09/09/2024
POLITICS IS NOT WHOLLY LOCAL
By Michael Bush
The cliché, all politics is local, is exactly that -a cliché. All politics is not local. Locally, nationally and internationally, there is an almost 50/50 balance to every politics. First though, what does it mean: all politics is local?
To be double sure, I embarked on a little research. Wiktionary threw up quite some: “The phrase ‘all politics is local’ is commonly used in United States politics. Variations of the phrase date back to 1932. Tip O’Neill, a former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, is most closely associated with this phrase, although he did not originate it.”
Wow! Interesting. And, there is more: “Andrew Gelman argues that the ‘local’ refers to the fact that politicians ‘need local skills to win the primary election that gets them into their safe seat, and they need backroom political skills in the state legislature to keep their safe seats every 10 years’. Gelman also argues, citing data for elections since 1968, that politics is ‘less local than it used to be’.”
That is it! Politics is not totally local. Not anymore. All politics is extraneously influenced.
Even almighty United States cries wolf every four years over international interference in its presidential election. Unfortunately, it always looks only in the direction of its known enemy, Russia. Alas, even less regarded so-called developing countries (which have been at the wrong end of US interference in own elections) may indeed directly and indirectly influence the US presidential ballot far more than Russia or China does. There is always the tendency for family or friends in the United States of America to want to compare notes with back home in Africa, for instance, and you cannot rule out that tilting the balance to favour either Democrats or Republicans when the votes are eventually counted.
Also, the politics of elections far transcends the candidate and the party. A good candidate can lose because of bad party politics, just as a bad candidate can win because of good party politics. Similarly, people within and without who have no vote in an election can have a big say in the candidate or party that wins or loses. You shall see it in November when Vice President Kamala Harris trumps former Donald Trump to the White House.
How then is even that US politics local? If political things are amenable in the USA, of all places, where else can politics be immune or safe? Here in Nigeria, we know of course that things are worse. In fact, here, all politics is not local at all.
The external influences on politics everywhere in Nigeria are insane. You do not need to hail from a particular ward to produce its councillor. You do not need to hail from a particular local government area to produce chairman of its local government. What about governor and president?
Lif dat ting (in the voice of Global Ba’aba, Dr Abel Damina)! It is what it is. Did you not hear my man in Abuja say the other day that he would sit in his ministerial office and set fire in any state the governor messes with him? Know now, if you didn’t already, there are many ways to set fire, politically speaking.
Just as there are many ways to catch a rat. What am I saying, sef? Apologies, it is getting clearer and clearer, that I miss one of my doings on live radio, Cup of Coffee. I am still Your Rambler Friend, remember!
Enough of the rambling though. Let’s get to it. Edo State of Nigeria on my mind. No savvy, but I have always had an interest or two in everything Edo -here is to you, Lilian.
I remember its various empires and kingdoms. I remember its ancient city (of Edo). I remember it as home of some of the largest earthworks in the world. I remember one of its founders and first Ogiso (king of the sky), Ogiso Igodo, who reigned long and with influence and popularity.
I remember he was succeeded by his eldest son, Ere. I remember they used to call their land Igodomigodo; not sure if they still do. But, I remember the Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon now uses that as his sobriquet. By the way, where’s he?
I remember my encounter on live radio with him during BUSH HOUSE NIGERIA Abuja heyday. What an interview, that was. I remember many great figures of Edo. I remember Ewuare II, the 40th Oba of Benin Kingdom.
I remember Erediauwa, the 39th Oba of Benin kingdom and his first wife, Esther. I remember Victor Uwaifo. I remember Chief Gabriel Igbinedion whose son, Lucky, became governor (and for eight years) in 1999. Likewise, I remember John Odigie Oyegun and Oserheimen Osunbor and Adams Oshiomhole and, like him or hate him, Godwin Obaseki -the current political kid on the block.
