Nigeria politicians are different species that are very difficult to understand. The recent u-turn by some APC senators over the change of the election timetable after its deliberation and passage by the senate clearly shows that a lot of the elected senators do not have the wherewithal to stand and win election without revolving around the personality of President Muhammadu Buhari.
That is why the senators that attack the passage of the change of election timetable are crying and barking like mad dogs. Separating the election of the senators from that of the President would no doubt expose a lot of them as they may not make it back to the senate.
There is no need for the senators that attack the passage of the change in the election timetable to cry or even allude that the change is targeting at one person, which is President Muhammadu Buhari. This is a false and wrong impression by the senators as Buhari still enjoys the goodwill of the people.
Their grouse was on the way the election of senate was separated from that of Mr. President.
Those that attack the passage of this vital change are simply scared of the fact that if the election of the senate is done separately, there is the tendency of a lot of the senators not making it back to the senate since it is a known fact that many of them have not done anything tangible for their constituencies.
They want the election to be done with that of the President so that they can continue to hide under the shadow of the President to get re-elected. They don’t have the political clout to stand for election as even those elected under the PDP were merely imposed and at the same time, rigged to become senators.
As Zainab Suleiman Okino, the Editor-In-Chief of Blueprint newspaper in her column of the paper’s edition of Wednesday, February14, 2018 said, “besides, the Buhari phenomenon that prevailed in 2015 has waned drastically, so his supporters may have to look for another wand to propel him back to power irrespective of whether his election comes first or not; the amended election sequence might be good legislation after all, even though it is somehow tainted with vengeance” as the
APC senators that attack the passage of the change in the time table are now saying that it was skewed against the President. Their argument is false as there is absolutely nothing against him by the new amendment.
The bottom line is that the 10 APC senators that attacked the passage cannot make it to the senate without courting and living under the shadow of President Muhammadu Buhari. Another reason adduced by one of the senators, that a staggered election would cost Nigeria a lot of money, does not hold water as the country can afford credible staggered elections. It is a lame excuse by the senator in order to whip up sympathy and make people to support the selfishness of the senators.
The reordered elections sequence by the senate, which was passed and is awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari and was also concurred by the House of Representatives, is the best thing to happen in the country.
Any true democrat needs to applaud the decision taken by the senate in changing the timetable for the 2019 elections. It would accelerate good politicking devoid of Godfatherism by politicians.
The change in the timetable would enhance acceptability of good politicians that have already entered the arena.
All hands must be on deck in order to have credible leaders in 2019. May God lead us well; Amen.
- Santuraki wrote in from House No. 2, Santuraki Close, Jimeta-Yola.
