By Frank Opara
Personally, I find nothing wrong with a 72-year
old who decides to seek medical attention after an exhaustive round of campaign
rallies in a country like ours. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), the APC
presidential flag bearer in the forthcoming general elections is human after
all.
He did what every sensible human being would do, irrespective of age. In
all conscience, and as far as my knowledge can offer, he has not committed any
crime or broken any law as a Nigerian.
However, the level of deceit embedded in the
false-ministration embarked upon by the propaganda machinery of his party
recently is mischievous, abhorrent and disadvantageous to the overall image of
the party. Before now, the machinery had been able to give its PDP counterpart
a good run for their money, both in the virtual reality of major social media
platforms and otherwise.
In fact, the guesstimate of many is that if the
forthcoming presidential election is to be decided on the performance of both
parties on social media platforms, APC will definitely emerge as winners. I
share in this assumption because as one who is constantly on these platforms,
one could palpably feel the commanding influence of a coordinated group of
professionals who have succeeded in giving their party a visible edge over its
ruling counterpart.
With the level of virtual campaign so far, some
undecided, eligible, proud owners of PVC should be able to make up their minds
on who to vote for. Others could be said to be considering their options based
on which party campaign strategy will provide the X-factor that will appeal to
them.
In fairness and on until now, both parties
propaganda machinery have been conspiratorial and conservative in pushing out
some quantum of agreeable lies to the public. Both of them have observed some
level of cautiousness, calculating and discreet in the quality of information
they disseminate.
However, the APC’s progress in this regard got a setback that
has left a huge dent in the holier-than-thou image they have been selling to
Nigerians.
A couple of days ago, by hook or crook, Nigerians
were forced to believe that Buhari travelled out of the country on a working
visit to London, whereupon he would proceed to the United States of America. In
London, he was alleged to have met with Tony Blair, former British Prime
Minister.
A picture of him in the company of Blair to establish this fictitious
claim went viral. The same claim showed Buhari granting interview in London,
whereas the said interview actually took place in Abuja, Transcorp Hilton Hotel
to be precise.
However, contrary to these reports, Buhari
actually left Nigeria to seek medical attention abroad. After all, he, Buhari,
admitted as much, albeit as a damage control mechanism having realized the lies
that had been making the rounds during his speech at Chatham House on Thursday,
February 26.
In a speech that was streamed life, he admitted that he went to
seek medical attention and his doctor gave him a clean bill of health. The wife
had before now acknowledged the fact that part of her husband’s itinerary in
London was to go for a check on his health.
If our memories have not been blunted by corporate
lies, the gaudy theatrics that surrounded the ailment of former president, the late
Umaru Yar’Adua, should still be fresh in our minds. As our personal experience
validates, it was an offensive season when those we elected to lead us lacked
the honor to be accountable to us. Not until the late president breathed his
last that they suddenly ran short of lies to feed ever compliant Nigerians.
In the same vein, the present administration has
never considered Nigerians human enough to have the courtesy to inform them
whenever they embark on their medical trip abroad. What we see other countries
do as norm is usually the opposite in Nigeria.
We as a country have cultivated the ugly culture
of lies, no thanks to our so-called leaders and political office holders who
mischievously chose to be stingy with the truth whenever they come to us to
observe simple obligation which they owe us. Rather, we are treated with contempt.
The managers of the propaganda campaign group of
the presidential choice of the APC have done little to hide their irreverence
for their teeming supporters and Nigerians in general.
The same treatment they have also meted to so many
who are still contemplating to align with their so-called ‘Change’ movement.
They have disrespectfully taken all for granted. For a party that is so
ambitious to wrest the mantle of power from an alleged floundering
administration, this is not the right way to begin.
The ‘Change’ Nigerians are clamoring for is a
‘Change’ devoid of lies and deceit. Nigerians eagerly look forward to a new era
of administration that will leave a legacy of sincerity. For as the saying
goes; “If you tell the truth, it becomes a part of your past. If you lie, it
becomes a part your future”.
No comments:
Post a Comment