A Logical Assessment Of Dr

A Logical Assessment Of Dr. Paul Mamza’s “Obj In The Cusps Of Tumultuous Hallucinations (1)”

Jibo Nura

I read with keen interest an article by my former chemistry teacher at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Paul Mamza, titled “OBJ in the cusps of tumultuous hallucinations (1)”, which was pasted on his Facebook wall probably by him or his lieutenants.

One thing for sure that came to mind is that Mamza—the controversial political analyst of the fourth realm, was trying to draw salient points on OBJ’s political and leadership foul plays, especially the recent ones that glaringly rubbish PDP and Jonathan government’s karmic retribution/clueless drive to throw Nigeria into a déjàvu phenomenon.

Be that as it may, but Mamza’s surreptitious intention to side with Jonathan and his overt disdain for current Obasanjo’s political disposition and posture in dumping PDP by tearing his membership registration, speak volumes of the PDP as a party.

When Mamza was busy citing examples on former President Obasanjo’s antics and leadership style, few could get him at a fault.

However, I wonder why Mamza simply fails to understand the motives behind Obasanjo’s ‘misbehaviour’ to PDP. Of course, tearing his PDP membership ticket at an open gathering shows lack of statesmanship and elderly responsibility of an experienced and elder statesman. Nonetheless, Mamza should know that Obasanjo’s recent action at messing up PDP and Jonathan was caused by none other person than Jonathan himself. The bitter truth is that Obasanjo is by far a father to Jonathan by age. He is, indeed, a Godfather to Jonathan politically. This combination of Obj’s dual fatherism role is not just a Nigerian phenomenon, but rather a very human enterprise in African politics.

The politics of Godfatherism is part of everyday life of nation-states in Africa where governments are run by onstage and offstage politics. This is the inner workings of politics and the ever-present backrooms to the official storefronts of political ventures which are central to my rejoinder.

To put my points straight, I am not holding brief for Obasanjo. I am just trying to approach your submission on “Obj’s cusps of tumultuous hallucination” in a different way, because I found it very superficial in African political terminology, context and style. Dear Dr. Mamza, Jonathan betrays Obasanjo politically by refusing to listen to him on matters of national importance. Remember, it all started with a formal letter from Obasanjo, which outlined certain dangerous political trends in Jonathan’s style of leadership that would land Nigerian state in serious trouble by possibly tearing it apart.

In the neo-patrimonialism, clientelism and patron-client system, it very possible for Jonathan to do this with Nigerian state for that matter, from what it is intended for by the Nigerian project key actors such as Olusegun Obasanjo. It is indeed possible for him to keep the official structure operative, but using official space for private accumulation.

Many Nigerians, including me remain skeptical about their own state, some are downright hostile on the way Jonathan and his henchmen are trying to ravage the Nigerian project within the span of just six years. A project that Obj and genuine nationalists brought forth since 60s.

God forbid! This will never be allowed to happen Dr. Mamza.

For example, it is very easy to betray your master or Godfather by refusing to listen to him on matters of national or even personal importance. But while doing that it is good to remember and take a cue from Robert Greene’s warning in one of his 48 laws that had to do with power game. In the course of that betrayal, you have to tread softly so that you do not outshine him. Because if you do that your Godfather has the ability to command, to instigate mass action, where authority is not structurally ascribed and socio-historically motivated but based on the Godfather’s ability to create a following and to a large extent dependent on his informal abilities to assist people privately. The creation of his own faction is absolutely crucial for his power and standing. This eventually brings an upward mobility, particularly when he connects other men and their families to his faction, harnessing their production to his ambition—CHANGE!

Therefore, what Obasanjo did publicly by tearing his PDP registration as a non card-carrying member of that Party, is certainly dishonesty. But Dear Dr. Mamza, let me close my points by borrowing a leaf from one of your wordings: There is honesty in dishonesty!