mamza@gamji.com

The shadowy decoys for armed destabilization of our nascent democracy have eventually undergone qualitative transmutation in its latest attempt to provide a possibility to wade through the trenches of a stunning capacity for forebearing manipulations. In its clamouring effect to establish a firm centralizing force competent enough to march a commandist ferocity, the political class in Nigeria is again set to subject the political terrain to a perpetual flux and subvert due political process. But the Otta gathering to a keen observer of events in the normal discontented salariate can quickly conclude that turbulence and tempests will return in due course, leaving an intact nomenclature that no proper nationalization can take place without instituting an instrument of manipulation of the political process with commanding heights. The perversities are sorting out themselves through these action to stir up petty animosities and rancour amongst its inwardly crying political masses. Whoever doubts this subversive initiative for dictatorial innovations is unconsciously succumbing to great shallowness and arrant superficiality.

The time will come when bloated enduring images will play itself out distinctly and transparently. Unpopular decisions like the recent Otta declaration is normally accompanied by rowdy protests of tirelessly aligning coalition saddened with cloak- and- dagger offensive conduct. This paradoxical rise of official fantasies in determining who occupies Aso Rock in 2003 would likely offer a cult of heroic political suicide in an attempt to discover the road to national self - validation. It is only those that easily forget where the process all started that will quaver at this dramatic descend to infamous political tragedy that awaits the nation.

Already black mail and intimidation had taken the center-stage of political maneuvering. Initially the rumors of the former President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida had generated much blackmails from quarters perceiving him as a mover and shaker of Nigerian politics, but when General Babangida indicated that he will not contest against Chief Obasanjo in 2003 the search mirror fell on General Muhammadu Buhari, who is willing to exercise his fundamental rights in a democratic setting. The Week magazine in an attempt to offer General Buhari’s chances in case he decides to contest for Presidency under the All Peoples Party (APP) opined that "the release of the PTF secret files, they hope, mighty sully the image of Buhari and discourage him from contesting- even if on moral grounds arising from strong criticisms in the press". As a sincere Nigerian I will find it difficult to agree completely that there is any saint amongst the past leaders but what is disgusting is the selective propagandist deployment against certain individuals to the advantage of others. The Week alarmed that "even if nothing was found against his government after the take over as Buhari would want the whole world to believe, many are of the view that Babangida, the acclaimed godfather of northern politics who made the allegations (against Buhari) might not want to be proved wrong. IBB, some argue, might be taken the issue of Buhari Presidency personal as Buhari’s emergence will certainly enlarge his clout in the north, which will in turn affect Babangida’s power base and hence the power equation in the north" " with these" said The Week "many are beginning to see the Buhari candidature as an issue that might break the north’s much vaunted unity rather than enhance it". With The Week position about the animosities between Buhari and Babangida, it is clear that even the northern media houses have joined the league of the South-West media houses to aggravate the real or imagined strained - relationship between the two Generals to pave way for their candidate- having known that the unity between Buhari and Babangida will set a permanent obstacle to their agenda. In any case it is not the media men that only determine who becomes what in 2003 as The Week wants us to believe, the power rests on the political masses which I believe will vehemently give their massive support to General Buhari if eventually he decide to contest in the next general election.

This absolutist monstrosity that our present leaders-in-authority with the support of the media wants to instill in our polity is setting perversities of murderous intention. But for the wangled political charlatans parading as politicians of high repute, who surrender economic and political rights of future generations at the expense of their own comfort, the reconstitution process in Nigeria is long over due. A reputation built on an absolutist fiasco similar to the attempt by the political elite to disallow the appearance on the political stage of any opposition cannot be devoid of devastating consequences. This blatant display of executive malfeasance by the current political leadership has an underlying fact that personal interest must supercede national interest for any political event to occur. If the perception is not fought now it may be too late to predict and arrest the prologue dynamics of the impending evil days. It is time to act now or never!!