A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned political parties and their leaders against the idea of fielding either Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian as presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the February 14, 2014 election.
He said in a terse statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Sunday that such idea was dangerous given the current happenings in the polity.
Although he made no mention of any political party or politician in the statement, he appeared to have alluded to an All Progressive Congress presidential aspirant, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s comment on Saturday that he was not opposed to a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
Obasanjo’s statement read, “Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust.
“It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader or any political party to be toying with Muslim- muslim or Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture.
“Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of Islamisation or Christianisation. The idea of proselytisation in any form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria, as this time is different from any other time.
“Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to be allayed at this point will amount not only to insensitivity of the highest order but will also amount to very bad politics indeed.”
Buhari had in an interview published on Saturday by an online newspaper, TheCable, said he had an open mind on a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
The presidential aspirant argued that he had shown in the past that he was not a religious fundamentalist by picking Christians as his running mates. His former running mates are a former Senate President Chuba Okadigbo (late); an ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke (late) and Tunde Bakare.
He had said, “Nigerians will always uncover impossible room for manoeuvre for politicians. I had to face one of the governors during one of our party’s meetings [over the issue of religion].
“In 2003, I chose Okadigbo as my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, I picked Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I chose even a pastor. Pastor Tunde Bakare.
“Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what else can I do?”
He added that the late MKO Abiola, a southern Muslim, picked Babagana Kingibe, a northern Muslim, as his running mate in the 1993 presidential election.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket won the election generally considered as the fairest and freest election in Nigeria.
Buhari is believed to be looking in the direction of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who is also a muslim, as his running mate.
Fashola had since distanced himself from reports that he might be Buhari’s running mate.
When contacted, the Director-General, Buhari Support Group, Alhaji Umaru Dembo, said, ‘‘I do know the context in which what was said was said. So many people have been trying to cast the APC in a religious garb. What I can say is that when the issue of the ticket is decided, the party will look at other issues. Right now, talking about the running mate is a distraction.’’
The APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, however, told one of our correspondents that it had “noted” Obasanjo’s advice.
He said, “We appreciate the fact that the problem confronting our nation today is one that requires a patriotic Nigerian who has the capacity and competence to deal with. We however note the former President’s advice.”
Mohammed added that the party had always pledged to be guided by the 1999 Constitution and its guidelines in taking decisions on issues that affect the generality of Nigerians.
“What we’ve always said is that our party will be guided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and will be guided also by our own guidelines and also will be guided by what we believe is in the best interest of Nigerians,” he said.
The APC had lost some of its prominent members who claimed that the party leadership was planning to field Muslim-Muslim candidates for the 2015 presidential election.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Olisa Metuh, said the party had decided to keep off religious issues and focus on politics.
“At this point in time, due to what is happening in the nation, the PDP has refrained from commenting on religious matters. We want to keep religion out of politics. We are focused on politics. We do not want to make comments on religion,” Metuh added.
The ruling PDP has already endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian as its presidential candidate. Vice-President Namadi Sambo, a Muslim whom the PDP leadership described as a member of its winning team, may still run as Jonathan’s deputy.
APC, PDP legislators, others disagree
However, the caucuses of the PDP and APC in the House of Representatives differed on the issue.
The Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the character of the presidential candidates should be the focus and not the religion.
He explained that Nigeria could have “all-Muslim” candidates or “all-Christian candidates.”
Gbajabiamila added, “For us, it doesn’t matter whether it is a Muslim-Muslim ticket or Christian-Christian ticket.
“What people are looking out for is development and good governance.
“We should be looking at the character of the person and what he can offer, not his religion.”
But, the PDP caucus praised Obasanjo for bringing the issue to the fore.
The Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, said members were in support of Obasanjo.
“The former President spoke well. We are totally in support of what he has said.”
A former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Shuaib Oyedokun, also commended Obasanjo for the statement.
Oyedokun said, “This statement from him is commendable. We must however be reminded that Nigerian had done this in the last by fielding Muslim/Muslim ticket.
“We must know that there are some states in both the South and the North that are either predominately Christians or Muslims and because of this, it would be difficult to do balancing.”
In the Senate, Kabiru Marafa said it was “left for the parties to design their permutations for winning elections and for Nigerians to say yes or no to them during the polls.”
Marafa recalled that the late Abiola and Kingibe, both Muslims, contested for election on the same platform.
“They ran together and their election is still a point of reference in Nigeria. There was no crisis. In fact, people voted overwhelmingly for them across the country,” he said.
The lawmaker argued that it would “have been better if the former President had advised his own party not to do so because of the fear of losing an election.”
Also, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere, said that Obasanjo “should avoid such advice now especially when a political party is already being accused of bringing about a religious agenda.”
A Lagos-based lawyer, Fred Agbaje, said while he agreed that “Obasanjo’s pronouncement on any major nation issue cannot be ignored,” he (Obasanjo) “should not arrogate to himself, the title of Mr. Know-it-all.”
