LIKE FOLLOWERS LIKE LEADERS III
LIKE FOLLOWERS LIKE LEADERS III
On Religion and
Politics: I think we have to understand that as far as Nigeria is
concerned, these two are inseparable, our leaders know this but they are
hiding that fact! As far as Power dissemination is concerned, both Religion and
Politics are the same in nature. But in religion, there exist, some esoteric feature wish made a difference and a difference in the ordinary eye cannot even see. Read
through how all religions emerge in the world, if not through politics. Name it,
what made up Jesus's Cruxification? Power! How did Arabs Muslims conquer all middles
Eastern countries and extension to the East, Europe, and Africa? Power! Even,
Orunmila the great man, uses wisdom and discernment to manage events
politically during his reign, though with his healing gift as Power, that
brought about Odus in the Ifa religion. Just research and observe the interaction of
Politics in Religion and Religion in Politics.
If we are talking
about SPIRITUALISM, that’s pure, plain, true, sincere, and not corrupt, etc. We must stop confusing religion and
spirituality. Religion has a set of rules, regulations, and rituals created by
humans which were supposed to help spirituality. Due to human imperfection,
religion has become corrupt, political, and divisive and a tool for power
struggles. Because Spirituality is not Theology or Ideology, it is simply a way
of life, pure and genuine as given by MOST HIGH. Spirituality is a network linking us to the
highest, the UNIVERSE, and each other.
My advice to everyone, all of us in political terrain
regardless of our age, tribe, or geopolitical zone the earlier we know this, the
better we won’t continue to build mountains from molehill, we can’t separate
Politics and Religion in this country, Nigeria. We are just too immature to
manage such separation and clarity, not even in our poverty-ridden environment.
It is the Game theory of Politics that involves the interaction of people, not
small people I mean millions of people. Think of any event or Institution,
except FOOTBALL, in our world today that can bring 10 million people together
physically or remotely if not sacred Religion. Another unkinder part of it all
was that Nigerian people have been exposed to religion before Politics; religion
people die for, are ready to die for, and will continually die for. How then can you
separate the two? Political strength lies in numbers and those numbers are
not only available but available in abundant in both major Religions in
Nigeria. How do you juxtapose the separation?
Instead of our leaders bringing us together so that we see
the beauty of it all, they know this reality because religion happens to be
the major sensitive tool to use to break through the wall of unity and understanding among the citizens.
With every slightest opportunity are usually and politically creating chaos by
brainwashing the masses in it all just for their advantage and selfish reason.
For Argument's sake, in the recent 2023 Presidential Election, if Peter Obi tour the lines of Christianity to have its Number needed to win an election, why is he wrong on that? Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu tours the line of Muslim-Muslim tickets have his Number to win, what do we call that? To me, both candidates have the same mission, to win the presidential race! While Pastors are campaigning for Peter Obi on the pulpits, who told us that Imams are not campaigning for ABAT. I read in the news that Imams are celebrating God's answered Prayer after ABAT was declared President-Elect.
They might not be too many, but it is a well-known fact that a few Christian Bishops and Pastors are backing ABAT during the campaign too, likewise, I am aware of many Muslims (youths) campaigning and voted Peter Obi too. So why are we exaggerating our political climate to be religiously motivated and not as Nigerian's choices or decisions?
My own perception of it all is that we are all Nigerians,
all candidates campaigned for Nigerians and not foreigners. And the truth shall remain that, every Nigerian was born in any of all these religions available
in our families, we grow to believe what we are divinely taught and that’s the
compromised aspect of our life. As compromised life, we cannot choose the Parent
or Family we are born to, even the country we were born. So please why are we
trying to separate what looks natural or fate?
In Europe or America,
religion might not be a factor in their game of Politics. Arguably yes, they must
have something that brings them together, it could be tribal, economic belief,
race, or traditional belief, whatever it is and that will be what they are
interrelated with that will be their factor in the game theory!
In Nigeria, let us
all believe that we can’t separate religion from politics, we must embrace it
and play our healthy game of politics around it by considering the merit that religion contributed
to our political space and we should accept that it has a good factor in our own Game
Theory!
