OPINION: Stars of the 2019 Elections... They Did It! Grab A Drink, We Might Be Here A While | By Ivor Ekpe
Out of probably the most Intriguing elections ever to be held in Nigeria, some EMERGED as Superstars who hold the future of much of our POLITICS, set the Standards, faced the Demons and won, beat the Odds, lost their Bids but can SHAPE the country going forward.
HERE ARE SOME I PARTICULARLY found to have created SPECIAL MOMENTS:
TAMBUWAL in SOKOTO - Now here is quite a story to be told.
Governor Tambuwal returns by showing that The PEOPLE CAN WIN!
What looked like the DULLING of a Shining Star when he switched to the PDP along with the Mass Defectors turned out to be a Show of STRONG CONVICTION in Self and Genuine Support.
BIG BIG WIN in SOKOTO State for my friend's husband!
IHEDIOHA in IMO - The arrival at the end of a Long Hard Road.
Emeka IHEDIOHA I am particularly happy for. From the early days of that tiny one-room office in Abuja through the NASS as Deputy Speaker and now Governor-elect of IMO STATE... oh wow!
Against the 'might' of a ROCHAS (who probably aided the IHEDIOHA cause by over-playing his Ego) he has been duly rewarded for hard work and belief.
I think IMO STATE got this RIGHT.
GANDUJE in KANO - The Image Laundry Man.
With the BIG State of KANO up for grabs and the looming spectre of THE VIDEO, this man retained one of the most important States in Nigeria.
He keeps his IMMUNITY from Prosecution, though he can be investigated, and has another FOUR YEARS to continue what the people of KANO believe he can still do more of for them. ... Phew! That was close.
ABDULRAZAK in KWARA - Fresh Guy; Sweet Victory.
Something about his Calm Disposition against the aggressive and dominant presence of the SARAKI Enigma.
With very little personal noise, the New Governor of Kwara is quite affable and promising.
Once BUGSY had pointed The Gun to his own large forehead and put all on the line including losing his own Sister (the lovable Gbemi), Federal Might dictated that this Calm, Cool and very Collected Gentleman was going to upset the Status Quo.
He also has my Good Friend as his Deputy... nice!
ORTOM in BENUE - Wow! Talk about Against the Odds!
Something fascinating about the return of this man in BENUE. Simply put, when your people have your back, they have your back.
Haunted by the persistent and terrible Benue Crisis alongside many allegations of corruption and maladministration, ORTOM returns.
A sensational win in my opinion.
MELAYE in KOGI WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT - The RASCAL comes back!
Now here is something SPECIAL. The important lesson here is that NO MATTER the image projected outward and ridiculed by many, a POLITICIAN MUST, in the first instance, ENSURE involvement in the lives of the CONSTITUENTS.
MELAYE may not mean very much to many observers as a Representative to brag about HOWEVER those who matter the most WILL ALWAYS DECIDE.
Whether they do this as a function of their realities or simply need to retain the entertainment value is really down to them.
Like IHEDIOHA, he has run the gamut from similar days of being a minnow, entertained the entire Nation sometimes to our Shock and Awe but ULTIMATELY rewrote the Rules on what it takes... Great Win!
AKPOTI in KOGI CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT - Tomorrow's Star emerges.
HERE is a pacesetter for the Next Generation.
Young, Beautiful, Smart and Determined, this Girl has shown the Next Generation what they MUST DO and GO THROUGH to elevate themselves from Seasonal (every 4 years) Talkers to Leaders of this Country.
Natasha H. AKPOTI may not have won her bid (yet subject to ongoing Tribunal) but illustrates what the likes of Moghalu, Durotoye and Sowore FAILED to do to establish themselves as VIABLE POSSIBLE and SINCERE Future Leaders.
From the KOGI CENTRAL Cause (Ajaokuta) to the LONG PLAY involvement of the lives of the PEOPLE of that constituency AND through the WILD RIDE of taking on a POWERFUL ESTABLISHMENT (losing People, Properties and inevitably Money along the way)... AKPOTI is READY to Lead! ... I love this Girl! And she WILL RETURN!
AMBODE, SANWO-OLU and HAMZAT in LAGOS ... wow! What a SHOW! Where does one start?
FIRST AMBODE... One Term is never enough. Two Terms and you will be lucky to have made more than significant impact in Leadership in Nigeria ESPECIALLY at State level (such is the degree of FAILURE that pervades the country as a whole) BUT there is always INTERNAL POLITICS and POWERPLAY.
AMBODE eventually comes out of this, having served ONLY ONE TERM and bowing to the wishes of the OWNERS of LAGOS, a STAR!
I can't help but feel there is something BIGGER waiting for him.
SANWO-OLU in LAGOS - The Modern Campaigner arrives!
