My Encounter With Somebody Who Thinks They Own Nigeria

I have known that to be able to change society positively, you must actively participate in politics in Nigeria. If you are decent to be able to make a success out of this highly problematic vacation, you must be tolerant and prepare to accommodate insults from some people who consider themselves lords in the game. You must also learn to make compromises on your principle, be a hypocrite, and sometimes be schooled in the art of deception.

These political lexicons are meant for people who make politics a full-time vacation or want to grab power at all costs. Fortunately, I’m neither a professional politician nor desperate for power at all costs. Since I don’t belong to any of the two groups, I will continue to play politics with a modicum of principles, and self-respect and continue to say what I consider the truth.

This post is informed by my encounter with one of the highly placed persons in the APC hierarchy of Nigeria who thinks he has been on top of the power game and thinks can accomplish his political ambition by not using persuasive language or engaging in dialogue or even consultation, but believes in garrison type of military politics where you give instruction in the most uncouth and demeaning manner.

The big shot phoned me and without any courtesy started shouting why should I be supporting Vice President Yemi Osibanjo. I said because he fits my idea of a president because he is well educated, mentally and physically fit, and a decent man. And above all, to large extent, he is God-fearing and doesn’t engage in debauchery. He again shouted and arrogantly said that I and my preference are going to lose out and PYO will totally be disgraced by Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I replied, “Are you God, and what makes you think you have his destiny in your hands?” He said I shouldn’t be speaking to him in this manner and dropped the phone.

Not satisfied with our conversation, I went to his WhatsApp and polished the flow with him. I let him know that I have always been following the dictates of my conscience in anything I do, especially in politics. I now went to memory lane to remind him of my political antecedent. I reminded him, that I cut my political teeth at the age of 20 in 1979 and was in the university. When it was time for the election, I pitched my tent with UPN. My father was sympathetic to GNPP. His associates came to him and demanded from my Dad to order me to pitch camp with them as I was made to understand by one of them that attended the meeting with my Dad. He was emphatic that he wouldn’t do that. That as a Traditional Ruler he was not supposed to associate with a political party because he was a father to all. And talking to his son to pitch camp with a party was tantamount to telling my son that he was breaching his oath of office. That in the future, he wouldn’t have the moral right to reprimand me when I breach the rules and regulations of the society. He did speak to me but didn’t ask me to leave my party. He just told me he learned I was sympathetic to UPN and I answered in the affirmative. He said it was good that I was pursuing my political ambition, he however Made a profound prediction that came to pass. Yes, we would win all the elections in our locality, but that GNPP was going to form the government at the state level.

In 1983, I was already a civil servant and when it was time for the election in Nigeria, I was back at UPN. My elder brother late Murum Mbula who brought me up was a senior Permanent Secretary and despite our closeness, we didn’t share the same political opinion as he was sympathetic to NPN. At a particular point, he pleaded with me to assist him to deliver NPN at the governorship level because Bamaga Tukur was his friend and classmate. I saw reason with him and did it grudgingly without conviction.

Now here was somebody who brought me up but instead of ordering me to work for the party of his choice, he didn’t but rather took the path of persuasion to convince me to do his bidding. But this big man feels they own the country and we must dance to their wishes.

Well, I’m not that type. In fact, I told him being at the top it’s not because he is better than us, but he was just lucky because of circumstances. I even put my political achievements down having successfully led the election of our associates in elective positions in our locality. I point black told him he couldn’t do so because he has none. In fact, I told him despite being up there, he couldn’t deliver his unit or local government to PMB in 2019, but despite the campaign of religion in my locality that was predominantly Christian, we still managed to deliver our unit and ward. By the time I finished, I was satisfied that I had called off his bluff. Whether he was sarcastic in his response is his business because he just wrote a simple phrase, “Great thesis!”

Folks from this experience, there is no way one would make a success in politics because with such characters who have populated the political landscape, there is no way one will make headway. My joy is that I thank God I have something to do: farming just like my mentor Balarebe Musa of blessed memory.