If I have to go further and deeper, I think the voting
pattern was veiled or masked been religiously counts but the voting pattern
didn’t go religiously as exaggerated as it was exploded it to be. I think it
goes more on social category, I mean
age group effect, the youths regardless of their religious position voted more
for Peter Obi. I know of a Lady Cousin who was a Muslim that selflessly
campaigned for Peter Obi. Likewise, without any doubt, I believe a considerable
number of Christians voted for the President-Elect too. Even the President-Elect really acknowledge
that fact, hence he said these words “…and the youths, I see your hand…” So if we
can record these tremendous independent voting patterns, why are we going
through the path of destruction, as sensitive as religion matter is, and claiming our
voting is religiously motivated? Even our so call Political Leaders, Religious
Leaders, and Social media Influential fall into that same belief and it was wrong.
We can close our eyes to the religious factor that could be divisive and think of
patterns as a social structure like
that of age group, social clubs, Number of Educated indices, etc.
When we close our eyes on Religious influence, as we have to
believe that all of us have one religion or the other, we will block the
possibility of incitement, ego, and superiority that can lead to disintegration
in our society like Nigeria and even among Nigerians.
Tribes and Politics:
There’s not much difference in the effect of Tribal issues and Politics as it was
on Religion and Politics in Nigeria. The monumental difference is the latter
was inherent while the former was brought to us. That makes the latter a bit more rigid than the former in a considerable sense.
From Nigeria’s Political history, regional politics has been
in existence. Possibly, I may be in heaven pouring rain on our Political
Legends then, but I listen to firsthand history from my Late Maternal
Grandfather, who was Aare ona Kakanfo’s contemporary and hardened ally to
Chief S L Akintola, during their
political era. He intimated to me how political parties were formed in the first
republic, National Council of Nigeria
and Cameroon (NCNC) an Eastern Region Party, led by Late Chief Nnamdi Azikwe,
Northern People Congress (NPC), Northern Region led by Sir Ahmadu Bello and Action Group (AG) The Western Region Party,
Led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. In the 1959 election, a lot happened, the good bad, and ugly but Nigeria still remains one! The alignment of NPC with NCNC led to our
Independence in 1960 when Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was made the prime
minister and Sir Nnamdi Azikwe was appointed as Governor-General. God bless all
these our forefathers, as they laid a very great foundation for us today.
Fast Forward, though the system of Government changes as our
Social Structure changes the second Republic was built on this foundation
and we are in the third republic now, till today regional politics is still as
strong as Olumo Rock in Abeokuta.
In 1993, all regions voted for One candidate, Chief MKO
Abiola, that’s breaking the jinx of regional politics. As we are growing, our
understanding and exposure are the helping measures to our today’s subsequent
experience. At the beginning of the 3rd republic, in 1999, the Igbo voted massively
for Yoruba who was General Olusegun Obasanjo, Yoruba split its votes for both
the General and Chief Olu Falae, while the North voted the General. In 2007,
Igbo voted for Hausa, Alh. Umar Musa Yaradua,
alongside its vice, Chief Goodluck Jonathan, followed by the
Northerner too. The same pattern produces our President in 2011. In 2015, Both the North and South Western region majored in the vote that produce President
Muhammed Buhari as Nigeria's President.
Why the history? If all regions can vote for Chief MKO Abiola in
1993 If Igbo can vote for Yoruba President in 1999, and if the same Northerner and
South westerner can vote for a Hausa in 2015, please where is Tribalism effect?
That means Nigerians can make their choice independently without thinking of
the tribe the person came from. In the 2023 Election, the Igbos voted for Peter Obi massively,
then there was a loud rumbling of Tribal sentiment. The same Igbos were not tribally
sentimental before 1993, 1999, and 2003… but 2023!
I think we need to understand that, whether we like it or
not, whatever we are calling it, whatever we say just to satisfy our emotional
or political taste, it will definitely come back to haunt us. If Igbos chose to
vote for Peter Obi in 2023, I think we should accept it! It’s the social structure in play
and not the tribal sentiments. We should learn to tolerate and make sure we
accept our differences. We allow our emotional sentiments to control us, too
much, to the extent that we let the beauty of it all spill away.
The simple solution to this tribal sentiment is that; we
should build Leaders with personalities that can bring all regions together
(like MKO). So that all region will split their vote for their preferred
presidential candidate. What if we don’t have such personalities in play now, then
must we fight, malign, or threaten our Unity? I am of the opinion that we still have to manage
whatever we face, so far is for the love of the country and the so call
candidate is of the service of the country…Where are our Good leaders who love
our Land?
Let me sight an example of tribal misjudgment in our
political space Nigeria from what happened in the Lagos Gubernatorial Election: I
must say, I weep for our youths and for
our country when I see how our youths behave, react and respond to little
tilt in politics of Lagos State. This is not happening in Lagos alone, it can happen in every state in Nigeria. I think Politicians need re-orientation as
to what constitutes Nigeria's Unity and our Secular Law.
