The tales are frightful and frightening. But they have a disturbing, stunning meeting point. You would ponder how they made it happen. They did happen sordidly. Who would not be startled?
They’re the stark realities of our biting, surging and increasing plights. It’s amusing and amazing. The manner and way; we choose to live and do things in our clime. It showcases our mirage of shenanigans.
This creates a smooth path to Søren Kierkegaard’s quote. Time-tested and forever evergreen:
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
Meta AI-generated accompaniment even makes more sense: “Kierkegaard (1813–1855), a Danish philosopher and theologian, was widely regarded as the father of existentialism. The quote highlights two distinct forms of deception: accepting falsehoods and rejecting truths.” You wouldn’t want to dispute AI.
Prince Vincent Eze Ogbulafor. Remember him? He was National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He held sway during its golden era. That was its zenith. The party was a law unto itself. Full of itself. Arrogant in operation. Pompous in actions and inactions. Haughty and overbearing.
Though the man is dead. His deeds are not, cannot and will not die. They’re alive and living with us. Haunting, hunting and hurting us. All at the same intensity.
One of Ogbulafor’s legacies is very costly. In fact, our albatross. It’s the ugly cross we must carry. The heavy burden we must bear. It’s our yoke, our lot. All alone.
Eighteen years ago, in December 2008. That was long before his death in 2022. He fell into an intoxicated wild, weird trance. It was a nightmare of some sort. So? He woke up raving, roaring. Finally, he threw up:
“Some time ago, I used to read in the newspapers that the umbrella of the PDP was torn. Each time I read that, I would laugh and then say to myself that the umbrella is still strong and very intact and ready to accommodate more people.
“The PDP is a party for all and it is set to rule Nigeria for the next 60 years. I don’t care if Nigeria becomes a one-party state. We can do it and the PDP can contain all.”
After his tenure, Ogbulafor deemed it fit to come back to us. That was in 2015, seven years after. This time, he was grieved to his marrows. He literally swallowed his stinking vomit of 2008. He almost took back every word of that barf. One auspicious space afforded him that golden opportunity.
He utilised the window to the maximum. First, he elucidated on why he was that boastful back then in 2008: “When I was PDP chairman, there was peace, and I brought in four non-PDP states; Abia, Imo, Sokoto and Bauchi.
“Twenty-eight states were under me; 28 PDP governors. And a good number of National Assembly members. That was why I said PDP would be in office for 60 years.”
His party had just lost the presidential election in 2015. He braved the odds. He defied all obstacles. His visit to the then All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Chief John Oyegun, rattled his party. Ogbulafor cared not.
He shut down his critics: “I just came back into town yesterday and I came to congratulate the national chairman of APC for a job well done.” He ruminated within himself, why the hullabaloo?
Back to now. Ogbulafor’s ghost is stalking the ruling APC. Having fallen into PDP’s trap. APC raised the heavy bar. Far above PDP’s level. PDP recklessly vowed in 2008 to rule for 60 years. It tragically ended ruling for 16 years in 2015.
Yet, APC was unwisely prompted. It was spurred for the wrong reasons. It took an arrogant cue from PDP’s 16-year carelessness. It bragged to high heavens in 2026. That it would rule us for 100 years. What a wishful thinking.
That wasn’t wisdom. But a haughty and conceited display of APC’s wild, weird dream. And Muhammad Gadaka was it! He’s chairman, APC, Yobe State. He pretended to himself he saw a “vision.” His parade of power tipsiness:
“The vision of our party (APC) is to improve the lives of Nigerians and make Nigeria a great country. This party will continue to form governments at the federal, state and local levels for more than 100 years.”
We couldn’t have trusted him. His blurred vision is without a mission. We could draw a parallel pattern from Ogbulafor’s. But he refused to see what we saw in Ogbulafor. Instead, he insisted adamantly to his party’s detriment:
“APC’s impactful policies and programmes position are to shape Nigeria’s political space for decades, potentially as long as 100 years.” You may want to understand his plight. It is appalling that Tinubu’s APC could fall easily to the PDP’s disastrous precedence. What came over Gadaka? To have spewed up so profusely! He certainly aimed at outsmarting Ogbulafor even in death. And he did it tragically.
Gadaka was not man enough. Neither was he bold. He couldn’t do what Ogbulafor did by himself. He made Muhammad Gulani, state party Youth Leader. To stand in the gap for him. Did he actually believe in that satanic emission?
