Reasons why I voted for PDP
By
Sometime ago, I predicted that the 2003 elections would be between two horses from the same stable i.e. the military. I also posited that Obasanjo would win the elections but not the electoral exercise. For the record, I want to dissociate my self from any talk, rumors and allegation of rigging labeled against the PDP. In doing this, I want to 'put in public' my reasons for voting PDP. I assume most of us, read 65% of total voters, who voted for PDP, did so for most, if not all, of the under listed reasons.
Prof. Omo Omoruyi told me to.
There is a dearth of pot smoking majors in the Nigeria Army this time around.
The PDP was the best prepared party. It had worked out its strategy for court actions against her victory even before the elections. Their thinking is that the best Buhari would do is to shun the election tribunals and take his case to the Sharia Court in Daura, which would declare him president. But the PDP would have the final say. Nothing like a Fulani / Yarriba political tussle. Fasten your seat belts, ladies and gentleman. Winner o!
Curiosity. Couldn't help voting PDP, if just to find out if the loquacious boast of Sonny Okogun, the erstwhile brother in law to Babangida, that Obasanjo would 'run home and tear his birth certificate' would come to pass. We are waiting. As a note of warning, that assassination attempt on Obasanjo at Abeokuta recently would not be accepted. An armed robbery on a decoy car containing children?
Babangida’s visit to Aso Rock on the eve of the election to collect his marching orders. Read between the lines. Who won Niger State?
Francis Nzeribe predicted, according to his pet theory of third world politics, that it is impossible to unseat a third world leader in a free and unfair election.
The PDP did not field any Eboe man as presidential or vice presidential candidate. And, anything that would force the Eboes into long term planning. 'Ga ikpa ya akpa', is good for me. Keeps them off my back for a spell.
Chris Okotie, is not from the core Niger Delta, but an Eboe masquerading as a God sent minority. God was not on his side.
Why would I have voted for Ike Nwachukwu? Doesn't he know that there are 'principalities' in the sky and air, and of course in the River Sapele, that frowned at his hijacking of the NDP?
Mrs. Mojisola Adekunle Obasanjo could not be allowed to win her husband, if not, all Nigerian women would start challenging their men to a wrestling contest. Have you ever seen a woman climb a palm tree?
Gani Fawenhimi takes advice only from his mother, and I did not want the specter of first motherhood hanging over Nigeria. Also, he is a closet Muslim fanatic and would introduce Sharia all over Nigeria if he wins.
Only the PDP fielded Nigerian candidates. Ferreira is a Portugese, Braithwaite is Sierra Leonan. M. D. Yussuf is a Buzu from Niger Republic. Ojukwu, Nwobodo, Nwankwo, Uwazuruike....bi....
Lamidi Adedibu, the strong man of Ibadan politics is my hero. I must confess, my grandmother is an Ibadan woman, so I had to follow my leader. Obasanjo is a Calabar Chief. Ibori, is my brother in law. Donald Duke, is reputed to be my townsman. I used to drink with Bode George, when he was attending a course at Jaji, and they are all in the PDP.
Obasanjo's declaration of an impending raise in fuel prices on the eve of the election and the continued stay of students at home. Showed deep understanding of the Nigerian psyche. What chutzpah! Fi di Fi! Sai Baba!
Obasanjo's drafting and deployment of Danjuma to answer the question: Who own Warri? Try to understand, why does a garrulous ruler send a taciturn general to settle a socio political dispute? As an aside, Warree was a brigante owned by one Mr. Jamieson who loaned it out to early missionaries. Same with Ethiope. See what I mean? I was also influenced by the American belated release, of the Coast guard boats they had promised. Get the message? God is on the side of the big battalion and PDP surely had the bigger battalion.
ANPP stalwarts were not forthcoming. Aliyu Tilde promised me a wife but failed to deliver. Wada Nas did not offer me a position in the ANPP campaign machinery. Every time I contacted him, he pretended not to speak English.
Obasanjo would be the last Yarriba man to rule, throughout my remaining life time, based on the 'turn by turn' principle. Also, Bolaji Aluko a Yarriba stalwart, promised to induct me into the Fasheun faction of the OPC, if the PDP wins. Anything to give the Yarribas a chance to dribble themselves for a change.
The OPC would let us walk the streets of Lagos for the next four years in peace. This, coupled with the threat of some Yarriba fringe group to secede if Obasanjo did not win, made me see the error of not voting PDP. As for the Arewa, Afenifere and Ohaneze they should squat and start hunting crickets. OPC rules!
None of the candidates except the PDP had a science program. Nigeria would be launching her assembled in China satellite soon. This with the recent theft of nuclear materials in the South South showed promise of a scientific dawn. All Buhari kept saying was that he would disturb the flow of egunje in the polity. Which is unscientific.
I contacted Umaru Dikko, remember him? The most brilliant Fulani mathematician alive, and he confirmed that based on the Gaussian theory of rigging probability, since the election would be held on 4 - 19 - 2003, Buhari had no chance, and I did not want to waste my vote.
Back home, Peter Odili was made a Kalabari Chief before Harry was interred, this spoke volumes. It made me to believe that in Rivers, fishes could vote, and since nobody knows the number of fishes in the river. The PDP victory was a foregone conclusion.
Nigeria is a country of law and disorder, and only the PDP can maintain the status quo ante. CONTINUITY...at least we know what we have. Personally, I don't take very much to change. All Obasanjo has to do is NOTHING.
April 2003