The stage is set and other presidential candidates emerge. Jonathan Goodluck of the PDP dabbles fully into the antics of campaigning with his affluent sponsors funding one of the most expensive campaigns in the history of Nigeria. Criticisms of the apparent waste and ‘money campaigns’ was very strong with persistent calls for a probe into the source of campaign funds. Nevertheless, Jonathan Goodluck permeated every membrane of the Nigerian society, ethnic group and religion preaching the gospel of ‘fresh air’ and ‘change’. The opposition which consisted of three different parties; CPC, CAN, and ANPP failed to match this feat either because of lack of funds or an apparent nonchalant attitude towards certain parts of the country which to me translates to a sheer lack of intelligence and the decorum expected of an aspiring presidential candidate which should depict a nationalistic attitude not a divisive one.
The campaign period prior to the election was filled with lots of drama that characteristically brought to light the political attitude of the common Nigerian. From the PDP and Goodluck perspective, a deepening sentiment towards eradicating the country of corrupt leaders was rapidly gaining ground. The growth of this sentiment was spurred by the viral revolutions against certain governments in Africa and parts of the Middle East and the belief that Nigeria had gotten to the point where it could no longer go through another corrupt regime focused on draining the nation’s wealth and further impoverishing its masses. The grammatical blunders committed by the First Lady in her campaign speeches for her husband did little to subdue this growing sentiment and neither did the apparent overspending portrayed by the PDP nor the irresponsible association and display of ex-convicts (in the person of Bode George) help to douse the desire to kick the PDP out of power. The previous records of the PDP also did not help as people where out to pin point anyone who was ready to cut any deal with the PDP. The battle against the PDP intensified with the help of social network sites, blogs and some tabloids (cannot classify them as a news outlet for reasons I would discuss later) where every blunder committed by Goodluck and the PDP was proudly displayed with catchy captions and well thought write ups that evoked very deep emotions in the form of comments and feedbacks. Truly, I feared at that point that a revolution was eminent in Nigeria and would turn violent if the PDP rig (as they have always done) the April elections.
At this stage of events, one would have expected the opposition parties to take advantage of a rather glorious opportunity handed down by the gods or by some stroke of luck to end the hold of PDP on the nation. The presidential debates presented such an opportunity and everyone eagerly anticipated a show down that would confirm their hopes and fears (at least for me). Much to my own disappointment (and am sure others were disappointed too), the debate was used shrouded in drama as well. Now, I must at this point rectify my failure to mention the other candidates running for the presidency though it seemed more convenient stacking ACN, ANPP and CPC as the opposition against the PDP. CPC presented the greatest threat to PDP with Mohammed Buhari running as their presidential candidate. A once military ruler of Nigeria and a runner up in the last three elections (actually all the elections held since the new ‘democratic’ establishment in Nigeria from 1999), Buhari had his aces as well as stigmas, the resultant of which decided his fate in the 2011 presidential elections. Nihu Ribadu from the ACN warmed the hearts of youths but seemed to lack confidence and vision and probably was being used as a pawn by the leadership of the ACN which had other intentions/ideas about the presidency. ANPP showcased Shekarau, an unknown at the time who sincerely stood no chance but was a good addition to the mix.
Back to the national debates, a first was arranged by NN24, a network outside the shores of Nigeria. Days to the date of the debate, one that was agreed by the campaign organizers of all candidates, the Goodluck campaign team pulled out from the debate sighting bad timing and the fact that a debate organized by a national network was more appealing to the national image of the country. To worsen the card played by Goodluck’s team, the time was allocated to a very unpopular interview of Goodluck with D’Banj who supposedly represented the Nigerian youth. It surely was such a cheeky move which confirmed to Nigerians that the PDP was going to resort to underhand tactics during the election. However, what presented itself as the perfect opportunity for the opposition was poorly handled. The NN24 debate held without the PDP candidate and received enormous applause from the Nigerian public with the unknown Shekarau stealing the show and making a good impression on the minds of Nigerians which hopefully would be remembered someday in the future. Truly, as a friend of mine said, Nigeria needs a leader who can capture the minds of the people with his eloquence and intelligence, something we have not witnessed in a very long time and Shekarau sure fits that picture
The next debate scheduled by BON was boycotted by all other parties and was solely attended by Goodluck. Buhari’s campaign team sighted the incapacity of the network to conduct a credible debate and insinuated that they would probably have been compromised by pressure from the PDP. Yet again, this was another cheeky move, this time from the opposition parties. I mean, it is merely a debate where you express to the masses your ideas. Personally, it was a childish move from the opposition that went a long way to assure me that for the April 2011 elections, Nigeria did not have a character good enough to fill the presidential position and turn the country around.
For me, this period was a period of mind games that were poorly constructed by both PDP and the opposition parties which quelled in me the illusion that in 2011, Nigeria was going to elect a president that would make changes necessary for moving Nigeria forward!
Nd Obi
(Coming next, part III: Miscalculations and Angels of Hate)
