It is obvious that Obasanjo’s warning against a Muslim-Muslim ticket shows that he is judging the temperament of our nation from the perspective of his generation. A fully-grown man can only see clearly what is on the floor if he bends down, Obasanjo can only understand the thinking of the emerging Nigeria if he listens to the youths. When he does that, he will realize that we don’t care about religion and tribe! Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, once said that his is a wasted generation; I dare to say that tribalism and religion were the banes of that generation.
Olusegun Obasanjo warning the leadership of the All Progressive Congress against presenting a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2015 presidential election has done nothing else but take our developing democracy 15 years backwards. An APC Chieftain revealed that the party has decided to toe the path of the Ota farmer’s counsel by pushing forward a Muslim-Christian ticket from the North and South West, which automatically knocks off the most qualified man for the job, Babatunde Fashola the Governor of Lagos State. What this means is that the party will select a running mate for their Northern, Muslim presidential candidate based on religion and not track records. A nation like ours needs nothing but Technocrats like Fashola who have shown great leadership skills. If APC leaders adhere to Obasanjo’s opinion, they will definitely not be giving Nigerians their best.
Obasanjo needs to be told that the Federal Government Colleges, Higher Institutions and NYSC have in a way remolded the thinking of the Nigerian youth. We don’t think in religious or tribal currency, we want solutions to the problems bedeviling this nation and we don’t care if the Messiah comes in Agbada or Kaftan. We just want solution! Stressing the role of religion and tribe in the coming general elections is a disservice to our nation.
Elders must consider the direction the young ones are running to before giving success tips. A Buhari/Fashola ticket is formidable. It is a balanced ticket. Look at it this way, a former Military Head of State running with a Lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, moan elected Governor of the most economically vibrant state in Nigeria. That is a marriage made in heaven, what Buhari lacks, Fashola makes up. If Buhari ever loses his cool and swerves into his military mindset, there is a Lawyer to remind him that this is a democracy! While Buhari fights to cleanse Nigeria of corruption, Fashola can head the economic team to steer us to glory days. APC leaders must rethink this resolve because Nigerians can’t afford another clueless president and vice!
Paschal Oge Chikero @SirChikero
Views Expressed are Solely Author’s.
