Is there anything worthwhile we’ve learnt from Nigeria’s past records regarding involvement in politics or about political association cum campaigns other than being a dirty and deadly game that has left so many people dead while some that are fortunate to be alive are still paying the price of their involvement in one way or the other. It’s simply not a gentleman’s game.
Let’s take few steps back in to Nigeria’s political campaigns and elections history of late Mko Abiola, a business mogul, a philanthropist and the then richest man in Africa who won the presidential election in the year 1993 but was annulled by Gen. Ibrahim babangida who happened to be a military leader as at that time. This election was declared the most peaceful and the fairest even by international observers. Abiola tried to claim the mandate given to him by his people by declaring himself the winner of the annulled election and of cause the president of Nigeria. He was arrested and incarcerated until his questionable death in 1998. His entire business empire crumbled immediately after his death. Houses were burnt, many people were killed, many fled the country to run for their dear lives. This includes the Nobel Lauret, Prof. Wole Soyinka.
In the 2007 election there was an alleged murder attempt on one of the presidential candidates; Goodluck Ebele Jonathan [ former president ] in Bayelsa state, which he managed to escape.
Several public figures identified themselves with different political parties. They range from notable men of God, muscians, film actors, footballers, etc.
A few of them are still in danger for their political campaigns/involvement as we write.
Muyiwa Ademola, an award-winning and popular Nollywood movie actor who got involved in the 2015 presidential election campaign for the party APC, the ruling party is still in regrets.
He openly showed his support for the candidates and the party, he campaigned rigorously in almost all the states in Nigeria to Express his full support for the current president and the party, which yielded a great result in the 2015 election.
Later in 2016 we heard from a reliable source that Mr Authentic as he is being fondly called has been receiving series of threats from some set or group of people, who were believed to be the opposition parties.
Within that same year his wife’s boutique and some other properties were reported to be destroyed. The scariest part was when some hoodlums tried to adopt his kids from his branded car on their way from school. It was reported to be a failed attempt because the children weren’t in the vehicle as at that period.
Muyiwa Ademola fled with his family to the United states late 2016.
The Ondo state based Evangelist Oluroti Benjamin of The Living Faith Christian Church became fairly popular when he predicted President Muhammad Buhari as Nigeria next president, he even correctly predicted the colour of the clothe the president wore on the day he was swore in.
His entire church was burnt to ashes on the Christmas eve of 2016. His whereabout is reported to be unknown as we write.
“The Parrots” are a set of identical twins. They were loved for their charms, brilliance and comical presentation of events. They openly showed their love for the APC and deeply campaigned in favour of President Buhari. They wore clothes with faces of the president adorned on it.
A source said they did all these just to support the ambition of President Buhari. Days after the president was swore in, one of the twins was found dead not too far from their home in Abeokuta. She was totally disembodied.
The surviving sister was reported to have later fled the country after burying her sister. In a normal clime, democracy should involve all and sundry with freedom of expression and participation. But in a land where your involvement comes with so much danger except you belong to a certain class (even your safety isn’t guaranteed on some occasions).
Do you really think getting involved in Nigeria politics is worth it ?
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