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OBJ, A ‘Democrat’ in Military Uniform By Jibo Nura Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
As Odumegwu Chukumeka Ojukwu, the Biafran warlord, attempted to hide his military Khaki, he uttered “If politics is a game, and if at all it is a game like football, then it must have its own rules which must be obeyed”. But unlike Odumegwu Ojukwu, who unceremoniously made this statement out of one of his kiri-kiri sermons, President Olusegun Obasanjo, has a different notion of this view all together.
Going by Obj’s action and inactions, politics to him means risk. And for those who knew well about the game-risk, they know pretty well that one can only occupy and conquer large territorial boundary(s) if and only if he/she has ample defense strategy and total support to fight the ‘enemies’ within and outside. Whether Mr. President has gotten and/or acquired this strategy and support, the ball is now on his court. He either chooses to retreat now or surrender and get rid of himself from this risky venture. At least, it will be good and safe for him than to wait for eventualities that might throw the nation into further political regicide.
Last week, a web based news media (www. Elendureport.com) in one of its updates of 15th February 2006, reported Obasanjo in his usual manner to camouflage the third term agenda, saying “I will leave this office over my dead body. I am not going anywhere. This is a fight to finish. This is war!” According to the report, the President made this statement at a close door meeting held with top officials of the State Security Service a week ago. Also in another development, a close source privy to that meeting informed that the President told the security officials that he had no intention of vacating the office on May 29, 2007.
Be it as it may, nobody is doubting or having a second thought about his intention to rule Nigeria for the third time. Especially when he knows that all the nation’s security outfits and defense facilities are at his disposal -so he can win the battle anyway. Because he so much believed that he has that power of irreproachability.
But one thing worth looking at is this, even if one has the most strongest combat in a battle field, once there is no good strategic and diplomatic acumen to command and lead the combatants, it always turn out to be a woeful failure and the end result is anguish and lamentations on the side of both the combatants and the commandant in chief.
For instance, Adolf Hitler wanted to conquer and rule the world but eventually there were some strategic lacuna and lapses in capturing certain territories. In fact, there is this Hausa adage, which says “Yaki dan yaudara ne”. Meaning: a war is a matter of deception to opponent, and if you don’t know how well to deceive your opponent, you get conquered and consumed by him. As such, what happened to Hitler is now history.
Therefore, is not just taking a hard stance and decision that will make us bend to the rule of a democratic dictator such as Obasanjo. Winning battle is not a matter of being powerful. No! It is a matter of having the wherewithal, strategic and diplomatic Intelligent Quotient (I.Q) to willingly without bloodshed or massive casualties make it happen i.e. the Georgian way. It is as well not a matter of continuing in office for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd terms as obtains in secondary school calendar session. It is neither a matter of coercion nor is it a matter of intimidation. It is about learning to know when your time is off, especially when all the foot soldiers are hungry, tired and un interested of obliged rules of engagement.
In the final analysis, winning a battle like Obasanjo’s is not a matter of military strategy whereby even in his own house the rule applies. It is nonetheless about learning to look at those hungry foot soldiers and seek for forgiveness by bidding farewell for leading them wrongly. It is all about having a large heart not to revenge like a “Rambo on the lose”.
Jibo Nura wrote in from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Contact Nura at jibonura@yahoo.com
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