First among equals

First among equals

It is almost time for mid-term elections here in the United States and things are really getting frenzied; but first, let’s meet Ms Stacy Abrams. She is contesting for the post of governorship of Georgia and if elected, she will be the first female African American governor in the history of the country. By the way, Stacy Abrams was the first African American girl to be a valedictorian in high school, the first black female to get a law degree from prestigious Yale, the first female African American leader of the Georgia house of Assembly and an author of 8 romantic novels. Some resume!

With regards to the Nigerian politics however, the Igbos cannot and have not been allowed to boast of such resume as all their experiences in the political history of the country has always ended up in a perennial second. Though the general elections is still some five months away, delegates are already benefiting from the dividends of democracy in foreign exchange and it appears the Igbos are once again happy to play second fiddle.

While the rest of the presidential candidates are all at the domestic airports waiting for cheapest tickets to campaign around the country, the two serious contenders for the presidency- Obasanjo and Tinubu are busy preparing inauguration speeches for their parties. This election is already done and dusted. Nevertheless, you still ought to vote. Being on the queue may not necessarily result in the expected outcome, but you will have something to show for your effort anyway.

I have tremendous respect for Father Matthew Hassan Kukah and not because he is about the only Catholic priest without sexual scandal but because of his erudite and informed position on the state of the nation. So, with Bishop Oyedepo and Sheikh Gumi in tow, the trinity was in complete harmony with Atiku for his confession and reconciliation with Obasanjo at the latter’s home last week. Obasanjo has forgiven Atiku for his sins against him and in good faith has promised to vote for him at a political cost, since he blew the whistle on him and nobody did nothing about it. Atiku has paid restitution during the primaries for his sins against the nation. As for the rest of his sins, Gumi, Kukah and Oyedepo will handle that directly with God. If he cannot get into God's own country on account of his misdeeds, at least the trio will secure his passage to heaven at a cost. Salvation is no longer free.

Lastly, with Oyedepo and Obasanjo atoning for Atiku and Adeboye and Tinubu brandishing Buhari, it is just going to be a two horse race with no room for anyone praying for first break. Religion and politics used to be strange bedfellows but not any longer, there is provision for them in the other room. So, heads or tail, the people will always lose to their spiritual and political leaders.

Performing abroad

Before the end of this year, Beyonce will be owing the front page of Vogue magazine- the world literary representation of fashion expression. And what is more newsworthy is not that Beyonce will be the first black to grace the Vogue in her 120 years of publication but she will also be shot by a black young photographer. Touching everything from the unemployed to the sick, Bey's BeyGood foundation aims to make the world a more beautiful place. Her new initiative is currently raising money for the thousands in Nepal who were affected by the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The superstar raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight for gender equality worldwide, given school supplies to students across the nation and hosted food drives in Houston (and she shows no sign of stopping!).

In L.A., LeBron James having learnt that sport without education is like having an apple laptop without a password, has partnered with Akrons public school in fulfilling lifetime promise of providing education at no cost to parents. What made the school unique is that it has anchored its curriculum in math and science-based teaching, dipping into the STEM — science, technology, engineering, and math — curriculum that prepares students for the jobs of the future.

Just like most documented immigrants, President Buhari too is doing better in diaspora than at home. The president has just been selected as the chairman of ECOWAS.Guaranteeing him a steady job and income for the next year in case PDP goes ahead with a predictable impeachment proceeding against him for his deliverables.Buhari is likely to suffer the same fate as his predecessor President Faure Gnassingbe who faced a tough task in his 12-month tenure. Togolese opposition parties understandingly protested his continued stay in power over the entire period.

In his reaction to both his new international assignment and high profile defection of members of his party, the president has decided to go on holidays in UK before Britain exits Europe. The possibility of Buhari coming back and meeting any relevant APC members still in the party is as slim as his chances of fair hearing in the biased court of public opinion. While in UK, the vice president will be directing the affairs of the country provided he does not go to mountain top to pray. It is a good thing Saraki has defected to PDP at this point in time otherwise he may put the country up for sale as the next person in line of authority before the President returns.

But seriously, this may not be an auspicious time  for the president to relocate, sorry go on vacation. I mean we all can't in the name of change leave the country now, even God will find an excuse for not being able to rule in the affairs of this country as promised, and those that are banned from travelling outside the country cannot be trusted with our finances. And I am kinda busy right now.

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Vanity fair

We are all allowed to show off what we have once in a while - which is good. Some show off their bodies, some their assets, some their liabilities, some their knowledge and some show their ignorance. When this is often, it is called pride. Pride is a weakness because it is vain. As Mark Twain puts it, It ain't what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It is what you know for sure that just ain't so.

Four years ago, Ambode was introduced to the political scene by his political father as the next governor. He showed off what he has in the several political debates and similar fora that he turned up for- mainly his wardrobe. And I showed my disdain both for him and the system that produced him. He lost all debates to the erudite, composed and visibly more intelligent Jimi Agbaje of PDP. The race, of course was not the swiftest, and amidst other undemocratic machinations, Tinubu won and Ambode was sworn in.

Opinions on his performance is however divided more along party line than on deliverables. Lagosians don't have tall expectations; just a safe and clean Lagos. And perhaps, a saner traffic, upgraded transportation system and a just land use charges- considering the fact that the earth is of God and its fulness thereof. Three years into his administration, traffic gridlock is still awesome and Ambode is still competing with God for the land.

Compared with other states,it was not a totally awful outing for him as undecided Lagosians were ready to promote him to a second term on trial, if not for the school principal in Bourdilon that insisted on his expulsion. Ambode was a student who became a prefect on account of his personal hygiene and cleanliness but made more frantic effort in upholding his model status thereby leaving the school in such a dismay state.

As for Tinubu and the newly selected school prefect, I will leave them with this excerpt from a book i just read: the danger in every organization, especially the one built around hierarchy is that you create an environment that cuts off dissenting views and discourages honest feedback. That can quickly lead to a culture of delusion and deception. And in a leader, the tendency of too much confidence to swamp humility can lead to a dangerous self indulgence at the expense of others.

Lastly, the days ahead is going to be lonely for the incumbent governor and as he must have belatedly found out that you need more than impressive wardrobe to lead the people and the only place to find solitude against solicitude in school is the library. He needs to read and not just books but the people.