Mr. Gbadebo Vivour, Labor Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate
was born to a Lagosian Father but Igbo Mother, his family never denies him
nor his natural Yoruba indigene either. But due to LP winning Lagos during the Presidential election, the reaction to that was not friendly from the youths it
was nothing but killing one self-esteem follow by Tribal incitements that pose
a threat to our unity. They forgot the fact that winning an election was an event
but malign and blasphemy is a lifelong trauma that one may never heal from. He
was insulted, his self-esteem was dragged and his dignity was nearly crushed,
why? If our youths have been brainwashed that Politics is a dirty game, at least
we are human and civilized, we can wash clean the politics and reform it. Our
campaign shouldn’t take such form, we should allow competition and give a premium
to fair play. Dragging each other into mud shouldn’t be our way or style of
campaigning. The unfortunate thing is that all favored political leaders
folded their arms watching their followers, doing such heinous acts, and enjoying their fellow brothers being crushed mentally. That’s why I said our Leaders are using the
youths for this dirty job. This is a practical explanation of where the youths are
taking bread while in captivity. The thought that brought about such a devilish
act is not only distorted but irrational and poverty.
We should be morally intelligent in the show of our
campaigning. We should be led by Tiger Mentality and not by Sheep Mentality.
The Tiger will lead by strong conviction and confidence while the Sheep will
lead out of fear. That blasphemous and maligning act on the opposition during the campaign was coming out of a weakness called FEAR. We should know why we are
supporting certain people and we’d know that Mr. Gbadebo was someone’s son,
brother, Father, and family. Can we allow any of our family to be irritated or
humiliated like such?
That act alone, if not that there was quickly intervening, nearly brought down to Ibo and Yoruba Fracas, I don’t want to go into the
details on this. But in the aftermath of the election, the negative effect of our
campaigning cause will definitely come into play. If you think that our fellow
Igbos are bad, have you thought of Mr. Emeka who owns a School and employ more
than 2 Yoruba teachers as his employee. Did you think of Mr. Ekeh, who has
helped his Yoruba friend financially when in need? Can you imagine, an Igbo
feeding his Yoruba neighbor's son or daughter when the neighbor has traveled
out of the state, even if it’s for a day? You forget Afolabi that married Nkechi and that they were in-laws! Why do we quickly forget this little kindness from
another tribe as if there’s nothing good about them? Same to our Hausa
counterparts too, they are good people!
Besides, you can call Mr. Gbadebo any name, his Father is a
Lagosian, he has roots, he has family and by law, he is a Yoruba man. I really
felt bad when naming him as IPOB, yes he can be one. Remember we have our own
former OPC members that are in Lagos politics today? They call him Arsonist as
if our Law enforcement agencies didn’t know their job? They do not have any superior
argument or tactics but just blasphemous verbal attacking and we have our leaders
watching and smiling. Our so-called Leader does not interested in avoiding drama
but prefers to wade in if any ethno-militia fight erupts from all those
incitements. Their thoughts are to gain Political Points and Financial Gain
through wading in even if many lives have been lost. That’s the kind of Leader the Followers are naively supporting, eating Bread in captivity!
Igbos or Hausas are not migrated into Lagos yesterday not
even a century ago. There was peaceful life they are living then that is lost
today. You’ll agree with me that when things are going wrong or not as before,
we should check what contributions were made in society by our Leaders then and
what’s is missing now. There exist Lagos before today, there are events like
Campaigning and Elections, there was a cordial relationship among all tribes living
together, there was a peaceful Lagos where everything ran smoothly and
healthily. How did the then Leaders do it to have a very good result?
The answer to that question led me to research, I found an Inaugural speech of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, May Almighty God be pleased with him. When I read through the text speech, I truly believe he is Baba of Lagos! I attached a copy here… I implore everyone to read and digest it, maybe you’ll see why we are having continuous ethnic fights now and peaceful Lagos then. Because those strategies that Baba has in his Leadership style are truly missing. There is always a Chronological History, Royal History, and Political History of a place but if you are interested in the Political History of Lagos, that inaugural speech has it!
In my summary of Baba’s speech as per my own understanding,
Baba recognizes all that’s why he salutes as “Dear Lagos Citizen” regardless of
Tribe you are from. In the speech, it was known that the fight for the creation
of Lagos is bound by MORAL principles and Historical Circumstances (how Lagos
evolves) with other bureaucratic processes, Lagos was formed by Military
Government in 1967.
