Basil Okoh
The unceasing movement of Atiku Abubakar to different political parties typifies the restlessness of the elite to position themselves for maximum benefit from the institutionally corrupt system, migrating from party to party looking for vantage positions for benefit to the self and to no other.
Atiku Abubakar is the champion of this insatiable group and he can never be satiated until he gets the presidency for the biggest benefit to himself at the expense of and disadvantage of Nigeria.
In the intractable disruption following his back and forth movement, Atiku does not mind how many parties he destroys, how many laws he breaks or what social disruptions he causes for the parties or the nation. He exemplifies a carpetbagger who does not give a hoot for national cohesion or political stability. Me first and me only is the driving rule for him.
Atiku Abubakar will be contesting the presidency for a record four out of the six presidential elections in the fourth republic. In the course of this wanderlust, he has made no proposition and highlighted no vision or governing manifesto for progress of the nation.
Atiku Abubakar is a drifter without a purpose in politics, shouting down every restraining voice to his conscienceless pursuit of entitlement to the presidency of Nigeria. And this is made worse by the sickening fact that he has no redeeming qualities to endear him to the people or to recommend him for the high office he seeks.
Atiku’s offending presence in the public space is made possible because we are in Nigeria, where bluster stumps merit in every political proposition.
Atiku Abubakar has never spoken to the fact that 20 million children are out of school, mostly in northern Nigeria or to the excruciating debt burden hanging over Nigeria for generations to come. He has ensconced himself in the pleasure island of Dubai, far removed from the pain, the grime and the vagaries of life of the people he wants to rule.
An Atiku presidency will be a curse on Nigeria. The people of Nigeria must reject and reverse that curse in the coming election.
“Elesin Oba” (Death And The King’s Horsema
Finally, I got the chance to see the film: “Elesin Oba” (Death And The King’s Horseman) on NETFLIX directed by Biyi Bandele.

The play by Wole Soyinka remains for me, one of the greatest works of literary art of all time, ranking above Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, “King Lear” and “Henry V”, Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” and Boris Pasternak’s “Doctor Zhivago”.
Biyi Bandele drew tears from my eyes seeing the unfolding tragedy of Elesin who though loving pleasures of the flesh, was overpowered by forces beyond him through the triggering of a white man, who himself did not understand the dire consequences of his intention to do good.
I watched in tears the supreme sacrifice of Olunde in his self immolation to redeem the disgrace of his father and save his people from the dislocation of their world.
The message of “Elesin Oba holds so true for this generation of Nigerian public officers who betray leadership at every turn and turn public responsibility as opportunity for the eating of other cultures’ leftovers.
Thank you Kongi, Wole Soyinka. We are glad to have you do this great honour to Africa as its contribution to world art.
Thank you Biyi Bandele for bringing out the hidden nuances and true meaning of this greatest work of art.
@basilokoh

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