In defence of Nigeria’s ‘old men’ (I)

The president praised the youths thus: “The youths live with whoever they are comfortable with, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation. They want to marry whoever they love.” But venting his spleen further on the old citizens, Jonathan added scornfully: “They (the youths) are not like those old people who are disturbing us, who want […]

The president praised the youths thus: “The youths live with whoever they are comfortable with, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation. They want to marry whoever they love.” But venting his spleen further on the old citizens, Jonathan added scornfully: “They (the youths) are not like those old people who are disturbing us, who want to divide us based on religion and all kinds of sentiments…”
Although Jonathan did not identify which of the country’s old men he meant, a close look at some of them reveals that they are actually the President’s men and their intervention, regardless of its venom, is aimed at shoring up support for him. Take for example, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, the chairman of Northern Elders Council (NEC). Yakassai is flexing muscles with other groups of northern old men, notably, the Northern Elders’ Forum led by Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, with whom he vehemently disagrees. Yakasai’s council is reportedly funded by Vice President Namadi Sambo and its sole objective is to drum up support for the Jonathan Presidency with Sambo an integral part of it. Sambo has lately been described as a political lightweight in the North West in particular and so he enlisted the services of the 88-year old Yakassai to establish a group to help him, in the short term, to at least remain on Jonathan’s ticket.
Unfortunately, the Nor-thern Elders Council is widely seen as a cash-and-carry group that lacks credibility since its sole agenda is the re-election of Jonathan. The Yakassai group is beholden to this self-adulating govern-ment.
Enter Chief Edwin Clark, the self acclaimed leader of the Ijaws and the President’s Godfather. President Jonathan’s address to NYPF couldn’t have been intended to condemn the activities and utterances of this old man. Last year, Chief Clark prohibited northerners from seeking the presidential ticket of the ruling party because he has reserved it for President Jonathan. Why should Jonathan quarrel with this attitude? Chief Clark, like Asari Dokubo, also said come what may, President Jonathan must serve two terms. At the beginning of this month, Clark stripped Governor Sule Lamido of any right to aspire for the presidential ticket of the ruling party because according to him Lamido doesn’t have a PhD and his only claim to being a protégé of late Malam Aminu Kano is insufficient credential for aspiring for the office. For Clark, presidential contests are no longer guided by the provisions of the constitution provides, rather they are determined by one’s level of education. I really don’t see any reason why Jonathan should quarrel with this logic of democreeks; or Chief Clark’s latest demand that the chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, should resign for planning to rig the election for northern politicians by awarding them more polling units than the south.
It is the turn of Tony Anenih now. This is the Karl Rove of the ruling party. Anenih thinks for President Jonathan and for the party. If there is vacancy in Aso Villa, you get to know through him and ahead of the 2015 presidential ballot he has already announced there is none. Last year he caused a little stir when he said that during elections, we shall do “what we know how to do best” and many of his listeners smelt rigging. At the onset of the New PDP, he initially consorted, describing the rebels’ demands as “genuine grievances” that should be listened to. However, as soon as he was called a hypocrite and untrustworthy fellow by Chief Clark, Anenih retraced his steps and returned fully under the umbrella.
What about Bamanga Tukur? This old man was determined to enforce discipline in the ruling party and he had the President’s mandate. This mandate gave no room for opposition to Jonathan’s second term presidential ambition. Many Nigerians sincerely thanked him for facilitating the emergence of the New PDP. For his heroic efforts, he has been given the lucrative chairmanship of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and also named Ambassador at large. At the moment, the life chairman of the African Business Round Table is preoccupied with how to make his son, Auwwal, the governor of Adamawa State. Tell me if President Jonathan really has any reason to complain about this grand old man, who after reading the president’s lips, described Boko Haram as freedom fighters. You can check Femi Fani-Kayode’s diary regarding this matter.
How about General TY? He doesn’t see this road or journey leading to Juba or Kigali. He actually doesn’t care any longer if it does. He advised the government and it stabilised. He is ready to mobilise funds and hopefully spend it on victims of terrorism; it really doesn’t matter whether President Jonathan finds the courage to lead the way to Sambisa or not. The fact that Obasanjp seems to be pitching for those at the other corner is enough reason to tutor the president on how to retain the crown.