Osinbajo and the Showbiz Campaign

Political Notes

Let’s just say the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), is fast learning the art of politics and interestingly, the way of his people. This, of course, has become imperative in view of the task ahead. Obviously, there is no time for anyone to learn on the job, either in the realm of politics or governance. As such, for those who can’t hit the ground running, the turf is not for them.

This, perhaps, is why Osinbajo has been visibly active lately, leading the presidential campaign in a fashion that seems to catch the fancy of this age. If he is not hopping on a BRT bus (not the popular Molue) ostensibly to campaign, he is stopping by at The Palm, Lekki (not Balogun or Tejuosho market) to talk about the vision that is about to birth in the annals of the body polity.

Interestingly, much as the idea looks and sounds good, especially that it appears to fit into the expectations of this age, it still does not wear the reality and somber picture it is intended for. The reason for this is commonsense: neither time nor chance happened to any of those. It was a carefully orchestrated propaganda aimed at eliciting empathy.

Just about four years ago, a certain Dr. Goodluck Jonathan played up a similar narrative – told of how he had no shoes and became president of Africa’s most populous nation by sheer providence. Quite expectedly, he made it through as he was overwhelmingly voted for in that election. The story worked magic. But can such a narrative fly again with the same person let alone another individual in the name of change? That’s a puzzle for you to solve. 

Osinbajo is brilliant, of a sound mind and evidently intelligent. But he obviously can do more than the acting that seems to now typify his campaign for obvious re-registration into the public’s consciousness. Political campaign is not the same as showbiz. He should please get more serious and not think the electorate is a circus show crowd.

It is trite to ponder if he ever deemed it fit before and even after leaving office to step into the ordinary man’s arena for whatever reasons.  Therefore, it is evident that he is doing it now for a reason and even if it is so, he still should not shove it down the throat of the people as if the public space is a waiting dumpsite for all manners of garbage each election year. A Professor Osinbajo can do better, certainly!