Agbaje said, “What is Obasanjo saying? Haven’t Nigerians voted Muslim-Muslim ticket before even though the power-that-be did not allow it to stand? What Nigerians need are competent leaders, and they could be Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian, female-female, male-male, male-female or female-male.
“Nigerians need leaders that will solve many of the nation’s socio-economic woes, unemployment, corruption, armed robbery, kidnapping and the general state of insecurity in the country.
“Obasanjo should not see himself as the only person having the panacea to the nation’s problems.”
However, the Trade Union Congress advised the political class to avoid any controversial issue such as a Muslim/Muslim or Christian/Christian ticket. Punch
We don’t need a soothsayer to tell us. It is a thing of common sense. But who the cap fits, should wear it. This is a valid statement by OBJ; no matter how we rationalise or debate it.
“A man without a value system, integrity, discipline and education but with great inheritance, would squander all his wealth and goodwill.”
Today, what we have is a recycled leadership, where over eighty percent of extant oligarchs were part of our national history since independence. However, yesteryears when this leadership structures, national institutions and standards were being developed, hopes were high with expectations surging, that the possible impinges of these systems would eventually get us to the promised land.
Where are we today and where are we headed as a nation, when the framework and implementation processes we adopted as we began our journey as a nation, is tested and has failed?
The cliche that says that ‘Youths are the leaders of tomorrow’ has no implied exegesis; as leaders of yesterday have refused to exuent, perpetuating and transforming into leaders of next tomorrow. Thus, with the promise of yesterday hardly fulfilled today, and the hope of tomorrow partly blurred by the avidity, insensitivity to the future of the nation by all; it is quite easy to project bleakness based on ill legacies and values, absence of diligence passed on to today’s youths who would only emerge national leaders in far distant years.
However, inspite of many others and my objection cum disapproval of doomsday break-up predictions by G-8 nations about Nigeria, my critical and objective opinion is thus: since extant cum next tomorrow’s leaders have succeeded in guiding the nation (in trade by barter agreements) to shirk national dis-integration; how many of them would be alive fifty years from today to tell us that public actions, divisive sentimental comments uttered today were just rehearsed theatrics? Consequently, these have created fanatics of their many followers, and led the nations youths to imbibe divisive traits, as foundation for national opinions and actions.
It would rather be too late then, to rectify our age long mind-sets/ orientation, which would have hit the apogee of destructive principles, bigotries, intolerance, corruption, terrorism and wanton philandering. Avenues for irreconcilable differences amongst seemingly marginalized religions and regions, that could result in agreeable breakup would be opened and exploited. Then, Nigeria at 104, and leaders at 64 or 74+ would want something as prize for public service! And with less and less to go round; very poor leadership and managerial skills coupled with inert sabotage prowess; absence of values;inherited legacy of suppressing the masses and a dysfunctional system, managing a national crisis would be by volte face, with less commitment and concern for national unity, which would have dire unspeakable ramifications.
While we are at our divide and rule game, they can only cringe (if allowed) in their graves, that their political sons and daughters bested them. Though they didn’t apprise us that in the inner room, while sharing their lots, their strategy to maintain status- quo was to arouse the people with divisive mentality. They are united in leadership to make us divided as a people, as such the national cake would remain theirs. That is a jury-less possibility/ outcome, fifty years from 2014!
Now, we are enlightened! Today, we can re-unite as a people so as to do away with their avid leadership, that we may rectify our values, and update our standards as a people. We cannot go on thinking that these inherited norms of lacklustre and lack of diligence, wouldn’t blur our sense of judgement when the baton of leadership falls on today’s youths. We cannot keep thinking we are immune to their constant mind games and me first, Nigeria last un-patriotic brainwashing techniques, that erode our sense of integrity and patriotism! Let us recreate our future on the gains of Jury judiciary platform, as the time is ripe to resist their hold on us, and re- invent our souls!
We need to re- stock our overly depleted store of values and change our approach to the nations future, with the tested and trusted jury judiciary platform, which guarantees us a perennially sane and value oriented future. Let us discard the extant leadership structure which has continually plagued and failed us, and is leading us towards a doomed path. Let us embrace the Jury structure to keep alive our hopes and belief of our Nigerian dream coming true; that our values be re-integrated and our future of peace, progress and justice insured.
As a young man, I have objectively analyzed the many predictions of the G-8 nations, while also studying their national attitude, values, norms, and character content to see why they do not fall into the category of nations of such predictions. I have therefore understood that the fundamental bed-rock of their society and nation is Jury. Hence, the voice of the people is heard and mulled in any decision making process, with their choices respected.
Also, they do not need to enforce laws on their citizens because, they are custodians of the law; part of legal processes; highly functional and enlightened of their responsibilities as citizens, and roles as a people. Altogether, they are legally and politically educated, having a strong value cum character orientation and encouraged to maintain a high level of integrity/ diligence, through a reward system. Because they witness the benefits of this near ideal system designed, structured and implemented by their fore-bears, they find it pleasurable to make sacrifices, in order to maintain these systems at their optimum level, and pass on value and integrity orientation to their offsprings.
