Who is afraid of the opposition?

Drama shall never end in Nigeria political terrain; everyday is one drama to another. And I tell you, this comic like cheap political muzzling is making the 2011 election more interesting by the day.  And for those who have the passion to share some laughter, this no doubt is the time to laugh away at some of the disgraceful stone age political thinking of some of our politicians across the country, especially in the PDP controlled states, where they have tried to shut out the opposition and went as far as banning them from holding public rallies or pasting posters and billboards in ‘their states’.

I dey laugh like Baba, wondering if these self-proclaimed dictators sometimes spare their self-imposed busy schedule to reflect and ask themselves about the whereabouts of those before them? I  almost fell down from my seat when I read about one  Amala governor in the south-west who,wanting desperately to cling to his soon to be  expired stay at the government house,and be in the good books of madam first lady, gave an order that the opposition must not step foot on the people’s hall to campaign ,as if the gra-gra governor used  his personal fund to build this popular hall or got some donation from the office of the first lady, when the people of the rusted city were sacrificing to build this  vestibule with their hard earned  money through taxes. But thank God the opposition called his bluff and successfully expressed their fundamental rights, under his famous sniffing nose and political thugs.

Another old papa, who happens to be a PDP  governor in one of the states in the south-south, threw caution to the wind and shamed his respected grey hair with a cheap directive that another popular  opposition party in the country should not campaign in ‘ his state’. That state he dreamed he used his money in creating and building. That state that has not really witnessed any change or progress since his magu-magu selection to the office as governor, and presently holds the record of the most unpopular and unknown governor in the country. And again the opposition dares him and went ahead with their campaign across the state, under his watchful old eyes. 

Perhaps one of the most surprising political muzzling was the one exhibited by a popular servant governor in the north-central, who despite his popularity and charisma among the people, still went ahead to banned the opposition from holding their legitimate campaign, thus earning a minus in his hitherto respected political profile.  Another surprisingly one was the shocking one exhibited in another state in the far north, where Baba mai mangoro, despite being a popular governor and farmer, refused to play good hospitality that farmers are renowned with. Instead the old soldier decided to rekindle his old military thinking and gave order that no opposition should hold campaign in ‘his state’ or play towards his cherished mango trees.

One would have thought that the Nigerian political elite by now must have learnt from the political crisis and awareness going on around the world; that they can no longer muzzle people’s opinions and freedom of expression.  Actually these cheap display of intolerance for the opposition has once again brought to light the qualification and understanding of governance by the few selected cabal imposed on the electorate over the past ten years. It glaringly shows how timid they are in their political reasoning and disgracefully exposed their lack of understanding of the natural metrics and principles of power.

It should have occurred to these set of people that ‘power’ in whatever way you go, comes from God and no matter your planning, scheming  and muzzling, it will go to whom the giver and owner of power chooses. It has always baffled my sense of understanding why our leaders or some of those in high places always quickly forget where they were, before their present positions.  Our politicians and leaders have this laughable belief that the ladder of life will remain standing once they are up. Cheaply neglecting the undisputable fact that ‘change’ is constant and must showcase its face either they like it or not. Common sense should have knocked the truth into their reasoning  that there were governors, senators, house members, councillors, chiefs, directors, chairmen, ministers, presidents, and whatever before them and there shall always be others after them, as long as the sun keeps shining freely from the sky and there is night and day.

Please be generous with some free laughter, as we watch our politicians try desperately to outwit each other with magu-magu, poster war and intimidation. This is actually the season of political thuggery and they have not disappointed us with their violent display across almost all the political parties in the country. It has been one war to another, from the PDP controlled states, to some ACN and ANPP controlled ones, including the new hurricane blowing CPC and APGA. But the PDP still holds the trophy of the most intimidating and desperate party so far. But the fact remains that the biggest ship no matter its size and strength must bend to the tide of change or sink.

I don’t know about you. But I am so certain that there will be a lot of upset at the forthcoming election, whether our desperado politicians like it or not and I could almost see some of the back that would stumble down with a thud from the ladder of life, with broken  mouths, swollen lips, fractured legs and disgraced frames. The drama is getting more exciting by the day and my eyes are getting more curious as we near the end of this interesting Nigerian movie, parading some of the famous and infamous Nigerian political actors and actresses, as they scramble desperately to clinch some of the top awards in election 2011.  So who is afraid of the opposition?

NEW  NIGERIAN  ON  SUNDAY, MARCH  20,  2011