These rulers of this dispensation have warped mindsets. They are drifting away from us rapidly. And rabidly by the day. We are treading our separate ways. No synergy. No more love lost between us.
Trust us. We won’t surrender. Our resistance is rather emboldened. Our situation is becoming alarmingly dangerous. Ticking uncontrollably towards a tipping point. This is untenable. A threshold transiting stability into crisis and chaos.
Help! Our ruining rulers pay lip service to all these. See why we are in perpetual trouble: They look into their dubious, deceitful crystal ball. Beat their chests and make a lousy affirmation.
That a perfect solution to all this mess will show up. Exactly, two weeks after the 2027 elections. Is it that simple? And by mere proclamation?
Their lives are stuck. Fastened, glued and pinned to their 2027 project. They see nothing else and perceive nothing more. A classical exemplar: The unknown author signed it off as “My afternoon musing.” And he’s right, a pensive reflection indeed. He captures aptly our unending conundrum:
“Nuhu Ribadu is an in-law to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. How? Their children, Aliyu (Atiku’s son) and Fatima (Ribadu’s daughter), got married in 2020. The same Atiku is the leader of opposition and Ribadu a foremost confidant of President Bola Tinubu.
“Let me bust your bubble further: Atiku’s son is a member of APC. Ganduje’s son is a member of ADC. El-Rufai’s son is a member of APC. Ọbasanjọ’s daughter is a member of APC.
“All of their fathers are opponents of APC and Tinubu. In the next administration, they all stand better chances to benefit more than you and me.”
This is really where we’re going. It’s the most profound aspect of the amazing musing. It’s fully loaded to the brim, overflowing. The message must not be lost on us. We have to mull, brood over it aloud. We can’t afford to keep mute and mum:
“Some of them have been paying Easter visits to President Tinubu in his house (Lagos). They can only take their children along with them, not you who are taking bullets for them on social media. Think properly before you start fighting on what will never benefit you. I’m not saying you shouldn’t have your opinions, but don’t overdo it.”
Another obvious actuality. We can’t just wish this away. That will be to our monumental peril. Open your eyes, think deeply. And you will be glad you did:
“If push comes to shove and you find yourself in problems, none of them will come to your rescue. Don’t scale the fence for people who can never cross the gutter for you.” Gbam! You’re adequately warned.
“We fight among ourselves…they pop champagne.” And with reckless carelessness
Let’s apply the brakes and pause a little. We must do something different in 2027. It shouldn’t be business as usual. We have encircled this same mountain for too long. We must tell these politicians some home truth. Don’t ever stake your fragile neck for any of them. They don’t merit it. They aren’t worth the weight.
Let them and their families, children stake their thick, fleshy, plum necks for themselves. Don’t fight their battles for them. Never again shed your precious blood for them on a gold platter. You’re not their Jesus. Even then, He only shed it once. Not every four years.
Hear the thunderbolt again: “Some of them have been paying Easter visits to President Tinubu in his house. They can only take their children along with them, not you who are taking bullets for them on social media.” Does that sink, sit well?
The reason they’re falling on one another. Ferrying along their wives, sons, daughters and in-laws. To desperately curry the favour of the Tinubu you help them to fight. Be ingenious. Reset your mind. And have a rethink fast. You need it.
Since our politicians will never yield to reason. Neither will they take advice. It’s then expedient. And appropriate at this crucial moment to interrogate ourselves. We need to be honest, discerning and genuine.
No sentiments, no semantics. We have sold out so cheaply these past years. And many times over. They could buy us for a paltry N2,000 a rally. Or even less. It has become a four-year circle of distrust. We are worse off for it. And the politicians are the best for it.
Let’s get it into our gullible skulls. Nobody will rescue us. We are our own rescuers. Ignore the rhetoric of these politicians every four years. That’s how they are awkwardly wired. They’re the epitome of deceit, falsehood and falsities.
Let’s collectively break the chain!
—————————————-
Share your story or advertise with us:
08033783144 (WhatsApp)
08023469999(WhatsApp)
idowuadelusi@gmail.com,thepathfindernews0@gmail.com
Follow our reports also on X @idowuadelusi and Facebook (Idowu Oluwole Adelusi)
Instagram: https//www.instagram.com/idowuoluwoleadelusi