Though I felt he beat The Gun in rushing out and ultimately OVERWHELMING the LAGOS landscape for his campaign, this man showed FORCE, STYLE and EFFECTIVE STRATEGY in taking LAGOS.
Pure CLASS in how to establish yourself even where you were not a household NAME!
Whatever occurred BEHIND the scenes was greatly shielded from view while BOS won the imagination of the Electorate... Jimi Agbaje simply had NO CHANCE!
HAMZAT in LAGOS... Pure CLASS.
It would have been NORMAL and somewhat expected to let your EGO get the better of you in a bid to Lead a LAGOS.
More familiar establishment NAME with STRONG GRASSROOTS Affiliations, a known OMO ONILE but HAMZAT did BOS a BIG FAVOUR and showed what LOYALTY to The Team means and should be resulting in becoming DEPUTY GOVERNOR.
I SUSPECT that LAGOS may have ended up with THE BEST COMBINATION for her Present Future... Good luck Gentlemen!
EL-RUFAI in KADUNA ... Untouchable BAMBI.
As the common saying goes "Great Things Come in Small Packages". I simply love NASIRU EL-RUFAI.
Hatred is something Politicians have to live with. Brilliance is at a Premium and coupled with our special dynamics of Tribe, Religion and Sectionalism a contestant, an incumbent in this case, has to ride a STORM to WIN or STAY.
I named him BAMBI, the lovable Disney Doe Character, many years ago when he was constantly in the crosshairs of the GEJ Administration (see Run Bambi Run!) though he was regarded as one of the BEST Ministers (FCT) we have ever had.
He held KADUNA, a State full of the mix of Intellect and Religious divisions. Add to that a widespread dislike by a particular section of the Country... Fantastic Win!
BALA MOHAMMED in BAUCHI ... Purely Astonishing!
When the BIG GUNS of BAUCHI ran to the cause of The President and the APC one would have thought the State was a given.
When the State Representatives at the Next NASS were predominantly APC, you thought NO CHANCE.
When the State Assembly was similarly overwhelmingly APC, mere mortals would have walked away or quickly switched sides for comfort and safety but not BALA MOHAMMED!
The former FCT MINISTER stood firm and WON!... oh wow!
Interestingly he may have ended up a 'Sitting Duck' as he is surrounded by 'Enemies' in the decision-making chambers and as representatives of the State in the NASS.
What he does next post-inauguration I will be curious to see!! ... Excellent Result nonetheless.
ABIODUN in OGUN ... Heyden Baba!
He beat back the shenanigans of the Tall Hat. The duplicitous acts of an incumbent ALBEIT out-going Governor could not stop Dapo ABIODUN!
Young, Urbane and Weirdly, OGUN STATE with all her SW Powerplayers May just have got herself a forward-thinking futuristic Governor.
Definitely ONE TO WATCH!... Congratulations!
MAKINDE in OYO ... Now here's a SURPRISE!
Who knew of SEYI MAKINDE outside of OYO STATE before these elections? Sweet Boy, Fine Guy as FALZ the BAHD GUY is wont to saying.
Like ABIODUN in OGUN, the POWERS propelled MAKINDE to Governor of the Great OYO STATE (my State of Birth) and SUDDENLY we are the impact of Internal Party Crisis, an overbloated EGO of an incumbent DESPITE being credited with good works, all leading to the emergence of a relatively unknown (to me at least).... A chance of a lifetime.
AND THEN THERE IS STARBOY!!
CALLED NAMES, RELIGIOUSLY BASHED by his own of SAME RELIGION, CRASH SURVIVOR, INTELLECTUAL, Mr. TRADER MONI, LOVABLE WIFE, SENIOR JEBBY...
In my opinion, the PUBLIC ACE of the BUHARI CAMPAIGN!
EVERYWHERE he went THROUGHOUT the Country you should have seen the Welcome, Smiles, Joy of the CHILDREN, YOUNG, OLD and POOR!... The FUTURE is HERE! in ANY NIGERIAN LANGUAGE.
THE APC BACKROOM MACHINERY - STRATEGY at its BEST - THE PLAYERS!
They may not get The CREDIT they DESERVE but the likes of ASIWAJU BAT, BABATUNDE FASHOLA (and the Strategy Room), ROTIMI AMAECHI, AKPABIO (that 25%), OSHIOMOLE et al played the UNDERGROUND perfectly in the context of HOW TO WIN!
The APC turned on ALL necessary tools to suck out the AIR from the attempts by the OPPOSITION to WIN ESPECIALLY the PRESIDENCY.
It was a show of WHATEVER IT TAKES! Not nice in some cases, maybe, BUT IT WORKED! Something to LEARN Deep in there... LEARN IT!
THE BMC/BMO ALLSTARS! You know yourselves. Too many to list!
