Gibbers

Delta, Bakare and the gods of politics

TODAY I want to tell three stories, all from God’s Word. First, is the story of naïve Joseph who foretold his greatness to enemy-siblings in Genesis. Though he eventually achieved the mount in Egypt, he had needlessly exposed himself and paid dearly for his childish act. Yoruba will say if someone’s yam yield is great, covert consumption is the sensible thing to do. Joseph is a lesson to those always quick to spill their guts or boast about certain future God has shown them. Premature testimonies can lead to aborted or delayed destinies. Insightful pastors preach it all the time. As Nigerians took cudgels to Pastor Tunde Bakare over his Easter Sunday’s State of the Nation broadcast, reminding him of his “unfulfilled” prophesy he would succeed Muhammadu Buhari as the 16th president of Nigeria, I kept reflecting on his foray into politics and how it has practically mangled his soul-winning ministry. It is not impossible that God truly spoke of a Bakare presidency. Though nothing is given, but one can even safely assume his “dreamy” administration would have been a lot better than what today’s 16th is delivering, considering his exposure, education, network of associates, assumed uprightness and forthrightness and the knack to be unyielding {which could be contextually and circumstantially positive or otherwise}. Maybe in his excitement like Joseph, he didnt ask the “How” questions. The derision constantly directed at him over the failed prediction should temper him into a self-reflection instead of doubling down on his criticisms of those in power, which is mainly seen as a sour grape.

Joseph lessons should also serve President Bola Tinubu. His many past boasts have become albatrosses on his neck today, especially his premature disclosure of the presidency being his lifetime project, which should make him a very prepared president, constant on developmental issues before attaining the presidency. Two years into the dreamt presidency, it turned out that the one hailed as the most prepared for the job, is possibly only interested in the politics and the power. His first few minutes on the job exposed his poor appreciation of the everyday issues confronting Nigerians. Now, the land wails and can’t be comforted.

My second story is about King Herod Agrippa in Acts. It is a short story with long lessons for those who would open their ears. It reads “And when Herod had sought for him {Peter}, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.”

I understand the deliriousness in the camp of President Bola Tinubu over the Delta “mass” defection. Truth be told, it was a masterstroke for whatever the political worth, regardless of the bottom-pot ingredients, whether coercion, harassment or promises or even delivery of goody-goody. Yoruba will say whoever hasn’t eaten anyhowness won’t die anyhow. It is only those who lay brewing ingredients outside that should fear the rain. If Delta political leaders had soiled their hands to be coercible, the mess is theirs to handle though posterity will always judge those doing forex with public trust. And to think the state government spokesperson was on Arise television months back denying this jump from PDP. Will the political class ever be truthful?

The Delta surge into APC and the expected movements in other states like Kano, Adamawa {Tinubu’s main opponent’s backyard} Abia {the only LP State}, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Oyo and Rivers {Fubara was seen in a supposed recent photo, claimed to have been taken in London, genuflecting before Tinubu} all opposition stronghold, have firmed the oracle status of the president with his supporters, who now describe him in superlatives for almost uniting the entire country’s meaningful political structures behind his re-election, though minus the people. At the height of the senate s3x scandal, I listened to once-well-regarded Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe eulogising his former rival, now-friend as the best thing to ever happen to tactical politicking in Nigeria. His opinions are his. The president’s supporters are now labelling him the god of Nigerian politics whose capability is beyond comprehension. By human reasoning, they appear to have good grounds for the claim. His apparent defeat of the opposition led by then-incumbent President Buhari in 2023, was no mean feat. But arrogating God’s enablement to him is dangerous. Hopefully, the president isn’t soaking in these adulations as testaments of his abilities. I hope he is returning all glory to his Maker, who can make a president out of a street boy. As extraordinary as his political journey has been, he should know nothing is invisible about him. Thrice in Osun {2018, 2022 and 2023} and once in Lagos, God made him to lu’le {fall} in ways the outcomes couldn’t be faulted, though 2018 Osun guber was taken from the winner through the backdoor according to then-president Buhari. Failing in one’s backyard is a serious lesson and warning. King Agrippa only accepted in his mind that he had become a god to be dismantled.

By the end of Ibrahim Babangida-made-and-damaged third republic, a “god” had emerged in Lagos political ecosystem. His name; Ganiyu Olawale Dawodu. He came into the acclaim on two fronts. First the amalgamation of his initials and more importantly, his comparative superior political clout in the progressives’ fold. But the unfolding of the running republic folded his vaunted relevance before his demise. A new “king” had been born. A dreamer from America had returned home the people’s hero due to his earned resume from the resistance brigade that ended the nightmare of military adventurists in power. The “god” and the new “emperor” knocked heads a few times but there was no doubt power had changed hands by the time the dreamer was on his second term. The old god was supplanted, subdued and systematically synchronized into a relic. A new god, a new shrine and a mix of old and new faithful and the state began a political journey that today has Aso Rock as its drive-through. It took the dreamer 24 years to achieve the climb.

The third story is about King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel, precisely chapter 4. Space won’t allow a retelling and the story is pretty well-known, even to agnostics. Despite a dire warning in his dream and the precision of the affliction to befall him, he still allowed hubris to bowl him over. He was a bit more fortunate than Agrippa, though he had to be raving mad for seven years. Hear his declaration, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

Hear heaven’s response; “Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird”.

Heaven has spoken this morning. Nothing to add.

Lanre Adewole