Fayose’s death wish misadventure

“Nigerians be warned! Nigeria…I have set before thee Life and death. Therefore, choose life that both thee, and thy seed may live,” it said, suggesting that General Buhari represents death, while his rival, President Goodluck Jonathan represents life. The advert put a huge question mark over the picture of General Buhari, which was placed beside […]

“Nigerians be warned! Nigeria…I have set before thee Life and death. Therefore, choose life that both thee, and thy seed may live,” it said, suggesting that General Buhari represents death, while his rival, President Goodluck Jonathan represents life. The advert put a huge question mark over the picture of General Buhari, which was placed beside the pictures of the late leaders. The advert then asked its readers: “Will you allow history to repeat itself? Enough of State burials.”
 With the advert, it is crystal clear that Fayose and his cohorts are not only desperate, they are playing God by equating themselves with God by professing death for somebody on account of age and election. Fayose’ divisive action is enough of plunging the country into political cum ethnic crisis, especially at this critical period that 2015 polls are gathering momentum. If not, why was the advert placed on a day that President Jonathan was in Sokoto State for campaign rally. It may not be out of place that the move was part of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strategy to see if the forthcoming polls would be scuttled or postponed as result of induced violence or provocation on the North.
But the North and the APC’s reaction to it have shown that they are more sagacious politically than President Jonathan and his PDP cohorts. Fayose and the PDP have forgotten that there is no correlation between age and death because sickness and death knows no age or tribe. Even if the likes of Sani Abacha, Murtala Mohammed, and Umaru Yar Adua died in office as presidents of the country at different time, why would Fayose single out deceased former presidents of the country from the North in the advert? Have Fayose and the PDP forgotten that General JTU Aguiyi Ironsi from Abia State like Murtala Muhammed was killed while in office as Head of State? As stated by the Buhari Campaign Organisation, is it true that PDP or its agents are planning to kill Buhari if he wins the election?   
Just like Fayose, every Nigerian has antecedents, and we know ourselves well. It is often said that leopard can never change her spots. Claiming change of character in old age is a faice, because one cannot learn using left hand in old age. In PDP and the Presidency are many characters like Fayose who believe they know better than Nigerians, but unfortunately for them Nigerians know them well as accidental and opportunistic leaders. One of the presidential aides has recently declared that it is better for the country to disintegrate, instead of APC winning the presidential election. Those behind the retinue of advertorials for President Jonathan’s re-election in print and electronic media are greatest beneficiaries of subsidy, aviation and power sector scams. They have used the money to form different support groups for President Jonathan re-election. Two of them that symbolized fraud and corruption before Jonathan’s government were from Southeast zone. They lack character and integrity, but these are President’s friends who are driving his campaign with the country’s looted fund. These are people being celebrated in the Presidency today where corruption, sycophancy and mediocrity are being adored, celebrated, and encouraged.
 With this calibre of people hobnobbing with President Jonathan, Nigerians were not surprise with Fayose’s action. In days ahead, many more of such provocative, incisive and divisive adverts, actions or comments will emanate from the president’s camp, because they have no useful message to give Nigerians. Fayose’s advert has also shown that those who claimed to be working for President Jonathan’s re-election are indirectly working against it, by doing more damage to his image.
  Again by the advert content, Fayose has agreed and concurred that Buhari will win the election, but he will die in office like Abacha, Muhammed and Yar Adua. What a daft and preposterous thinking by those who call themselves leaders. It could be recalled that some of the President’s cohorts have been comparing him with great world leaders like late Dr. Nelson Mandela, US president Barack Obama and others without showing how. It means that they do not know that psychologically personality is unique. That is why there is nothing like identical twins. So there is no obvious correlation between Jonathan’s personality and these great world leaders. For people like Fayose and other supporters of Jonathan’s re-election, the issue at stake now is not about age or death, it is about leadership, antecedents, performance and the future of the country. Besides, God is the creator and controller of the universe and not a mere mortal. Politicians must draw a parallel line between God and politics of hatred, because of its consequences. According to 1 John 2:11 “But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
Olayinka, a cleric, wrote from Ikeja, Lagos