The Ibadan summit, opposition politics and 2027, By Reuben Abati

“What other country do you think I could possibly be talking about? Nigeria, of course.”

Ibadan summit of opposition parties. “What a country?

“Baba Gbeborun. Community Radio! O ya, shoot. I am all ears.”

“What my eyes have seen, what my ears have heard, my mouth cannot tell.”

“Leave that one. Tell me. There is no matter so weighty that it cannot be dissected with the knife of the human mouth.”

“I saw a report from Kano. It was a video. A political rally event.”

“So? This is the season of political campaigns.”

“I saw women in Kano, carrying banners, dancing, and displaying panties, red panties that they had been given at an event.”

“Red panties? How? As in female underwear? What has that got to do with politics? They are no longer sharing bags of rice? It is now female underwear? What are the women supposed to do with that?”

“Wear the panties, of course. And you know the picture of the state Governor was boldly printed on the garments. I do not know how a woman will go home to her husband, wearing an underwear that has another man’s face boldly printed on it.”

“This must be some kind of comedy. Too intimate. A joke carried too far. An invasion of privacy. But I thought they had the Hisbah in Kano. Asking a woman to wear such a branded underwear could result in issues in many relationships. I wonder who will take that. And why a red underwear? Sounds like someone is trying to mock the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano politics. From red caps to red panties! Politicians and their many games.”

“Nigerian politicians. I understand the underwear was distributed by supporters of the state Governor across the entire state. The Governor is now in the APC. The idea is that even when the women go to bed, they will think about the APC.”

“You must be kidding me. But this is the thing about the political campaign season. Plenty of entertainment. Africans have a way of making a joke out of everything. I won’t be surprised if tomorrow, another politician comes up with the idea of distributing sanitary pads, brassieres, wigs, make up kits. Women may not be well represented in Nigerian elective positions but they are the ones who turn out in large numbers to vote on election day. This must be a year of fun. Elections. Campaigns, and then in June and July, the World Cup. I am going to order a popcorn machine.”

“Hey, hey guys. Both of you are getting it wrong. I was busy on my phone. Stop dragging the Governor into it. What I hear is that Governor Abba Yusuf has since condemned the display of women’s undergarments as disgraceful and contrary to the state’s values. He had nothing to do with it. The undergarments were distributed to mock Dr Musa Kwankwaso. They called it Tsula pants. A stunt by overzealous youths trying to heat up Kano politics.”

“This is why I always double-check whatever I see or hear this political season. You know, it was actually a female APC member that distributed the panties. She has since apologised for her provocative political conduct.”

“The Kano Governor is a decent man.”

“I don’t take sides. I have no opinion on that. The thing is that whatever people choose to do in the name of politics should be seen to be decent, conscience-led and reasonable. When the political season is over, we should still have a country.”

“I agree. Nigeria First. This country is bigger than all of us. Which is why I was surprised when the Ibadan Summit of opposition leaders ended up with Governor Seyi Makinde threatening the APC that they should remember that “Operation We tie’ started in Ibadan, which became the Wild Wild West in 1964/1965, often cited as one of the incidents that led to the collapse of the First Republic.”

“No. That was not a threat. It was a word of caution. A metaphor. A reminder.”

“I have a problem with it. Look at how that single statement has heated up the entire polity. Have you read the statement by Felix Morka, the APC spokesperson? He practically called Makinde an architect of violence, an unworthy governor, an anarchist inciting rage and lawlessness. Sunday Dare dismissed the entire opposition summit in Ibadan as an opportunistic alliance; a collection of recycled politicians standing on sinking ground, and destined to fail. Festus Keyamo has dismissed those who gathered at that event as a bunch of confused people.”

“And what was Mr Bayo’s comment? And Daniel Bwala?”

“What do you expect them to say? They have all said what they have to say as vigorously as possible. But I insist that I do not think Makinde’s comment should be interpreted the way they have. I have even heard one or two snide comments that Makinde may be a Governor today, but he was not yet born at the time of the “Operation We tie” – the blow out in Western Nigeria – that he is talking about. A legacy of violence, arson and chaos.”

“But that is a fact. Makinde did not witness that history.”

“It is an irrelevant fact. Historians do not necessarily have to live in the moment. Those who fail to learn from the lessons of history are bound to repeat it, first as a tragedy and then as a farce. Karl Marx. George Santayana. Winston Churchill. Mark Twain.”

“Get to your point. I don’t have the time for a lecture. Must you turn everything into a lecture?”

“History is important. Makinde’s statement is a warning with its roots in history. In the Federal elections of 1965, the Federal Government, then in Lagos thought it could overwhelm the opposition in the regions and impose the Federal will. This was resisted in the South West. Ibadan at that time was the centre of opposition politics. Chief Samuel Akintola vs. Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Federal vs. Action Group. What followed was a blow out after the sham Federal elections. What Makinde is simply saying is that the APC must learn from the lessons of history. I think all politicians must listen. There were other episodes too in more recent history.”

“Now you are giving a lecture.”

“Let me just say this. In 1983, the ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) tried to capture Ondo state by all means. Remember the Omoboriowo and Ajasin saga. The state descended into chaos. We witnessed the failure of Federal Might. The people revolted. They burnt down houses and human beings. Ondo State became what Mr. Dare Babarinsa calls “A House of War” in a book of the same title. He was a correspondent for the National Concord at the time. His book on the crisis is a truthful, eyewitness account. President Tinubu may want the APC to win in all the South West states in the 2027 elections, but it is not always easy to manipulate the South West. Yoruba people can be treacherous. There is danger in one-party domination, and the suppression of the opposition.”

“Hey, Oga, speak for yourself.”