Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
For good
watchers of the Nigerian politics, one thing has come to stay in our political
experiment at getting it right in this country and that is the ability for
smart politicians to easily sway the electorates with mundane issues.
watchers of the Nigerian politics, one thing has come to stay in our political
experiment at getting it right in this country and that is the ability for
smart politicians to easily sway the electorates with mundane issues.
The campaigns
are no longer issue based but media sensationalism.
are no longer issue based but media sensationalism.
Latest of such
was the sudden appearance of the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
in the United States of America! Then one begins to wonder why the opposition
would think such is the needed magic wand to win the election.
was the sudden appearance of the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar
in the United States of America! Then one begins to wonder why the opposition
would think such is the needed magic wand to win the election.
And the
euphoria may not be unconnected with the report that Atiku was barred from
entering the States because of his fraudulent nature but the question is, why
would any serious opposition believes such action would immediately translate
into winning the Aso Rock.
euphoria may not be unconnected with the report that Atiku was barred from
entering the States because of his fraudulent nature but the question is, why
would any serious opposition believes such action would immediately translate
into winning the Aso Rock.
One would have
wondered why Atiku has chosen to travel with the current senate president, Dr.
Bukola Saraki? Could it be that he actually traveled under the diplomatic
immunity of Saraki’s official delegation?
wondered why Atiku has chosen to travel with the current senate president, Dr.
Bukola Saraki? Could it be that he actually traveled under the diplomatic
immunity of Saraki’s official delegation?
Diplomatic
immunity is a form of legal immunity that ensures diplomats are given safe
passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the
host country’s laws, but they can still be expelled.
immunity is a form of legal immunity that ensures diplomats are given safe
passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the
host country’s laws, but they can still be expelled.
We need to be
circumspect as we move forward as a nation and be more discerning. The current
government of Nigeria is focused more than before in ensuring that Nigerians,
regardless of the class or status has a befitting country they could fall back
to and call a home.
circumspect as we move forward as a nation and be more discerning. The current
government of Nigeria is focused more than before in ensuring that Nigerians,
regardless of the class or status has a befitting country they could fall back
to and call a home.
It is quite
obvious that while the opposition are playing to the gallery, the presidential
campaign organisation of president Mohammad Buhari is busy rolling up its
sleeves and getting down to fields where the real electorates are and
connecting with them.
obvious that while the opposition are playing to the gallery, the presidential
campaign organisation of president Mohammad Buhari is busy rolling up its
sleeves and getting down to fields where the real electorates are and
connecting with them.
This past week
especially has been full of activities for the president despite his age.
Within a spate of two weeks, Buhari had sat down to two interviews in-between
journeying from the length and breadth of the country in getting the message of
hope down to the people.
especially has been full of activities for the president despite his age.
Within a spate of two weeks, Buhari had sat down to two interviews in-between
journeying from the length and breadth of the country in getting the message of
hope down to the people.
The president
does not rely on his privilege as an incumbent, but insisted on talking to his
people and ensuring that Nigerians are united as they go to polls come
February.
does not rely on his privilege as an incumbent, but insisted on talking to his
people and ensuring that Nigerians are united as they go to polls come
February.
No one is in
doubt that his message also resonates well with the citizens as they troop out
en masse to welcome and listen to what he has to say. With the multitude of
crowd recorded today as he presented the gubernatorial flagbearer of the party
to the good people of Delta State and the ovation that greeted it, there is no
doubt that Buhari is truly loved.
doubt that his message also resonates well with the citizens as they troop out
en masse to welcome and listen to what he has to say. With the multitude of
crowd recorded today as he presented the gubernatorial flagbearer of the party
to the good people of Delta State and the ovation that greeted it, there is no
doubt that Buhari is truly loved.
As we count
down to the elections, Nigerians need to bear it in mind that the 2019 election
is about building on a new foundation which the present government has been
able to achieve in the first four years and giving the solid foundation out to
the marauders to destroy along with the better forgotten 16years in power.
down to the elections, Nigerians need to bear it in mind that the 2019 election
is about building on a new foundation which the present government has been
able to achieve in the first four years and giving the solid foundation out to
the marauders to destroy along with the better forgotten 16years in power.
If Atiku is in
the United States today, there is no way the intelligence agencies of the
federal government of Nigeria would not know about it.
the United States today, there is no way the intelligence agencies of the
federal government of Nigeria would not know about it.
Tunde
Ajose, a political commentator, writes from Lagos.
