Efforts To Disqualify President Bola Tinubu Take A Dramatic Turn (DETAILS)

Efforts To Disqualify President Bola Tinubu Take A Dramatic Turn (DETAILS)

Sometimes, it becomes imperative to convey the unvarnished truth to Nigerians, if only to counsel them on safeguarding the process of nation-building against harm.

It remains enigmatic why Nigeria has evolved into a realm of self-centered disregard, where ephemeral gains are prioritized over enduring benefits.

Among the Yoruba people of West Africa, a prayer resonates: ‘Olorun konije ki aje aiye awon omowa mo aiye’ – beseeching the quest to leave the world better than we found it.

The present scenario invokes lamentations, yet none can be absolved from the present predicament.

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The aftermath of the recent elections is inflicting hardships upon our citizens. Two elements drive this turmoil – the facetious comedy and the Atiku factor. The entire narrative resembles a Nigerian adage: ‘Bi ko ba ki o pa, bi o ko baba bul’ese’, which translates to ‘If you can’t kill him, then maim him to render him incapacitated.’

In this maelstrom, the welfare and interests of Nigerians are being sacrificed, as if the personal gain of an individual should eclipse the collective welfare of the populace. Amidst this melee, the occupant of Aso Rock is diverted from rendering optimal service to the nation.

Former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Azikiwe Ebele Jonathan, aptly encapsulated the sentiment, stating, “My second term is not worth the blood of any Nigerian.” Why are certain Nigerian leaders so self-serving, self-centered, and insensitive, neglecting the fact that the nation’s foundations may crumble?

The futile chase by a 2023 presidential candidate to a US court to compel the Chicago State University for the release of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic records is emblematic of desperation, vindictiveness, and a propensity for destruction over truth-seeking. The continuous affirmations by the University attesting to Tinubu’s academic history seem insufficient to satiate the political thirst of the involved parties.

What precisely do those behind this pointless endeavor seek? Is it to expose Tinubu’s academic stumbles, or to insinuate that an undeserved degree was conferred upon him? There lies more beneath the surface. Did the university overlook its scrutiny of the student’s background before admission, or did the student graduate erroneously? How can one incriminate Bola Tinubu for discrepancies in his certificate, especially when he wasn’t its author?

Hence, regardless of the disparities, the undeniable truth is that if the University has consistently verified Tinubu’s attendance and legitimate degree, then the investigation launched by Tinubu’s opponent amounts to an academic exercise with negligible impact on Nigeria’s political arena. It is a squandering of time and resources, unless they can substantiate that Tinubu fabricated his own documents.

The continuous baseless and puerile manipulation of the judiciary by certain politicians leaves a bitter aftertaste. Some are attempting to sway and blackmail judges to rule in their favor, delving into decisions still pending in the 2023 Presidential election, either disregarding facts or revealing ignorance about the judicial process.

Indeed, some are already prepping for a re-run, as if no avenue for appeal exists for those dissatisfied with the outcome, including the President. In a democracy, freedom of expression is a right, but it must be accompanied by responsibility.

In more mature political environments, this sense of responsibility, expressed with decorum and decency, is a universally upheld standard that leaders dare not transgress due to the potential political repercussions they may face from a displeased society.

This is a culture Nigerian political leaders must adopt, and the masses must punish deviations from this standard resolutely and negatively. How is it that a leader, with all his intellect, can threaten a nation with dire consequences because he lost an election, and still attract followers? Can Nigerians discern right from wrong through their leaders’ words?

Do our citizens exhibit parasuicidal tendencies, blindly following negative leadership behavior even when it’s apparent that the outcomes are detrimental to them, their future, and the nation as a whole?

Can one truly fathom the leadership psyche of a nation where someone in third place is claiming victory? Followers, however, are running wild, while prophets who claim divine insight assure him on newspaper pages that the Presidential Tribunal will declare him the winner. These prophets are so shamelessly unyielding that repeated forecast failures fail to humble them; instead, they make more vague predictions to their unsuspecting followers, presuming they possess no memory.

In numerous parts of the world, opposition leaders collaborate with the governing party on policies beneficial to the nation and its citizens. In Nigeria, opposition parties rally the masses against the government, even on issues they wouldn’t differ on internally. The fuel subsidy issue is a prime example. How can any right-thinking leader of our nation contest the removal of a subsidy when it’s abundantly clear that retaining it would eventually cripple the country, rendering it weak and dormant?

The President, who spearheads the new subsidy policy, isn’t deluding himself into believing that those losing out won’t retaliate. What’s disheartening, however, is that the Nigerian masses he’s striving to protect from doom remain ungrateful, unenlightened, and reluctant to make time-bound sacrifices for the future. In essence, they’re being manipulated against their own survival. It’s regrettable that many don’t even comprehend the significance of the subsidy removal on petroleum products. Likewise, the administration’s foreign exchange policy is criticized as though it’s normal for a nation to sell its dollars to traders before prioritizing industrial growth.

Original article was from Ojikutu, a retired Professor from the University of Lagos.