CONGRATULATIONS ALL... Now to MOVE the NATION FORWARD is The CHALLENGE... BIG CHALLENGE!
(PREMIUM TIMES)
HERE ARE SOME I PARTICULARLY found to have created SPECIAL MOMENTS:
TAMBUWAL in SOKOTO - Now here is quite a story to be told.
Governor Tambuwal returns by showing that The PEOPLE CAN WIN!
What looked like the DULLING of a Shining Star when he switched to the PDP along with the Mass Defectors turned out to be a Show of STRONG CONVICTION in Self and Genuine Support.
BIG BIG WIN in SOKOTO State for my friend's husband!
IHEDIOHA in IMO - The arrival at the end of a Long Hard Road.
Emeka IHEDIOHA I am particularly happy for. From the early days of that tiny one-room office in Abuja through the NASS as Deputy Speaker and now Governor-elect of IMO STATE... oh wow!
Against the 'might' of a ROCHAS (who probably aided the IHEDIOHA cause by over-playing his Ego) he has been duly rewarded for hard work and belief.
I think IMO STATE got this RIGHT.
GANDUJE in KANO - The Image Laundry Man.
With the BIG State of KANO up for grabs and the looming spectre of THE VIDEO, this man retained one of the most important States in Nigeria.
He keeps his IMMUNITY from Prosecution, though he can be investigated, and has another FOUR YEARS to continue what the people of KANO believe he can still do more of for them. ... Phew! That was close.
ABDULRAZAK in KWARA - Fresh Guy; Sweet Victory.
Something about his Calm Disposition against the aggressive and dominant presence of the SARAKI Enigma.
With very little personal noise, the New Governor of Kwara is quite affable and promising.
Once BUGSY had pointed The Gun to his own large forehead and put all on the line including losing his own Sister (the lovable Gbemi), Federal Might dictated that this Calm, Cool and very Collected Gentleman was going to upset the Status Quo.
He also has my Good Friend as his Deputy... nice!
ORTOM in BENUE - Wow! Talk about Against the Odds!
Something fascinating about the return of this man in BENUE. Simply put, when your people have your back, they have your back.
Haunted by the persistent and terrible Benue Crisis alongside many allegations of corruption and maladministration, ORTOM returns.
A sensational win in my opinion.
MELAYE in KOGI WEST SENATORIAL DISTRICT - The RASCAL comes back!
Now here is something SPECIAL. The important lesson here is that NO MATTER the image projected outward and ridiculed by many, a POLITICIAN MUST, in the first instance, ENSURE involvement in the lives of the CONSTITUENTS.
MELAYE may not mean very much to many observers as a Representative to brag about HOWEVER those who matter the most WILL ALWAYS DECIDE.
Whether they do this as a function of their realities or simply need to retain the entertainment value is really down to them.
Like IHEDIOHA, he has run the gamut from similar days of being a minnow, entertained the entire Nation sometimes to our Shock and Awe but ULTIMATELY rewrote the Rules on what it takes... Great Win!
AKPOTI in KOGI CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT - Tomorrow's Star emerges.
HERE is a pacesetter for the Next Generation.
Young, Beautiful, Smart and Determined, this Girl has shown the Next Generation what they MUST DO and GO THROUGH to elevate themselves from Seasonal (every 4 years) Talkers to Leaders of this Country.
Natasha H. AKPOTI may not have won her bid (yet subject to ongoing Tribunal) but illustrates what the likes of Moghalu, Durotoye and Sowore FAILED to do to establish themselves as VIABLE POSSIBLE and SINCERE Future Leaders.
From the KOGI CENTRAL Cause (Ajaokuta) to the LONG PLAY involvement of the lives of the PEOPLE of that constituency AND through the WILD RIDE of taking on a POWERFUL ESTABLISHMENT (losing People, Properties and inevitably Money along the way)... AKPOTI is READY to Lead! ... I love this Girl! And she WILL RETURN!
AMBODE, SANWO-OLU and HAMZAT in LAGOS ... wow! What a SHOW! Where does one start?
FIRST AMBODE... One Term is never enough. Two Terms and you will be lucky to have made more than significant impact in Leadership in Nigeria ESPECIALLY at State level (such is the degree of FAILURE that pervades the country as a whole) BUT there is always INTERNAL POLITICS and POWERPLAY.
AMBODE eventually comes out of this, having served ONLY ONE TERM and bowing to the wishes of the OWNERS of LAGOS, a STAR!
I can't help but feel there is something BIGGER waiting for him.
SANWO-OLU in LAGOS - The Modern Campaigner arrives!
Though I felt he beat The Gun in rushing out and ultimately OVERWHELMING the LAGOS landscape for his campaign, this man showed FORCE, STYLE and EFFECTIVE STRATEGY in taking LAGOS.