There’s a place where I liked Baba’s use of words in the placement of the citizens he earlier on recognized and it goes thus: “I
know that the indigenes of Lagos State have a natural right to the Services
provided by their State. I know that the non-indigenes of Lagos State have an
indisputable right to the Services provided by their State of residence. I know
that Lagos State is said to be the most developed part of the Federation”
That is a Leader of substance that use the word to bring peace and acceptance.
“Their state” and “State of Residence” is not the same! The indigene has
Natural Right and non-indigenes has "Indisputable right" provided. I believe Baba
clarifies this and there’s placement. Our recent Leaders due to what they want
to selfishly achieve lost this principle and mix it up! We are all citizens but there’s placement! I
want you all to read it and see how leaders should approach sensitive issues in
an amicable way. The great late mentor also mentioned that he "recognized the
enormous challenges but he believes that there are enough opportunities available to surmount them". See a Leader with Intelligent, no fear Leadership!
He recognizes Lagos as Special in the country and he named it “Nigeria’s
Shop Window”. You can’t outline and understand these issues of the state and
still be perambulating about how to handle them. Baba did govern Lagos and everyone
that’s alive then, with open eyes, can testify to Baba’s Achievement of
building Lagos!
Heroes of our time:
I do not know how those who are reading this piece would react. I mentioned in part II of this write-up that, if we are having generational problems, then
we needed generational solutions too. This can be achieved by being led by a
focused Leader(s) with Generational
Purpose.
Our Leader(s) are those who recognize that we are in bondage and choose (against all odds) to pick on the key of freedom rather than Bread. They are the ones who challenged the status quo and boldly come up to contests and campaigns to be voted for. No one is perfect, they do have flaws but are driven by the love of the country, sincerity, and channeling us to our Generational Purpose. Some Won the election while some Lose. I wanted to tell you that all of you, the Youths in the competition are Winners! Ranging from Mr. Peter Obi, Mr. Gbadebo, and Deputy the LP candidates in Lagos State, Jandor and Funke Akindele of PDP, The lady, Kwara State Youngest Assembly Member, The Okada Man that won under LP in Kaduna State, Younger Assembly Man that displaced Old and Experience one in Yobe and Borno including all first experience youths in both Senate and National Assembly. All of you that shake the ground of Politics in Nigeria. All the youths voted their conscience and refused to be bought. All those that voted and voted for, I mean all those that chooses Key over the Bread.
All of you are Heroes of our time.
May Almighty guide those who win, keep the focus on why they
contested in the first place, and not be deterred by other human forces. Those who
are denied winning and all parties’ candidates that are youth, keep the
spirit up. I hope one day, all of us will understand why we are doing things
and be aware of the effects of our decisions in our life. I believe then and then
you’ll have your way out of displaying your good potential rightly in the
service to our dear country. All of you are our Moses (We have our Moses Fayinka
MHR elect in Mushin II) of our generation who work hard to lead Nigeria to the promised land, we appreciate you all…
My sincere advice to the youth, in general, is that we should
focus on Long term benefits rather than instant gratification. I understand it
has not been easy, it is everywhere but if we carefully survive instantly, what
will happen to our old ones, our kids, and generation unborn. We should think
about having a lasting system that takes care of all that selling our future to
tokens. The cause of our today’s decision will definitely have its effect in the
future. The future means, your cost of living, education, health, business, security, etc. if one of all mentioned is faulty life can be hell. We should
think of how we are contributing to our own destruction. Following a Leader,
Joining a Political Party, Voting for a candidate is beyond looking for what to
eat but building an institution that protect us from harm and support our
objective in life and make us better and more Patriotic Citizen.
There are people, influential people we call Leaders who can
bend all the laws to their favor, but too many people with bad intentions, we the
youths might not have all the answers but all I know is that we have a PURPOSE.
We can be living in the mud, ghettos, or slums yet we live our
footprint in the "sand", in the "snow", or "ether" by contributing our parts through Campaigning, voting and all other legitimate means. I pray to God to protect us from those
who are going to put us into cages and help us live, as small as it may be, the
life we all want a better life!
There will be times when we are powerless against injustice but
there must never be a time when we fail to react and take legitimate action to
stop injustice in our life
Babatunde Kolawole (10 10)
#trustyourinstincts
https://www.linkedin.com/in/babatunde-kolawole-8120001a/
https://web.facebook.com/babsozone
https://babatunde1010.blogspot.com
https://artemisconsult.blogspot.com
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babsozone@gmail.com
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