If the morals and legality of Lagos primaries were the main consideration, it is likely many purists would desire the failure of Babajide Sanwoolu, the beneficiary of the illegal primaries, at the general election. Nothing says he must win anyway, but his likely victory could be deemed an encouragement to the growing notion that political banditry pays.
However, history favours his victory, even if Ambode chose to comprehensively play the spoiler, which he didn’t seem to have the balls for.
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Unprinted information suggests Ambode is a captured incumbent. He is currently so scared of being impeached that he would not mind leading Sanwoolu’s campaign for better effects in his bid to reinforce loyalty to their common Bourdillion master. The IGG (Initial Gra Gra) of his reported cold-feet towards financial support for the party seems to have given way to yummy-yummy consultations in the inner recesses of Alausa. Who no know, go know.
But Ambode may have irretrievably damaged his new bestie in that giddy moment of a poorly-planned and misguided “World Press” conference, in which the governor, seriously out of depth, looked more like playing a cameo in awada kerikeri than throwing political punches, meant to be devastating. Sanwoolu took the little left of the game away from the incumbent with applauded mature response to the twin-evil allegation of being a felon and what Yoruba will call alawoku (someone with residual brainwave after mental health treatment). To the credit of Sanwoolu’s handlers, the fire stoked by the governor was quickly put out before it could become a conflagration. That the weighty allegation by Sanwoolu’s principal of more than three years fizzled out so fast in the mass media and public discourse is a commendable testament to the ruthless efficacy of those managing the image of the man who would be governor.
However, an implication of how well Ambode’s charge against his former appointee was managed is that if such deep stain could be wiped off the table in a jiffy, the Lagos populace is at risk of only knowing what Team Sanwoolu wants known during the campaign, election proper and ultimately the governance period. It also means his team is good enough to change any unpleasant narrative and whitewash what should be a stinking sepulchre as a marbled mansion. Talk of a brilliant salesman and his tainted goods.
What could be called the success of Ambode’s containment, should however not get Team Sanwoolu into a hurray galore. No, I’m not talking about their candidate not winning because of the mental and moral accusations. In fact, only a negligible few might remember Ambode ever said anything like that in the rapturous glee of dibo ko sebe (vote buying). The outgoing could even get roaring applause for a walk-back during grand campaigns. All may be well to get Sanwoolu to office.
But all may not end well. Yoruba usually caution against being glib, with “Beti ko ba gbo yinkin, inu ki baje (sad news saddens). Except verifiable and reliable counters are produced, to establish Sanwoolu’s “clean” American and medical records, an ordinary wide smile out of excitement, could cause “the Gov” public embarrassment. A raucous laugh? Mischievous minds could ask, se ko si o (what’s gwan) bordering on the suspicion of a possible relapse. Ambode’s moment of indiscretion is Sanwoolu’s cross to carry for the next four or eight years (Tinubu willing), except his own do the needful at the entry point. It was easy spinning the allegations out of public discourse, but human memory is a difficult board to wipe. God forbid he turns up a disappointment in office, the joke would be, what do you expect from a so so and so. God has a way of doing His wonders, He could make Sanwoolu the best Lagos has ever known, in Alausa. That is why he should not go in with baggage. The gubernatorial luggage must be cleared of any excess at the entry point.
…and Adams ate the apple
So Adams Oshiomhole finally ate the “allowed” apple. In politics everywhere, bribery is a norm, including US where pizza is served for crowds to appear at campaign rallies. Tip is tip, whether the palm is greased as done in the developed world or the grease is palmed (o pamu e, is a roadside broadside for stealing without being caught though noticed), which is a culture here. What consistently rankles rationality is the leading rogues in the ruling party not pausing once to think of what got them to power and be sensitive for once, for the sake of decency they claimed as part of their progressive inheritance. Was PDP not heckled out of office because of federalised corruption. Wadata wasters were “living” and letting others “live,” unfortunately, on pamu e (bold face artifice).
Then came the canonized savages, with unitary system of corruption. Their style is palemo panumo (chop clean mouth). Oh, Lord, what shall we say of this lot, a bunch of hypocritical marauders about to make everything and everyone look senseless for allowing them near what their greed could not contain. I know it is always easy to blame Eve for forcing the forbidden fruit on Adam. But what manner of man, was that progenitor of ours, who could not resist death, when he was the one directly given the stay-away instruction by God. Without doubt, Iara’s husband is overburdened by avarice gene of his namesake. Yoruba will say, ile la nwo, kato so omoloruko (lineage peculiarities always come into play before naming a new-born) and to think the latter-day Adam carries double anointing, with the s, ending his own version of the name humanity wanted away as its natural leader. Troubled Lord of APC Manor has been praised for fecundity and oratory. Omo o le jo baba, kama binu omo. You can’t begrudge a son for taking after his dad. Didn’t Adam, without even a diploma in Botany, give all animals appropriate names. Was he not so fluent without being taught by any teacher. When he was of God, all things were just falling in place for him. Hasn’t God also been kind and gracious to the APC chair who was better-not-described, in a viral photo, showing him as a staff of a textile company, before unionism laced with poorly-concealed opportunism, powered him, to the zenith of political power. But natural habitations can’t be ignored for too long. If someone is programmed for a hot slap before bedtime, even if sleeping, he would wake up for pee and groggily step on the whitlow of a stronger fellow. It was once said here that only an insult was required for Oshio to become jejune. Come has surely come, to become for Iara’s husband. What can the beauty do!
and then