Peter Obi: Can this be politics?

STEVEN Aya  l Friday, October 21, 2022

 

LAGOS, Nigeria – I laugh when “attack dogs” many of whom do not have First School Leaving Certificates are the ones casting the biggest stones on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi for making the Second-Class Lower degree or grade in the university.

But I’m much more amused and amazed why the person who raised this issue or topic chose to do so. However, this is the time when such should be expected particularly if we consider the pace at which Peter Obi is running the 2023 race. Kudos to the “Obidients” spearheading the push which is giving many nightmares.

Let me quickly remind them that the academic requirement as stipulated by law in the constitution for the position of President is O’Level which could be West African School Certificate (WASC) from West African Examination Council (WAEC) or General Certificate of Education (GCE) or perhaps National Examination Council (NECO).

Suffice this to imply that Obi is not only qualified but “over qualified” if there’s any word like that to seek the highest political office in the land. This again suggests that those who raised this issue of second-class lower degree have ended up displaying how empty their brains are.

Illiteracy isn’t about not going to school; it is about not knowing the right thing to say or do. It is lack of knowledge. It is lack of understanding that best describe Illiteracy.

I learnt that one of the soundest of lawyers of our time like, Late Gani Fawehinmi finished with a Pass but many who had better degrees or grades couldn’t stand shoulder to shoulder with him in court. He dusted many Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in celebrated cases.

But I really wonder the mindset of the developer of this whole issue considering that certificate and genuine one in that regard has been a major trouble to politicians in our clime. The least of certificates like First Leaving School Certificate has dragged many first-class politicians in and out of court and still does.

So why should someone who graduated from one of the topmost universities in the land with a degree be asked why he didn’t make Distinction or First Class?

Apart from certificate politics, another cheap politics that these weak-minded people play is with pictures, showing ridiculous photos like that of the APC presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  Laughing at their ridiculous yet childish mentality is all one can do.

I am not Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s media aide, but I must speak the truth, using pictures to ridicule, derogate or belittle a presidential candidate is to say the least appalling.

Those involved in this act are merely asking or inviting stones on their innocent presidential candidates who certainly will not like same to be done to them.

Can’t a living being be tired after a week of crisscrossing cities and paying courtesy calls on those who matter to their course or courses? Can’t a human being feel sleepy? Don’t we all feel this way? Does feeling sleepy or tired have anything to do with age?

If we reduce our politics, support for candidates and or campaigns to things like this then, it goes to show how little-minded we are. I have said this often here that we should base our campaigns on issues.

This goes to all the supporters or followers of the presidential candidates. We must learn to be decent, modest and civil in our campaigns. Election campaigns shouldn’t be on religion or tribe.

On their parts the presidential candidates should equally comport themselves in their speeches, comments and statement during campaigns. Remarks that are inflammatory or insulting to other candidates should be avoided.

The presidential candidates should call their supporters and followers to order. Insults and abuses don’t win elections. I will advise the supporters of the candidates to go get their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). That’s the way to go.

I have heard some very harsh words from presidential candidate to their opponents and the supporters of the latter. That is the genesis of the whole display of loss of decency or decorum. Insults and abuses don’t win elections. There should be mutual respect from and among the candidates. This can only help their followers to follow responsibly for a better election.

We should base our campaigns on issues and stop these uncivilized talks. This writer thinks, it is better to have a brainy, humane, selfless, patriotic Second-Class Lower degree holder seeking the highest office in the land than someone with Distinction yet possesses irresponsible character.

We have gone pass that stage of wanting to know who has what, these campaigns must be issue based or else this country will be out of touch with the current world realities