Mind your language, or else you will ruin the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances of a second term, former Lagos Police Commissioner, Abubakar Tsav, has warned those working for his re-election.
He said they could also wreck the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which Jonathan is contesting for the vote on March 28.
Tsav named Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose; Jonathan’s Media Assistant, Doyin Okunpe; and PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode, and someone he called “madam trouble” as part of those giving the president a bad press.
Said he: “I am sure that if Mr President had handled his re-election with maturity, decorum and more civilised manner devoid of brazen insults and desperation, maybe things could have been better for him.
“All these nocturnal visits and gallivanting wouldn’t have been necessary. People like Ayo Fayose, Fani-Kayode, Okupe and madam trouble are worsening the chances of Mr President and further puncturing the leaking umbrella.”
Tsav expressed concern that rather than plan how to win the election they go on the offensive every time to insult the person of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He lamented that those hired to attack Obasanjo are mostly from the South West, including one he said Obasanjo brought from a life of wretchedness and hopelessness in the United Kingdom to rehabilitate in Nigeria.
“Why on earth must these people continue to abuse and insult Olusegun Obasanjo, a civil war hero; two-time Head of State, and an elder statesman per excellence? Has he no right of choice?”
During the 2011 elections, Tsav recalled, Obasanjo personally led the election campaign of Jonathan and traversed the whole country to canvass votes for him, against the wishes of some of his Ijaw tribesmen.
“And what did Obasanjo get in return? Abuses and name-calling, like motor park tout, among others, by the same man he worked hard to bring to limelight. Worse still , a Yoruba man whom Obasanjo rescued in the UK as a cab driver and from drug addiction and brought to political limelight is today in the forefront in abusing and disparaging him.
“In fact, all those abusing OBJ today are his tribesman. That reminds me of the late Herbert Ogunde who waxed a record ‘Yoruba Ronu’ and was banned from entering the Western Region for saying the truth.
“Why do human beings forget so soon? Why do politicians tell lies? Is politics a matter of life and death? Some politicians prefer to live their lives on daily basis. They don’t think of tomorrow.
“To such politicians, the life of today is more exciting so they need not bother of tomorrow.”
Tsav said if Jonathan’s men had done their homework well, he would have no cause to crisscross the country “bribing for votes,” adding that “this government by his action” has shown that it cannot fight corruption
“The Governor of Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, alleged that Jonathan spent five days in Lagos visiting Yoruba and other leaders and doling out money in hard currency to them and canvassing for their votes.
“Similar visits were made to Yoruba obas and chiefs in the South West. Does this not constitute corruption or is it generosity or charity?
“Certainly a government which claims to be fighting corruption cannot engage in such dishonest and extravagant act occasioned by desperation in a bid to win elections by the misuse of our commonwealth.
“Did the president visit Chibok even for a minute?”
Tsav condemned the way politics is being played by some politicians, saying, “our own brand of politics in Nigeria is clumsy and dirty. Nigeria we hail thee! Nigerian politicians we abhor thee!”
