EMPATHISING WITH PYO
Consequent to the aftermath of the APC primaries and the loss of PYO for the flag bearer position as the presidential candidate so many untoward remarks have been directed at the man who took the natural step to expand his horizons. But the man deserves our
empathy, not our anger. After becoming the VP what else would he have wished to become if not the president? ..... Governor of Ogun State? Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly? Chairman of Eti Osa Local Government? Member of the House of Rep? Member of Senate or Senate President? Attorney General of the Federation? Minister of Justice? Minister of the Federal Capital Territory? Any of these positions would have reduced his horizons from number two citizen to number less than two. The problem is that he did not climb up by himself, he was lifted up and unfortunately, he misconstrued his being up as his efforts and not that of his handlers. That's why he could, without remorse, contest with his main handler for the same position.
A very brilliant man with the power of location, I wonder why he could not infer that the game was up when a gale of stepping downs for his godfather was blowing on his face. He possibly would have become the darling of the APC primary if he had seized the last opportunity and stepped down. What a great soft landing on a Vita foam it would have been for him. Now that his master handler has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he is the Master of the Game. His lilliputian status ( no pun intended) in Nigerian politics has been so amplified. Amechi even proved he is far superior to him having emerged 2nd in the contest that is open to all. And why not? Rotimi is a seasoned and tested politician having been a Chief of Staff, a governor, chairman of governors, and a serving Minister. Amechi has a political structure that PYO does not have. Even his godson, Wike is a two-term governor. The lesson learnt from this is as Chinua Achebe has put it so vividly " those whose palm kernels were cracked for them by the benevolent spirits should not forget to be humble".
It is a lack of humility that has stripped our wonder boy half-naked in the full glare of the klieg lights. There is still time ahead anyway to repair the damage. Let him go back to his godfather just like the prodigal son in the Bible did and seek forgiveness.
I am sure the Jagaban of Borgu will forgive him for being the true father that he is. More than that he needs all the hands of his godsons, including his prodigal sons (I understand he has many) on the deck to sail the ship of his ambition to its destination safely. I wish him luck.
Prof. Lanre Adebayo