January 17, (THEWILL) – Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has advised Nigerians to sift between jesters and pretenders among those currently aspiring to rule the country.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Monday with the Theme: “2023 and the Presidential Aspirants: Time to Speak Out”, George said while it is legitimate and valid for those who are interested in governance to openly declare their aspirations, it is also incumbent upon the rest of us as citizens of this nation to inquire, to scrutinise, to investigate, to examine in totality the qualities of those who seek our mandate.
He said: “We must sift between jesters and pretenders. We must separate the robber barons, the brazen treasury looters from the selfless vanguard who have come to truly serve our people.
“If the democratic process must endure, if the rule of law must be protected from degenerating into nepotistic caucus or a sheer kakistocracy, which is the system of government composed of the least qualified and the most aberrant set of people, Nigerians must start asking questions about everyone who seeks our votes.
“It is our inalienable right to examine the pedigree of all the aspirants. What are their antecedents? What are their educational backgrounds? What is their family provenance? Who are their friends? What do they hold as defining valuable doctrine? What is their mission and vision?
“What is the source of their wealth? Are they legitimate tycoons with visible investments or they are mere mercenary buccaneers with their eyes greedily set on looting our commonwealth?
“These are legitimate enquiries we must all make to ensure that well known looters, criminally minded nepotistic agents are never allowed to preside over our nation.
Continuing he said, “We know those who have blatantly looted some states. We know those who have reduced the wealth of some hapless states into an obscene private appropriation. We know the recklessly greedy who have turned governance into a family affair, sharing the wealth of the people among themselves, their acolytes and their unconscionable friends.
“Is it not fair and just that those who wish this nation well must speak out loud and clear before our nation is reduced to a private fiefdom of these megalomaniacs?
“It is unconscionable to be neutral in the face of evil. This is why I speak out.
“Do I have a prejudice against anyone? No! Am I biassed against a particular aspirant? No! Am I waging a personal vendetta against anyone’s ambition? Again, No!
“But will I keep quiet in the face of an established, observable, proven larcenous character who has gutted the treasury of my state? Never! Will I keep quiet when an individual who lies blatantly about his age, who tells us he is 69 years old, while his daughter is 60 years old? Never!
“Will I keep quiet when an individual is ashamed of his origin, when the same individual cannot tell us the primary school he went to, when his secondary school and university are opaque? Never! Will I keep quiet when a patently wobbly, incoherent, psychologically unfit character parades bullion vans on Election Day and openly boasts that he can do anything he wants with his money? Never!”
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
