BUHARI SHOULD CONTEST IN 2019 BECAUSE OF OBASANJO’S LETTER

BUHARI SHOULD CONTEST IN 2019 BECAUSE OF OBASANJO’S LETTER.

Yesterday I read a letter by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Normally those days whenever I see headlines, I don't bother reading cos I already know what is contained in it. But I decided to read from start to finish simply because it's coming from former Obasanjo and to pen down the points raised in the letter. But I have a digression from his opinion? Have anyone noticed that Obasanjo always appears to be a hero in all of his letters and opinions? One would think that when Obasanjo supervised the affairs of Nigeria, all was Uhuru but it's wasn't so because no sector can be said to be perfect of near perfect after he left office.

This is not the first time Obasanjo would want to play God or even see himself as the father of Nigeria. It was this same Obasanjo that came to Rivers State and declared a free and fair PDP governorship Primary as having K-leg. Denying the authentic winner his right and gave it to someone else. This same Obasanjo started a third term Agenda trying to mock our Constitution by changing it to suit him to run for an undemocratic third term. Obasanjo who was later disgraced because the Senate then, called his bluff. After then, decided he was God, attacked anyone with Presidential ambition with the Efcc and later foisted A sick Yar’Adua on us.

Obasanjo later in his book criticized Yar’Adua. Exonerating himself from any wrong doing and blamed Yar’Adua for what he termed not being truthful with his health. If Yar’Adua was to be alive to complete his tenure, am sure Obasanjo would have written him a letter asking him not to recontest sighting his illnes and other things only known to him. The death of Yar’Adua ushered a new President from the Niger-Delta extraction in the person of Goodluck Jonathan. Obasanjo went to almost every campaign with Jonathan in 2011 telling us he was the best thing after slice bread. Jonathan became the President and towards the end of his tenure, he, just like yesterday wrote an open letter to him accusing him of anything he wishes.

Obasanjo’s attitude of trying to exonerate himself as one of those who has put this nation in our present mess is the height of hypocrisy. During Obasanjo’s tenure, what worked? Is it the continuous bickering between himself ND his Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar or the constant awarding of contracts that never saw the light of the day. Obasanjo sunk billions of dollars for power generation but nothing was shown for it. Today, the present government generates 7,000 Megawatts of which Obasanjo could not. The East West road was awarded almost three times and the culprit in that corrupt act was accommodated in Aso Rock. If Obasanjo has done what was expected of him, other Presidents after him, would have concentrated on other areas, borrow from his quality leadership, consolidate on his legacy and Nigeria won't be in this mess it is today. Lagos is a model. For Godsake Obasanjo is part of the old thieving politicians that has kept this nation where we are.

President Mohammad Buhari has his shortcomings but it is not in the place of someone like Obasanjo to tell him not to contest. Does Obasanjo understand what democracy entails? Oh I forgot it's in his nature to subvert people's wish and force candidates on them. If President Muhammad Buhari has no intentions of contesting for president come 2019, he should start nursing such ambition. It is his right, and civic obligation. If not for anything for future President because Obasanjo won't stop with him. In that letter he talked of a new movement of which he will be part of. The message Obasanjo is sending is clear. “I want to always be part of those who make Presidents in Nigeria until I die. Mr President you are a general just like Obasanjo and I know you won't allow him push you around. If I were you Mr. President, I will not dignify him with a response. He completed 8 years of Presidency with nothing to show for other than embezzling our common wealth but today, he is writing open letters to insult our collective reasonings.

Mr President, CONTEST in 2019.

Princewill Chimereze is a writer, Public Affairs Analyst and Social Commentator

Follow on Twitter @P_Chimereze

Contact him on amadiprincewill1@gmail.com

ARREST OF KEMI OLUNLOYE AND THE HYPOCRISY OF NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS

Justice is no longer justice if it is one sided - Princewill Chimereze.

Kemi Olunloye a self acclaimed investigative journalist, is not the best of characters in Nigeria. In fact she is not the kind of role model any mother would want her daughter to emulate. But no matter the characters of a person, their human right remains sacrosanct and at all times must be upheld in accordance with the law.

Nigerians woke up to news of the arrest of Kemi Olunloye by a clergyman in Portharcourt and since then, she has been in and out of police custody without any trial. I am one of those who was particularly happy she was arrested if for nothing, to see how authentic her stories are and the veracity of her claims as an investigative journalist but apparently from the look of things, she is just an online troll who probably derives joy being in the news and who can't do without attention seeking and gossip as with most Nigerians online.

But my anger about her arrest and detention, is the blind eye that has greeted her arrest by online warlords, ethnic bigots, religious bigots, those who see political every colouration to issues, hash tag creators hypocritical Christians and Nigerian youths at large. It took Nigerians weeks after her arrest to create an online hash tag that gathered less retweets like an insignificant story. There was no protest on the violation of the rights of Kemi Olunloye by fellow Christians and which was masterminded by supposed Christian man of God who will be hosting a five nights crusade later this month. One wonders what he will preach to his congregations of which one of the principles of the religion he practices and leads a herd, is forgiveness.

Kemi Olunloye’s case, shows a clear hypocrisy of Nigerian Christians. Imagine Kemi was arrested by a Muslim or an Islamic clergyman, within few minutes of her arrest, hash tags would be created. Such hypocritical hash tags would read; #Freekemi, #WeSayNoToIslamization, #IslamIsEvil, #KemiIsAChristian, #KemiIsTheVoiceOfChristians. This hash tags would be retweeted by those who are chronic mischief makers and politicians who want to score political points and play on the gullibility of the people. Aside this, the debate will be online with many half schooled, half baked or sheer illiterates seeing it as a gang up against Christianity all in a bid to score cheap religious points. In fact a hurriedly organized group will spring up demanding within 3 days the release of Kemi Olunloye.

The story will metamorphose into national discuss, radio stations, TV stations and the print media will use them as opinion polls. Nigerians will phone in and condemn in totality the arrest of the lady whether she is guilty or not. A clear example is how this same shameful set of people started a hash tag for notorious armed robber Evans. Only that those whose conscience are still intact suppressed it. But it was a clear pointer to the argument of the writer. Another example of such hypocrisy is the violence that greeted Rivers State and Benue State at almost the same time. But online users, mischief makers and characters portrayed by this writer chose that of Benue to cry on and saw that of Rivers state a mere exercise of who kills more. To this set of religious “olodos” the Benue killings is an attempt to wipe out Christian communities in the North and that of Rivers state is a “We-we” something and deserves less condemnation. One wonders if there's any statistics showing the religion of those killed in Benue attacks.

Christians must rise above hypocrisy and emotional blackmail. It makes every argument suspicious and skewed and sometimes makes the desired result of a particular agitation elusive and be seen as mere wailing. This nation must grow above religious colouration of issues and helping politicians to politicize serious national issues for their own gain.

Princewill Chimereze

Writer, Public Affairs Analyst and Social Commentator

He can be followed on Twitter @P_Chimereze

Contact on amadiprincewill1@gmail.com