Fayemi: A burst of fresh air

The Governor revealed to a startled State Population that he had just spoken with Fayose, his challenger and had congratulated him on his victory. A few hours later, he kept his word and went on to meet with the Governor-elect to fashion out ways to institute a smooth transition programme.I found it hard to believe […]

The Governor revealed to a startled State Population that he had just spoken with Fayose, his challenger and had congratulated him on his victory. A few hours later, he kept his word and went on to meet with the Governor-elect to fashion out ways to institute a smooth transition programme.
I found it hard to believe that this was happening in Nigeria for I had looked forward to the Ekiti election worried that it would be a collision of an immovable object with an unstoppable one, a characteristic of Nigerian politics and elections.
Fayemi who knew better, had described the election as a hard fought one, yet philosophized for not just his State, but the Nation, that in spite of party affiliations, “Ekiti people should see themselves as one”.
“Yesterday, Ekiti State decided. Following the gubernatorial elections held in the land of honour, Ekiti State, Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission has officially returned the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the election.
“If indeed this is the will of the Ekiti People, I stand in deference to your will. If the result of the elections is an expression of the voice of our people, we must all heed your voice.
To me, this is a giant step, significant in stabilizing the Ekiti State polity, and may be, saving not so few lives. In this is therefore a lesson Nigerian politicians must learn. Political office is transient. Its retention is not a matter of life and death, and our approach to it must therefore be as statesmanlike, as Fayemi has shown. And from all indications, the people of Ekiti State did say No to a fresh tenure; and in any case, it is well known that Fayemi and Fayose had struggled side by side in the trenches of Ekiti politics. The Fayemi example is encouraging, and capable of changing our culture of politics in Nigeria.
In Ekiti, Fayose won the election, but Fayemi who lost, in truth, won the hearts of Nigerians who in frustration with our democratic maladies, must have resigned to fate as a people cursed, not to see exemplary leadership, so possible, so easily attainable and yet so far-fetched. Fayemi has rekindled a flickering hope, and one hopes that more examples will follow that will turn the flicker into a flame.
The Peoples Democratic Party, engaged in celebration and chest beating, must not lose sight of the fire next door, the steps to the Presidential election in 2015, for which every not so complimentary gimmick is being deployed in order to frustrate even the internal challenge to President Goodluck Jonathan. It would be so pleasant to see internal democracy played out in the nomination of the party’s flag bearer – a wish one must make to all political parties in Nigeria.

Brazil 2014: For Nigeria, it’s more than the Cup

Every Nigerian suffered pains to watch the opening match against Iran. The pains arose from the natural desire to win a match that, from all indications, was clearly winnable. Yet every attempt by the Super Eagles to strike a ball into the Iranian net was thwarted by the tight defence.  Then the Iranians tended to counter right after, with their swift strikers. It was the kind of match you watched with your heart sitting on your mouth, liver in your shoes and kidney on the floor. No one dared sit near you because you shook, swayed, kicked out with fists and feet. It was awful.
Why did Nigeria not win that match? Simply that the Iranians were good. We had been warned so. The Iranians had come to the match with a tight and impregnable defence. On International tv, veteran Eagle Austin Jay Jay Okocha blamed Stephen Kechi for the failure. Okocha said: “He did not bring anything new to the table. His changes were poor. He took out Moses and brought in Ameobi. I think that was a wrong change”. On line, Nigerians massacred Keshi and hardly anyone could be consoled by the fact that the Super Eagles did not lose their first match in any case. Nigerians could blame Keshi and the players but he who is on the hot seat felt it more than he who was sitting on the sidelines or watching the match on TV or from the stands, enamoured by mere imaginative prowess. I dared give my reasons.
Iran clearly took time to study the Nigerian approach to football. They took advantage of the lack of cohesion in the Super Eagles squad. Iran played as a team. Nigeria played as individuals, working better at coordination until the final whistle, but you can’t take more than 90 minutes plus extra time can you?
But give it to the Super Eagles. Iran was a worthy opponent. The Eagles were adventurous, showed stamina, were young and energetic. Individually they showed world class skills, but there was no synergy among the players, evidence that they had not practiced together and consequently could not flow like children would flow in a go-cart.
Then a totally different Nigerian side defeated Bosnia Herzegovina. Critics have renewed hope and given the Super Eagles a chance. Against Argentina? Does Nigeria stand a chance?
Even as it is football there lie valid lessons aside the fact that both matches with Iran and Bosnia Herzegovina were lovely game. Watching the Super Eagles in that characteristic prayer in a circle as they came shoulder to shoulder, you could not but wish Nigerians were like that on national duty, particularly our politicians. Watching them brought moments when it felt good to be just a Nigerian – not Northerner, not Southerner, not Muslim, not Christian. Just one national holding another under one common destiny.
As you hissed and cursed our Eagles that they did not win the match against Iran, I thought, you should care to imagine what they are talking about the match back in Iran. How could it be that their national team would be held to a draw as if they were not children of the Revolution – whose country managed its oil wealth for the development of science and technology for the goodness of their people, which you could not say about Nigeria? How could they be held to a draw by a bunch of children of a disunited nation – a team that handled a game in the field the same way their leaders handled power, purposelessly and lacking in direction, urgency and commitment.
The Nigeria-Iran match was a grotesque commentary of the national predicament, exhibiting potential, and refusing to use it, like was done in the match against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Nigeria can beat Argentina. Vincent Enyeama the Nigerian goalkeeper did frustrate Messi the dreaded Argentine striker and can do it again. The Nigerian defence did frustrate Argentina, and can do it again. Why not?