By Tahiru Umar
The March 28 presidential election has created a paradigm shift on Nigeria political landscape. Indeed, so many lessons have been learnt. For instance, we learnt that Nigeria’s unity takes precedence over parochial sentiments. We also saw how the people’s will and determination can stand up to any trial. Again, we learnt that far and above stomach infrastructure and transient election moments, values such as honesty, integrity and discipline are needed.
Equally, we have seen how true the saying, you cannot put someone down without staying down with him is played out in the campaigns leading up to the elections.
All in all, the presidential election exercise was quite a revelation. It revealed who was who and who was doing what in our political circle. In the unfolding scenario, the other sides of our political bigwigs became visible.
Well, things and people are not really what they seemed. The APC victory in Kogi state, a stronghold of the PDP where Prince Abubakar Audu remained the only consistent, solid opposition figure bore testimony to the fervor of the people’s yearning for change. The strides and pattern of APC’s victory in Kogi state make Prince Audu much more understandable and admirable. Though very much in public view, few people know anything about the underlying principles of Prince Audu’s political leanings. He has been consistent, he has been firm, and in the face of tribulations, he has maintained a mature and stable resolve to commit to his objectives, political and personal.
He has an enviable reputation of being the only Governor of Kogi state whose legacies of democratic dividend has stood the test of time. For that and many more personal good deeds and distinctions, majority of people across all the zones of the state are proud of and worship the prince on the Niger. For as many of this people who are naturally inclined to following him beyond reason, whenever the occasion presents itself, taking a stand behind Prince Audu is a sacred duty.
He is at once an inspiration, an embodiment of hope, a counselor and a factor. The people feel they are paying in some measure what he has done for them. But the Prince in his characteristic race to excel against himself, has always demonstrated that all he has done is nothing compared to what the people of Kogi state deserves. Everyone who has had an opportunity of direct contact with Prince Audu would have no hesitation in reaching the conclusion that he is a man wildly misunderstood, beneath the veneer of strict administrative poise sits a heart of truth and goodness.
Prince Audu, both in and outside of power has maintained a high level social status and unruffled serenity made possible by his uncomplicated attitude to life and a proper sense of value. All around him is evidence of good taste, spaciousness and deliberate planning abound, thereby making him so awesome and inscrutable.
This attribute, no doubt, may have informed the pre-election smear that tended to portray the Prince as an infiltrator in the APC. As petty and ridiculous as the insinuations were, prince Audu simply dismissed them as the stupidities of rivalry and weariness of politicking.
He has said that “if the people desire change because of their discontent with the status quo, it has become the duty of the progressives to guarantee that change. I am committed to ensuring that the agitation for change by the people of Kogi state and other Nigerians are met”. At some point he had said, “If there is no meaning in our words, of what use are they”, like GMB, Prince Audu hasnever been dispirited by successive failure in his ambition to restore Kogi state to the path of development and progress, and firmly believes that in the end his patience and perseverance will be rewarded.
The APC recorded an impressive result in Kogi state during the presidential and National Assembly elections; the leading result in North-central. A number of high profile politicians in the state have defected into the APC in recent times, boosting the fortunes of the party in the state.
Prince Audu through his breath of vision has ensured that the APC platform accommodates divergent interests and is fully rooted in the state. Electoral victory is dependent on several factors, chief among which is teamwork and unity of purpose.
Nonetheless, the dramatic outcomes of the elections in Kogi state are not unconnected with Prince Audu’s zeal. Perhaps we would need to objectively analyse things and people, before rushing to judgments;as often, our aim fails to hit the target in the twirl and strides that characterize the affairs of life. Planning, it is said, is the prerogative of man, destiny makes the final move. Certainly, things are always not what they seem. Certainly, Prince Audu works deeply at the purposes of the APC.
Umar wrote from Lokoja, Kogi state