As well, I remember Augustus Aikhomu and Tony Anenih and Solomon Arase. I remember Yvonne Jegede and Rashida Bello and Elizabeth Ativie. The way my mind works, I remember University of Benin, I remember Okada Airlines, I remember Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
For the new school, I remember Ijeoma Josephina Otabor. Stop wondering who that is, please. Learn to know people a little beyond the surface. That is your 27-year-old Phyna.
Edo State is too much, too rich, past and present. However, my dear good people of Edo, be calming down. You have so much bragging rights but, don’t you go throwing them in our faces. Or, we would be forced to remember Lawrence Anini et al.
No way! After all, which state is without black sheep; let them cast the first stone. Mine, Akwa Ibom, never points the finger. Akwaibomights are good, like that.
Back to Edo and to the present. I remember again Godwin Obaseki and Philip Shaibu. Not too long ago, both men unconsciously got this space dedicated(?) to them. The erstwhile two friends got a little penlashing the way they played their succession politics.
While one deployed what seemed a draconian style, the other came across as too ambitious and seemingly disloyal. Well, politics is like that. The bystander never knows for sure the volume of water that has passed under the bridge complete with the undercurrents. At the end of that phase, both men fought like … at the market.
Because all politics is not wholly local, even non-Benin people (as Edo people are called) across the world jumped in to have their say. Yes, things had since quieted but the vibrations and reverberations are still palpable. The world is meanwhile focused on Edo as it picks a new governor in two Saturdays. Please step forward the top three contenders: Dr Asue Ighodalo of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Monday Okpebholo of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olumide Akpata, esq. of Labour party (LP).
As an outsider, and even a PDP and Tinubu man, I never gave Dr Ighodalo any chance. Probably because of the very unnecessary political scuffle between Gov. Obaseki and his deputy, Mr Shaibu. But, all that changed the last fortnight. All politics is too fluid: changes happen on a per second basis.
Why did former governor, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, godfather of the APC governorship standard-bearer, descend so low against Gov. Obaseki and wife? I remember interviewing Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, then President of Nigeria Labour Congress, for three hours on live television in Uyo, a few years before he would run for governor, and all I want to forget now is how starkly Nigerians change once in power. I mean, Senator Oshiomhole cannot be the same Comrade Oshiomhole who terrorised President Olusegun Obasanjo, as he then was. How can a distinguished senator of a federal republic be so careless, so classless, so insensitive, so puerile, so ungodly, in speech, and publicly?
And, the Edo first Lady -Betsy- had the time to respond. She did not need to dignify those unsenatorial comedown verbals with such intimate details. Those who know knew that we heard nothing of what Sen. Oshiomhole thought he said. Mature people know never to contemplate let alone support mockery.
If there’s something Mrs. Obaseki or her husband said or did to instigate the comrade senator, it still doesn’t make it right that it is he who reacted and by mocking them. Mockery is satanic. Mockers are losers as we shall see in Edo on Saturday, the 21st. That is one.
Two, I recently mistakenly watched a video clip by Dr Asue Ighodalo, the PDP man for Edo governor. My, my, my. He sounds so like a governor. I do not want to start any war, but the man sounds really different and great and unique.
And, his pedigree makes him the man for the job. Educated in Nigeria and in London, he grew up in Ibadan with his parents who were both top civil servants. His mother was the first woman to be appointed Permanent Secretary in Nigeria in 1968. He is a partner in Banwo & Ighodalo, who are into corporate and commercial law practice in Nigeria (with offices in Abuja and Port Harcourt), founded on the 1st of February 1991.
The lawyer’s core practice areas are corporate finance, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, banking and securities, foreign investments and divestments, energy and natural resources, privatisation and project finance. In all of these areas, Asue possesses diverse transaction and regulatory experience. His firm is regarded not only as one of the leading corporate and commercial law firms in Nigeria but also as the leading law firm in capital markets as well as in mergers and acquisitions.
For this writer, the best part of Dr Ighodalo’s citation is the fact that he was born in Anua, about five minutes from Government House, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. That was on the 19th day of July in the year of our Lord 1959. He truly has everything not only to win on the 21st but also to build on the foundation that Gov. Obaseki has built on. God bless Edo state of Nigeria!WHOLLY
