A viral video made the rounds recently, of the APC presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who appeared to have a wet stain on his kaftan/babaringa while on a consultative visit to some Obas in Ijebu Ode, South West Nigeria. While some people claimed he had wet himself with urine, others said his pampers was loose. Someone said he was suffering from prostate enlargement. This diagnosis was made from a video that lasted less than 3 minutes! For the next few days, Tinubu was subjected to intense ridicule and mockery on social media.
Of course, Tinubu’s campaign team refuted the images as doctored but the online mob wouldn’t have it. For them, Tinubu wet himself, QED. Any other video or images contrary to this notion must have been edited. Could there be another reason why he had a wet stain other than being incontinent of urine, such as sitting on a wet surface? No way! He wet himself. Definitely he has an enlarged prostate and is keeping it from Nigerians.
As expected, the usual names, like Reno, Deji, Sowore and Mayegun, led the onslaught. But I also observed that many Igbo handles had a field day. And that is my major concern. I understand that the country is deeply divided along ethnic lines as we approach the 2023 general elections but I fail to understand what the Igbos stand to gain from divisive politics at this time. For me, whether Tinubu wet himself or not, or whether he has an enlarged prostate or not, should not be a topic the Igbos should linger on for too long. Tinubu would never withdraw from the race because his prostate is enlarged (if indeed it really is in reality).
Being the most politically disadvantaged geopolitical zone in the country owing to its comparatively low population, one would expect that what you lose in political number, you gain in political wit. I don’t see the political tact in mudslinging an opponent whose political capital is probably greater than three-quarters of the whole south-east zone’s combined. For the records, I am against a Tinubu presidency, and would rather abstain from voting if he is the only candidate on the ballot. But I am sensible enough to know that playing gutter politics at this time can only be detrimental for the chances of an Igbo presidency.
Pushing that story with so much venom and malice will only serve to draw the ire of the Yorubas whom the Igbos desperately need their votes. There are still some conscientious Yorubas who believe in zoning and agree that a south-easterner should be the next president. Those are the votes to protect vigorously. The quest for an Igbo presidency can never be won by burning bridges.
While it is perfectly alright to scrutinize any candidate who aspires for the highest office in the land, including inquiring about his/her source of wealth, age, educational qualifications and even health status, such vile attempts at cancelling a candidate are condemnable and unproductive. Apparently lessons have not been learnt about the futility of such an approach in Nigeria’s politics. Not after what we encountered with Buhari, or should I say Jubril.
If only the Igbos will concentrate on marketing Peter Obi (or any other candidate from the south east they deem fit enough). The tactics of maligning another candidate by spreading malicious news can only backfire. You lose votes that would otherwise have accrued to your candidate, and the candidate you’re maligning gains sympathy votes.
There is still a chance that an Igbo man will rule the country in 2023, a slim one at best. But gutter-sniping and politics of hatred will be most detrimental to the Igbos than any other political bloc.