We droll at their systems, and label same ideal when we board their trains; use their airports; visit their museums, monumental edifices and presidential residence; use their electricity and water facilities; report an emergency or crime; use their data and network services, leading us to rhetorically ask our leaders to replicate same in our country. However, we forget that maintenance isn’t just about replacing worn parts, but in the manner of usage; which we are overly deficient in, due to our orientation.
With a self rectifying platform as jury, their citizens grew to appreciate and value these infrastructures. They learnt to be enlightened on the basics of usage and maintenance, strengthening their beliefs in processes and institutions, which kept their systems functioning optimally, while they consistently focused on improving their standards. Today, their orientation is a chasm from ours, yet we want to enjoy the amenities they have being exposed to from birth, without going through the re-orientation phase and needed sacrifices to use these amenities. Hence the need for a Jury system!
Today, their sacrifices on Jury has ensured that integrity, diligence and values become their quotidian standard. These nations seem to have perfected the art of enabling their people to be integral parts of every process, that each citizen painlessly abide by the laws; thereby keeping the ageless tradition of forthrightness; respect for others and their laws of their country, in order to maintain and keep up the pace of hand- over- fist of their socio- economic and -political life. This has guaranteed their future, with honorable paths created and established as foundation for future generations. I could continue dissecting the impediments of a jury- less future for Nigeria, vis-a-vis the impinges Jury has had on these great nations who identified the least- challenging way of integrating the people into their leaders consciousness, while ensuring that every one is their brothers keeper. But the question would be: are we going to just inhale the aroma of this sumptuous meal- JURY, or get to work and partake in it?
Indeed, when the future beckons, it is the deeds and values we were oriented with and have habitualized as quotidian norms, that would define our beings and guide our decisions and actions. So, if we refuse to take conscious steps in rectifying the wrong ideas today’s leaders have indoctrinated into us; that has earned them political positions in perpetuity, we might only end up with an unproductive and undefined future. The challenge to queue behind the Jury platform and support it; having being enlightened on its gains, is to shirk a Nigeria in a quagmire cum deadlocked future!
Now, we have the opportunity, not just to earn our place in the hierarchy of leadership, (though active, yet inactive and as non-executive directors of the Nigerian project) but with a real chance to get it right, safe-guard our future and salvage our today.
Jury judiciary yet comes with its sacrifices; but there is no gain without its pain! Less than a year to the general elections, while the oligarchy sit in cozy rooms deciding who joins their league of council of state members cum (ex) head of government board, we can also decide and agree to take that unilateral decision/ authority from them. We can come together and work on being better citizens with new orientation of patriotic values and integrity, in order to groom great leaders of tomorrow that posses impeccable character.
In a few months from now, our team would proceed to court to institute a case for the implementation of Jury; with the Federal government, attorney general of the Federation, and judiciary as respondents in the suit. We would have a jury defenders team comprising of men and women of integrity of high offices, who would team to ensure that the gains of Jury are built upon when implemented, and prevent sabotage during the court process and after implementation, once successful. It is therefore our expectation that over 60% of eligible Nigerians would register as jurors within six months of implementation, which would, over the years increase as the younger attain 21 years; and therefore, trigger a massive turnout of over 80% of the voting population in subsequent elections.
With the financial autonomy of the judiciary, we hope to successfully conclude the case in six months, since budget for the Jury would emanate directly from the judiciary, with minimal political interference. Implementation is to commence immediately, with all Nigerians from 21 years and above expected to register to be a part of the jury system; as no adult or youth would be exempted from identifying and registering as a Juror. That would be the beginning of shaping our new and beautiful future built on collective responsibility, re- orientation of proper values; steadily reforming our approach to life; and re- inventing our integrity and patriotism; as well as creating timeless, efficient, standardized and highly functional systems to commensurate our new national character and thinking.
Right now, we indulge your moral support, that we all may come out with one voice to echo JURY; to embrace the sacrifices it might demand at it’s teething beginning, so that by 2019 general elections, this platform would have re-defined our socio- economic, -political quotidian, to enable a truly free and fair election of reliable leadership, with an enlightened and highly responsible citizenship. Let us therefore work towards creating the system that works for all, that we may all benefit from it today and have our future as we once dreamed; with more hope for perennial change to a new order of better omens.
Our future seems capricious as of today, with our hopeless hope in a Messiah. But with Jury, we the people become the true messiah, having a well defined, organized and structured future; where we all benefit from, and play functional roles in governance. With jury, we would be indispensable in the process of planning our future, thereby giving us reasons to give our best, that the outcome of our collective involvement would be the fulfillment of our Nigerian dream; as the responsibility for the nations success would be shared by both leaders and followers!
Let us therefore translate our hope to expectation, and transform our belief into reality, using Jury platform to endear all hands on deck!
Youths, remember that of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh; therefore, let us not mull being the best among the comity of nations as a competition, but a process of imbibing all the good in all the others!
Whether we agree or not, the constitution is skewed in such a way as to diminish the influence of the People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Yet, Nigerians are constitutionally expected in defending the constitution, while being giving the phantasm of being united, integrated, peace loving!
We have no platform to achieve