Maku in murky waters

As a students’ union leader in his university days, Maku probably believed he was well cut out for leadership positions and that the experience equipped him well enough for elective contests.   With a degree in Political Science, practical experience in unionism, the former Information minister like any other Nigeria would have believed he is well […]

As a students’ union leader in his university days, Maku probably believed he was well cut out for leadership positions and that the experience equipped him well enough for elective contests.   With a degree in Political Science, practical experience in unionism, the former Information minister like any other Nigeria would have believed he is well grounded in politics. Add to this, his stints as Information Commissioner, Deputy Governor, Information and National Orientation Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as overseeing minister in the Ministry of Defence, and you would not fault him in thinking that he had mastered Nigeria’s political terrain in theory and practice.
 And so he threw his hat into it, vying to be the Number One citizen in his home state of Nasarawa. But no sooner had he dabbled into the race proper than he discovered that politicking in Nigeria (like a former head of state once remarked of the economy which he could not ‘tame’ despite having the best brains in his cabinet) defies logic. In particular he is discovering that Nigeria’s political waters are really murky, that you could have your garment and body really soiled with the mudslinging that is rampant there; which was why many ‘decent’ Nigerians sat on the fence as onlookers when party politics and democratic rule returned in 1999, leaving the field largely for artisans, motor park boys, market women et al.
Some 14 years down the line, many an elite, tired of ‘siddon look’ decided to participate in politics, seeking elective positions in order to infuse our polity with some nobility. And so we had intellectuals and some other respected citizens that had proven themselves in the private sector dabbling into it too. What is more, with a doctorate degree holder as our president, it was thought that he would use his leadership position and intellect to drastically alter the way our politicians play the game for good, thus changing its dusty, murky terrain to something neater. Alas, Nigerian politics remains as dirty as it ever was if not dirtier.
Check out the campaigns of calumny that are passed off as political advertisements. Well, you could say that those with skeletons in their cupboards should stay away from politics. That is, if they stick to facts. One could say that politicking in Nigeria is dirtier now with digital mudsling, whereby, images are distorted, ditto postings on social media. For example, when respected veteran journalist, Onyeama Ugochukwu was contesting for the governorship of Abia State, a picture emerged of him in a compromising posture. This was obviously manipulated. With no regulatory laws, and being largely anonymous, the new media a.k.a. social media, is becoming a junkyard of sorts. I advise anyone reading any of the countless political postings there to put on his/her thinking cap, read between the lines to decipher between truth and fiction.
 Maku  had ‘clinched’ the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) ticket to contest the governorship of Nasarawa State against other political parties including his erstwhile party  the PDP which he alleged schemed him out during the primaries, hence his defection. He has barely spent four weeks campaigning as a candidate. But he has expended most of this time and energy deflecting rather damaging allegations against him by opponents. In one of them he is reported to have said that the president instigated the Boko Haram insurgency. He has almost shouted himself hoarse, insisting that this is a lie from the pit of darkness. Mr President says that it is a most wicked cut for anybody to insinuate that he has a hand in the terror attacks.
 Another mud was thrown at him, alleging that he went about town like a town crier telling everybody that he had the endorsement of Mr. President to contest as APGA gubernatorial flag bearer; in other words, that he is the ‘anointed’ governorship candidate in Nasarawa State. This drew the ire of his erstwhile party chieftains with whom he had wined and dined.  Leader of the party, President Jonathan said he could not have approved his defection because it tantamount to him engaging in “anti-party” activity. “PDP is my party and all those who want to help us can come to PDP and work for PDP so that PDP will have control of Nasarawa State”, he said. “The former minister of information that is in another party and saying that it is the president that asked him to go to another party, definitely, I cannot play anti-party”, he added.
 If the president’s response was somehow mild, that of the senate president, David Mark was blunt. He called Maku a “big liar”. Said he, “I heard there is a man who is going round the state telling people that President Jonathan is supporting him in another political party, he is a big liar”.  But am sure Honourable Maku did not bargain for what came out from the mouth of Senator Ahmadu Ali, director-general of the PDP Presidential Council. Ali, former chairman of the PDP practically cursed the former information minister! He branded him an “ungrateful animal” because he was raised from “nobody” to hold high positions under PDP and called him “a dangerous boy”.  After declaring that Maku would fail in his new ambition, he thundered, “…he will continue to fail for the rest of his life.” Haba! Haba! Haba! In response Maku who last October was given the national honour of Commander of the Niger (CON) denied telling people that President Jonathan is backing him to be governor. He continues to campaign for Jonathan, describing him as “Nigeria’s best president” so far.
 And he has just released a statement alleging that his traducers are planning to get the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrest him on trumped up charges.
 Recently the APGA governorship flag bearer had his campaign convoy pelted with stones as they drove past the sitting governor’s town in Kwanderre. Though windscreens of some of the vehicles were damaged with some of his supporters sustaining injuries, Maku dismissed this incident as the handiwork of misguided youths; he exonerated Governor Tanko Al-Makura from it. Interestingly, Maku postulates that the reason he is being attacked is because he is making waves in the political scene with soaring popularity among the electorate.
 However, the former minister of information has his own share of baggage and missteps. For example, his campaign face book page has him asserting that APC is a blood thirsty party. And he continues to maintain that he left the PDP due to ethnic and religious persecution, which gives the impression that his ambition to become governor is hinged on religion and ethnicity.  As the period for campaign is extended following postponement of the elections, we may yet see more unpleasant fireworks from our politicians. Verily, verily, Nigerian politics is not for the chicken hearted and you’ve got to have thick amour to be able to be able to swim through its polluted waters unscathed.

Ikeano wrote from Lafia <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>;>