Before now, some of us had visualized hellfire in Edo State with imported thugs unleashing terror, spreading death and commotion; some of us actually visualized seeing lions and tigers taking over the polling booths; I mean nothing was beyond Oshiomole—our tormentor in chief—who had come out boldly to replace a “former” perceived devil with another ‘real Satan” (Obaseki) and vowed that if he doesn’t throw in the towel before the ballot, he will see “pepper”. Yes, there was no reason not to believe him for he had the Federal Might at his disposal. And since the people were helpless, the only hope was on God Himself. That’s how this young boy (name withheld) who was born in 2010, got to know about the self-styled combative comrade Adams Oshiomole and his boisterous Lagos overlord Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His parents said when he saw the video from the Asiwaju denigrating the persona of Godwin Obaseki and urging people not to vote for him, the boy was so incensed even at his small age. It was as much they could do to restrain him. But he was quick to ask his father “Dad is this man the owner of Nigeria?” Though the father was distraught he managed to convince him to relax. That unnecessary video from the Asiwaju was the turning point for the internal wrangling within the APC hierarchy previously in deep waters over Oshiomole’s excessive attitude. That video was also the point at which decent and law-abiding APC governors decided to abandon the ship for Oshiomole and Tinubu; The video was released without any thought of global feelings; it was released without clearance from the president of Nigeria; while it elicited the US and UK to respond with the veiled warning, it also caused revulsion at the highest quarters in Nigeria. Decorum was waved aside; impunity led the way; the constitution of the Land was undermined; the video rubbished whatever good intention the APC may have for Nigerians. Already bedevilled by incessant bloodletting, unrestrained kidnapping, Tinubu did not speak out against the hue and the cries of the people against their oppressors, condemn the bloodletting in Kaduna; he was not bothered about the injustice that pervades the land, the bad roads, unemployment, rising food prices, (today, election day in Benin there was no light) yet he found time to sacrifice truth, unmindful of the consequences by referring to a properly elected democratic governor as a dictator! That video was so disrespectful to the Abuja apparatchik, that instead of the 31,000 invading policemen to muscle the voters, they ended up enjoying themselves while allowing a free and fair voting process! That video meant that both of them—Oshiomole and Tinubu—were so powerful that they could win the election without the support of their colleagues; How could two supposed reasonable leaders gamble so recklessly without ordinary feelings for Nigerians? This is a country that senators and Rep members plus the Executives flaunt all manner of exotic cars, drive-in convoys and live in mansions while the vast majority of Nigerians cannot pay common N5,000 hospital bills; from Lagos to Edo; had they succeeded, who knows where next? They may turn on the president and tell him to his face “look here man, you got to go, buddy!” Oh yes; this is no fluke especially when you now use bullion vans to carry money home unchallenged; why won’t you confront the highest authority? After all the entire APC governors begged Asiwaju to allow Ambode remain in office and he vehemently refused; they also pleaded with him to leave Obaseki alone, he again poignantly refused. A civilian? Turning down the pleas of elected governors? Then he would one day boldly discard electoral process and simply announce winners of his choice wherever and whenever he pleases. That’s usually what happens when someone becomes power drunk. Don’t forget that the Igbo proverb says “when a he-goat gets drunk, he may take his mother for a sex partner”. Now the gamble has backfired. God has at last spoken. The Psalmist said—but they would not listen—that “once have I spoken and twice I heard, that power belonged to me”. The bravado is enough; the cheating is enough. I have heard my people’s cries. So now it is ecstasy; jubilation. A liberated people are about to know real freedom and democracy—saved from the shackles of demonic power mongers like Oshiomole and Tinubu. Like it was at the beginning when God created the world, the Earth was dark and void and without light; the Bible captures the fact that His spirit moved across the surface of the waters—the surface of Edo land—and brushed out darkness—the taskmasters spearheaded by Oshiomole. The twosome are the very symbol of repression and aggrandizement. The consummate joy sweeping through the land extends far and wild; from the diaspora, Nigerians have been calling their loved ones to express joy and satisfaction with president Buhari and INEC officials for not allowing Oshiomole and Tinubu to steal their votes. They are happy at the public disgrace handed out to the duo by God just like he did to King Nebuchadnezzar in those days. Today, Democracy has taken its roots in Nigeria. Never again will these two men subvert democracy. The will of the people must prevail at all times. It is about time Nigeria discards vote-buying, electoral fraud, thuggery, maiming and killings because of elections. The people want to eat, they want to train their children; they don’t want to be burnt alive and crucified because of who gets what; that’s an old practice and this must stop. Kudos to President Buhari; kudos to INEC and the security agencies. All said, let me close with this parting shot “To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete”, from R. Buckminster Fuller.
