who are the Governors?”  Well, now he knows.

demdem@hotmail.co.uk 

Robot  Villager

# 1 OBJ: EATING HUMBLE PIE AT HIGH NOON By Michae...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 10.03.2008 15:49

Skyblue  JJC

# 2 So the excuse this time for a lack of democracy in the party was because they wanted to curb OBJ, well, what excuse are they going to use next time? How on earth can we expect democracy from the most undemocratic of parties, how? How can we plant thorns and expect oranges? When are we going to learn the "lesson"? The PDP seems to be the cancer of Nigerian politics, it is very hard (if possible) to find men of virtue in what claims to be the biggest party in Africa. Simply big for nothing. The only state that seems to be enjoying a well planned and good, people oriented leadership at present is Lagos and no surprise it is one of the very few states not controlled by the cancerous evil that is PDP. PDP is not Nigeria and Nigeria will go on without PDP. Why would they allow a democracy in the country when it is known that so many hate the party? Posted by Skyblue| 11.03.2008 01:54

olootu  Villager

# 3 So it was a pleasant sight for me to see him get humiliated in the manner he was last Saturday at the Eagle Square. Obviously, he knows what Nigerians at large think of him; and now he knows what his Party members really think of him too. They would rather he goes away and leave them alone... You'll be suprised. People of his 'calibre' know no shame, humilation or defeat. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want. Keep watch for his next surprise! Posted by olootu| 11.03.2008 10:10

10Kobo  Villager

# 4 Dear Micheal, I read your article and a laugh, ....no, a very pitiable smile crossed my face! Why? It is because you seem to under-rate the evil machinations of the Nigerian political class. And to your own peril! :D Not because they are one 'brilliant mind' or very articulate but let me suggest that you need to agree that the Devil, Satan himself, is a very calculating son-of-a-bitch. Like our Political actors, the only subject where they always score an "A", even without taking any exam, is in cold, calculated deception as in this PDP convention, l suspect they just sold you and i, one big deception. A big fat Dummy. We all know there was no election, Ogbulafor was "selected and foisted" on everybody! By whom, you may ask? All those rantings by Gbenga Daniel, happens to be part of the script. Babangida should be very nervous right now because an army bricklayer cum ordinary farmer has just snatched his coveted title of EVIL GENIUS, from him, right under his nose :evil: It was all 'arranged and settled' and the idea was to fool you and i into thinking that OBJ's influence has been sheathed but its just a case of Esau's hand and Jacob's face. :D Cunny old fox. Are you not even curious that for no good reason, Gbenga Daniel will go to such great lengths to discredit OBJ, taking into consideration, the 'history of their associations' in the past? Or do you think "Leopards" suddenly change their skins? Events will unfold and we will all realize that Ogbulafor has only accepted to "sell his soul to the devil' for some few bucks. Its his time to do the 'dirty, hatchet job'............... Strange, 150 million lives, at the mercy of a few manipulators. Cheers, not good news yet. Just 10Kobo worth Posted by 10Kobo| 11.03.2008 10:36

calist  Villager

# 5 Though Daniel said that going with Ogbulafor at this time would symbolise reconciliation with disaffected erstwhile Party members; what was left un-said but clearly implied was that Obasanjo got rid of the best Chairman and team to have led the Party and that the Governors want to bring back that era of democracy and civility. This was a very complete and a very public repudiation of Ahmadu Ali and Obasanjo and their leadership style. And the questions remains if they (Obj, Ali and Adedibu) have learnt any lesson from the show of shame they embanked upon or the garment of dishonor they where decorated with during the convention? Lets hope that with this new development of reconciling with disaffected erstwhile Party members within the PDP that unity will exist amongst them as they begin to deliver on their promises to the citizenry. Posted by calist| 11.03.2008 10:47

10Kobo  Villager

# 6 In furtherance of this discussion, l also want to add that even the Sam Egwu himself was a bunch of contradiction. He knew, as we have all seen in the American Democratic Party nomination between Obama and Hillary, that your "backers" can affect your fortune! While Sam Egwu was happy to bank-on OBJ's 'rigging machinery' during the campaign period, he should expect that with the kind of "reputation" that OBJ has built-up, its a no-brainer. He kept quiet when he should have dissociated himself from that rascally old man. Egwu's press-interview after the "summersault" also comes out as somebody who is not convinced he is qualified for the job. A reference to that interview is linked below: http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2008/mar/11/national-11-03-2008-001.htm At one time, he would say "we are developing", at other times he would say "we are supposed to be beyond 'developing"'; we are emerging, we are supposed to have passed 'emerging'! Confused looser? After blaming the governors, he even blames Anyim for his loss! A comparison can be done between Egwus case and that of the House of Reps, when the PDP wanted to foist another "Etteh-gate" on the house. The Reps came together and resisted the PDP, thats why Dimeji, the choice of the house, is there today so, for Egwu to pretend as if "whatever the Party's so-called leaders say, is final" is mischievous. The Governors just dont think he is capable and independent, and rejected him. Period The lesson is that you cannot surround yourself with bankrupt politicians and expect to be taken seriously. I just hope others will learn from his loss. But me thinks, its all a smoke-screen and before you know it, Egwu will be smilling with a ministerial position, come May29th! 10Kobo stuff. Posted by 10Kobo| 11.03.2008 13:16