Pure CLASS in how to establish yourself even where you were not a household NAME!
Whatever occurred BEHIND the scenes was greatly shielded from view while BOS won the imagination of the Electorate... Jimi Agbaje simply had NO CHANCE!
HAMZAT in LAGOS... Pure CLASS.
It would have been NORMAL and somewhat expected to let your EGO get the better of you in a bid to Lead a LAGOS.
More familiar establishment NAME with STRONG GRASSROOTS Affiliations, a known OMO ONILE but HAMZAT did BOS a BIG FAVOUR and showed what LOYALTY to The Team means and should be resulting in becoming DEPUTY GOVERNOR.
I SUSPECT that LAGOS may have ended up with THE BEST COMBINATION for her Present Future... Good luck Gentlemen!
EL-RUFAI in KADUNA ... Untouchable BAMBI.
As the common saying goes "Great Things Come in Small Packages". I simply love NASIRU EL-RUFAI.
Hatred is something Politicians have to live with. Brilliance is at a Premium and coupled with our special dynamics of Tribe, Religion and Sectionalism a contestant, an incumbent in this case, has to ride a STORM to WIN or STAY.
I named him BAMBI, the lovable Disney Doe Character, many years ago when he was constantly in the crosshairs of the GEJ Administration (see Run Bambi Run!) though he was regarded as one of the BEST Ministers (FCT) we have ever had.
He held KADUNA, a State full of the mix of Intellect and Religious divisions. Add to that a widespread dislike by a particular section of the Country... Fantastic Win!
BALA MOHAMMED in BAUCHI ... Purely Astonishing!
When the BIG GUNS of BAUCHI ran to the cause of The President and the APC one would have thought the State was a given.
When the State Representatives at the Next NASS were predominantly APC, you thought NO CHANCE.
When the State Assembly was similarly overwhelmingly APC, mere mortals would have walked away or quickly switched sides for comfort and safety but not BALA MOHAMMED!
The former FCT MINISTER stood firm and WON!... oh wow!
Interestingly he may have ended up a 'Sitting Duck' as he is surrounded by 'Enemies' in the decision-making chambers and as representatives of the State in the NASS.
What he does next post-inauguration I will be curious to see!! ... Excellent Result nonetheless.
ABIODUN in OGUN ... Heyden Baba!
He beat back the shenanigans of the Tall Hat. The duplicitous acts of an incumbent ALBEIT out-going Governor could not stop Dapo ABIODUN!
Young, Urbane and Weirdly, OGUN STATE with all her SW Powerplayers May just have got herself a forward-thinking futuristic Governor.
Definitely ONE TO WATCH!... Congratulations!
MAKINDE in OYO ... Now here's a SURPRISE!
Who knew of SEYI MAKINDE outside of OYO STATE before these elections? Sweet Boy, Fine Guy as FALZ the BAHD GUY is wont to saying.
Like ABIODUN in OGUN, the POWERS propelled MAKINDE to Governor of the Great OYO STATE (my State of Birth) and SUDDENLY we are the impact of Internal Party Crisis, an overbloated EGO of an incumbent DESPITE being credited with good works, all leading to the emergence of a relatively unknown (to me at least).... A chance of a lifetime.
AND THEN THERE IS STARBOY!!
CALLED NAMES, RELIGIOUSLY BASHED by his own of SAME RELIGION, CRASH SURVIVOR, INTELLECTUAL, Mr. TRADER MONI, LOVABLE WIFE, SENIOR JEBBY...
In my opinion, the PUBLIC ACE of the BUHARI CAMPAIGN!
EVERYWHERE he went THROUGHOUT the Country you should have seen the Welcome, Smiles, Joy of the CHILDREN, YOUNG, OLD and POOR!... The FUTURE is HERE! in ANY NIGERIAN LANGUAGE.
THE APC BACKROOM MACHINERY - STRATEGY at its BEST - THE PLAYERS!
They may not get The CREDIT they DESERVE but the likes of ASIWAJU BAT, BABATUNDE FASHOLA (and the Strategy Room), ROTIMI AMAECHI, AKPABIO (that 25%), OSHIOMOLE et al played the UNDERGROUND perfectly in the context of HOW TO WIN!
The APC turned on ALL necessary tools to suck out the AIR from the attempts by the OPPOSITION to WIN ESPECIALLY the PRESIDENCY.
It was a show of WHATEVER IT TAKES! Not nice in some cases, maybe, BUT IT WORKED! Something to LEARN Deep in there... LEARN IT!
THE BMC/BMO ALLSTARS! You know yourselves. Too many to list!
CONGRATULATIONS ALL... Now to MOVE the NATION FORWARD is The CHALLENGE... BIG CHALLENGE!
(PREMIUM TIMES)
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