By Abbati Bako
The incoherent and incogent “10 Reasons Osinbajo Will Ignite a Religious Civil War” if elected to be President of Nigeria has surprised many Nigerians especially the academics, political scientists and analysts. Because the Professor of Journalism and Communication has deplorably failed to convince Nigerians beyond reasonable doubt that 2023 Osinbajo’s Government will ignite a religious war in the country.
Me Farooq Kperogi is a Professor of Journalism and Communication, he is, therefore, not an expert in Political Strategy and Communication so understandably, he lacks the knowledge on how to tailor political message to be sent to a particular target audience.
And if the message reaches the political and economic stakeholders (“Politics is a game of Elites” as observed by Professor Albena Azmanova, Kent, UK, 2010) the nation’s stakeholders and intellectuals will try to assess and analyze the message based on its merit and demerit. Hence, this writing understands that the message written by Professor of Journalism and Communication, Farooq Kperogi, will not be seen as a hindrance to the contest of presidential position of Professor Yemi Osinbajo come next year’s (2023) election. This is because there is no sign (whatever) that VP Yemi Osinbajo has any religious egocentrism or bigotry against any religion or regionalistic tendency against any part of the country. And luckily enough, he is from the South Western Region of Nigeria which is his party APC’s soft theorem area with millions of supporters.
Political Strategy and Communication is a specialized field or a branch of Political Science that someone needs to be trained in to understand the right message to send to political stakeholders or to the common voters.
One may ask; is Farooq Kperogi’s message targeted to the elites, common voters or both? Because there is a huge difference between the message to send to the elites/stakeholders and the message to send to the common voters. This writing understands that the message sent by Professor Farooq Kperogi to black paint Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was targeted for the elites or political stakeholders to not accept the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, as the next President of Nigeria in the coming Presidential election of Nigeria in 2023.
Religion in Nigeria is a very sensitive and explosive topic, which is why Mr Kperogi chose it as a weapon of attack. The question to ask Farooq Kperogi, therefore, is what definitive sign has he seen that Yemi Osinbajo as the President of Nigeria will ignite a religious war? Has he (Osinbajo) ever shown any sign that he is a religious bigot? Has Yemi Osinbajo ever made any statement that portrays he is a fanatic Christian? Has Yemi Osinbajo ever criticized Muslims or Islam? Most probably the Professor of Journalism Farooq Kperogi has failed to understand that the Law Professor, Yemi Osinbajo, is a lover of peace and unity of Nigeria. He has never slandered Muslims/Islam. He has never shown any negative sign against anybody who is a Muslim working under his office for the past seven years as the Vice President of Nigeria. He has been in law practice for decades and has never had a history of religious egocentrism or bigotry.
ALSO READ: ‘Christianization’: Who is bankrolling hatchet job on Osinbajo?
In Islam, the most important thing for a leader is to be fair and just in his leadership. Our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) says that “Justice and fairness in leadership by the non-Muslim leader is better than the leadership without fairness and justice by a Muslim leader.” This means that the most important point in leadership even in Islam is for the leader to show fairness and justice towards the led.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo has been tested for the past seven years at the Villa and has never shown any religious differences in statement or actions amongst Nigerians whatsoever.
VP Yemi Osinbajo is an intellectual, Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He has been tested and trusted by his boss (President Muhammadu Buhari) several times both when he is in Nigeria or abroad. There has never been any rift or misunderstanding between the President and his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is a sincere, loyal, patriotic, and knowledgeable leader who is not afraid of storms. Professor Yemi Osinbajo is a leader to be trusted with Nigeria and Nigerians. He has gathered vast experience over the years and all he needs is to get the chance to make Nigeria great again.
• Abbati Bako, psc, bsis, UK
Political Strategy and Communication Analyst and Consultant, International Political Resource Center.
