THE THIRD FORCE IS A FARCE AND A COALITION FOR NOUGHT
By
Angelicus-M. Onasanya, DBA
The ink was hardly dry on Obasanjo’s prescriptions for Nigeria before his usual coterie of cronies, sycophants, yes-men and others of their ilk gathered in Abuja to put their beloved guru’s ideas into actuality. “We need a Coalition for Nigeria, CN . . . That Movement must be a coalition for democracy, good governance, 
social and economic well-being and progress. Coalition to salvage and redeem our country. . . Of course, nothing should stop such a Movement from satisfying conditions for fielding candidates for elections,” the “boss” declared.
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to conclude that this is no solution to Nigeria’s problem/s; another political party! It is often said that if it walks like a dog, smells like a dog, barks like a dog, it is nothing but a dog! A movement that can satisfy “conditions for fielding candidates for elections” is a political party. NOTHING MORE; NOTHING LESS! If Obasanjo wants to start a political party, he is free to do so and such a party will join the other sixty-plus parties already registered in Nigeria.
That is, however, speaking like someone who does not know Olusegun Obasanjo and his proclivities. He has an aversion for not telling the truth or being straight-forward. Every one of his pronouncement is craftily designed to shield its true purpose.
As I wrote in some other forum:
“The truth is Olusegun Obasanjo has always been a “vulture” all his life. He has never made a “kill” but has relished being the chairman [Head of State or whatever] at the dinner table. Having been forced to dismount in 2007, he has yet to give up on his third term ambitions and he is constantly looking for every way to re-mount the horse. And he does this at every electioneering cycle; looking for someone to make the “kill” for him to have a sumptuous dinner!”
Nigerians have come to expect his vituperations at times like this; every election cycle. Baba made the announcement like it was in spontaneity. Subsequent events have proven him otherwise and exposed the true nature of the political shenanigans behind his “altruistic” call for action!
Obasanjo has a peculiar understanding of the electoral trends in Nigeria. He has been involved in every controversial election that has gone his way, albeit clandestinely; 1979, 1983, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011. He is at it again. This time he will fail woefully! So help Nigeria God!
There is evidence now to believe that this movement was well planned and designed. Several Committees; on Strategy, Finance, Mobilization, etc were already involved in the planning before he made the announcement. So, no one should be surprised at the fact that Governors Oyinlola, Duke, the usual coterie of cronies, etc showed up at the “launch
” of the Movement. No one also need to be surprised that Obasanjo’s political daughter Orby Ezekwesili; a political featherweight in the scheme of things in Nigeria, promptly announced her intention of running for the Presidency in 2019.
Nigerians must refuse to be fooled by the wily General. It is his fourth attempt to remount the saddle of power playing his game of subterfuge and dubiety and waiting in the wings for the “dinner.” Everything that is wrong with the country, he initiated!
The scenario goes something like this. Let us create a movement, he says to his cohorts, that will be transformed into a political party; sponsor candidates for political offices; and when we win, come back to me as the “wisest living Nigerian” for directives as to how the country should be run.
One is reminded of the anecdote that went around the world a few years back. A plane carrying five people developed engine trouble in the air with only four life-vests on board. The group had to make a decision; who and who gets to use the four vests. First to make her claim was Mrs. Clinton who argued that she is likely to be the first woman president of the United States and so should be offered one of the vests. Her request was granted and out she went. Next, was the Brazilian soccer player Ronaldo who argued that should he die, his country would be ablaze in seconds because Brazilians were soccer crazy. His request was granted and out he went.
Next was Olusegun Obasanjo who argued that as the wisest president Nigeria ever had, his country would go astray and be in crisis if he was not allowed to take one of the vests. His request was granted and out he went.
Two people were now left; a five year-old boy and the Pope. As would be expected, the Pope granted the boy the use of the last vest. The boy humbly thanked the Pope, but then remarked; “Your Holiness there are two vests left; you can take one and I the other. You see that man who said he was the wisest President Nigeria ever had took my lunch-bag for a life-vest.”
Classic Obasanjo! To all those adventurers [political and otherwise], cronies and people of your ilk, the movement is a lunch-bag mistaken for a life-vest. It can never deliver anything for Nigeria. As such, it is an exercise in futility not to talk of its being a farce and a coalition for nought.
PDP Chairman Uche Secondus, said it best; this “Coalition is dead on arrival.” Amen to that!
Angelicus-M. Onasanya writes from Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
