The greatest virtue of democracy is the ability of the people to elect whoever they chose to govern them. This, therefore, precludes the imposition of people in the reigns of government.
No single individual is greater than the whole country. As the saying goes, a part can never be greater than the whole. President Olusegun Obasanjo is only a part of Nigeria and he is in no way the best citizen.
To have occupied the highest position in the land two or three times was just a stroke of luck. After all my religion teaches me that when the end of time is at hand vagabonds would rule and slaves would compete over the erection of skyscrapers in the land.
More importantly, President Obasanjo was a beneficiary of the Nigerian institution. The training he received as a military man that sees him to the position he is today is not because his parents were wealthy to have afforded it.
He was just one of the lucky few who benefited immensely from the Nigerian state. Therefore, the society deserves to get from him the much he got as a citizen.
Secondly, he became the Head of State in 1976 after the death of General Murtala Muhammed. If Muhammed was not assassinated on that fateful day, the man Obasanjo might never have smelt that position. It is on record that he was so scared of death that he objected to assuming the mantle of leadership. He was eventually compelled to accept it.
And in 1999, he was a beneficiary of the battle Chief M K O Abiola and other Nigerians fought. He was used to appease the Yorubas for the injustice of Babangida’s annulment of the election that culminated into the death of Abiola and Yar’adua.
Even though Obasanjo was one of those who secretly worked against the realization of June 12, he still benefited from the sweat of others. It is also on record that his kinsmen never wanted him in 1999 which explains the colossal loss he suffered at his ward in the presidential election.
Whatever his intention, good or bad, he is free to nurse it as long as he does not try to impose his ideas on us. He is not in any way qualified to decide for Nigerians as to who governs them. It is our exclusive right that can not be traded for anything.
The recent imposition of candidates at the party primaries is no more than an affront on democratic norms. It is antipathy and inimical to the growth of democracy. Imposition of candidates and the subsequent rigging of election in favour of such candidates are devilish and cowardly.
The act of using state institutions to harass and intimidate political opponents does not augur well for our great country. Banning of presidential aspirants using INEC, EFCC, Code of Conduct Bureau, SSS and other security apparatus is the greatest disservice anyone can do to his country.
Uncomplimentary remarks being made by President Obasanjo are also capable of derailing our hard earned democracy. It is he who once said Nigeria without PDP is calamitous.
He was equally reported to have said that he knows those that will not succeed him but he does not know those that will succeed him. Has he forgotten that it is He who has power over life and death that equally decides on who will succeed him? His pastor should please call him for counseling.
The same Obasanjo was reported to have said that the April election is a matter of life and death for him and his party. Someone should endeavour to lecture the retired general that all these garrison mentality are alien to democratic governance.
And I advise that Nigerians should be wary of the people they will elect to govern them in the next general election. We should try to avoid those with the garrison mentality.
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