Friday, September 30, 2022

WHICH WAY NIGERIA?

Which way Nigeria? That is the question on the lips of every Nigerian patriot as the country marks the 62nd anniversary of its existence as an independent nation. Which way Nigeria? That is the question being asked by many of the thousands of disappointed and frustrated young Nigerians who call themselves "Obidients" and who are likely to troop out this weekend unto the streets of Lagos.

Which way Nigeria? Those are the three undying words in a question put in song by the great Nigerian music maestro, Sonny Okosun who passed on at the age of 61 reportedly of Colon-cancer on May 24 2008 at Howard University Hospital, in Washington DC, USA.

Which way Nigeria? The campaign for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria to answer this question, has officially kicked off. The referee has blown the whistle. The match has begun!

Which way Nigeria? What we have seen in the many months of meetings and consultations in Nigeria, in London and elsewhere has been horse trading or the appetizer. If you are not ready with your main dish yet and answers to the question, you have a big problem. In a few days, the streets all over Nigeria will be defaced with all manner of posters. Soon, all kinds of campaign propaganda will be blaring on radio and television. John Momoh of Channels TV and Nduka Obaigbena of Arise TV should soon be laughing to the bank. The social media rats who have since been mobilized to join issues are being unleashed to take over Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Tik Tok, etc. They will be struggling to answer the question, Which way Nigeria?

Another question that must be answered in this election was asked by the great Sonny Okosun in song: "Who owns Papa's land?"

Can you see that the parties with big "structures" are having big problems? Big structures mean big egos and big claims to ownership and big money to share. In PDP, Wike, Atiku, Ayu, Okowa, Ortom and co are engaged in a raging battle for control. In APC, party chairman, Adamu & Co are in a wrestling match with Tinubu which has forced Tinubu to go to London to go and "rest". Big structure, big headache!

For many years, Nigerians have surrendered their country to "the cabal". Sometimes, they have been called "the Kaduna Mafia". These are the people who are supposed to determine what happens in the country. They determine who gets what and who goes hungry. They assume that the own Papa's land. The battle over the composition of the Presidential Council is really a battle for representation in "the cabal" that supposedly owns Papa's land.   

In the Obidient Movement, the Nigerian people own Papa's land. Without a Presidential Campaign Council, the "Obidient" campaign is on the move while their opponents are busy putting out fires that refuse to go away. There are no big egos to massage and no big money to share. Who says you must have a Presidential Campaign Council?

Many might wonder why the "Obidient" movement in Nigeria has caught fire as rapidly as it has done. Peter Obi simply found a vacuum created by the PDP and APC and moved into it. You might also say that the vacuum created by the PDP and APC found Peter Obi and conscripted him. A lot of Nigeria's young people today are living on the hope which Mr. Obi seems to exude. In fact, the Nigerian "cabal" must thank Obi for whatever level of sanity that still exists in Nigeria. Things might have got to the point where many would have started denying ownership of their big mansions and their fat bank accounts and running for cover from angry Nigerians. It is the hope that many of the young people see in the new movement and the possibility of a better future that is keeping the anger and frustration from boiling over.

Like the Nigerian Iconic singer, Sonny Okosun sang, "It is now or never!"  It is clear that the young people of Nigeria, the same age group that drove the

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