Of Cowards, Dokpesi & Politics

Of Cowards, Dokpesi & Politics
By Sam Onimisi
If the recent alarm raised by High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is anything to be taken seriously, he should by now be going about in disguise for fear of being kidnapped by his Niger-Delta brethren. But as the Director-General of General Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organization, Dokpesi cannot hide, given his highly visible position both in his present role and as the Chairman and chief executive of the high profile African Independent Television, A.I.T. It is not to be assumed that the highly educated and ever mobile Marine Engineer do not know that heading a partisan campaign team is a risky job. If he does, then it may be assumed that he has calculated the cost before taking up the job. Or are you saying he did not?
If he did, then the alarm he raised could be a wolf – cry which should be expected to be repeated if it is to achieve the desired effect. Crying wolf where there is none is an old tactic often employed by weaklings so as to be left alone to their own devices or to attract an otherwise undeserved sympathy and attention. Sometimes it succeeds and at other times it fails. But just before we go further, let us examine the gist of the alarm. Some socio-cultural groups of Niger Delta were irked that one of their own took up the job of Babangida’s Campaign Manager; a job which entails railing against opponents of his boss – and President Goodluck Jonathan is one of them. Some former militants also threaten to declare him persona grata for the same reason. The issue here is not who is right or wrong, or what is good or bad.
In politics as in other competitive avocations, some elements of scare tactics is allowed if only to unsettle your opponent or competitor for a moment. Dr. Dopkesi had just taken up the job and has not demonstrated any eloquence on the campaign podium as to wrong anyone. I am not sure if he is of the grandiloquent hue, but as a media guru, you must grant him the right to premeditated or unsolicited grandstanding, if only in his new job. The game has just started and more serious tactics will be employed by the contestants to advance their interest and so, High Chief Dokpesi is better advised to brace up to the reality of the risk-contents of his job.
I do not know of anytime in the history of election campaign in Nigeria when the job was a rosy one, even if it will be cozy by the end of it. It is a job that is not cut out for lilly-livered people but one for those who can match or mix their brain and brawn for expected brawls. So why is Dr. Dokpesi complaining so early in the day? Is his fear real? If so, he deserves the listening ears of the security agencies that must provide security for him and others in similar situation. If not, then he needs to throw in the towel so his master can employ a more courageous Campaign Manager. The rough turf of election campaign is a terrain designed for lion-hearted souls and all cowards often advise themselves to give it a wide berth. That being so, I cannot pretend to be advising High Chief Dokpesi, he could do so without any prodding.
Campaign Strategy is a myriad of tactics which includes but not limited to scarecrow, wolf-cry, grandstanding and red-herring. They are meant to be a distraction or as a misleading clue against the opponent. It is safe at this moment to attribute Dr. Dokpesi’s alarm as a strategy of red-herring if he continues in the job. In which case, he will need some advice on what to expect as time goes on. Advising a High Chief, doctorate degree holder and Chief executive of a broad casting conglomerate? Yes, for we all need advice at one point or the other and for one reason or another, even if it is not solicited. And it is about his product.
General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is a hard sell even if he is to be marketed by an experienced professional campaigner. Any Nigerian of 25 years of age and above knows that he was our military president for eight years. Many have not forgotten landmark disasters that happened during his tenure. Some remember him as Maradona, a name given to him by the Peoples’ Press for his dribbling acumen. Others remember him for his Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP which sapped life out of Nigerians and wiped out her middle-class. The Press still celebrates the anniversary of the death of their illustrious colleague in Dele Giwa who was parcel-bombed in his sitting room through the emissary of the ‘commander-in-chief’ in 1986. Many politicians in 1991/92 were banned, un-banned and re-banned almost at the same time, many of who were friends or colleague of IBB.
Most democrats acknowledge him as the annular-in-chief for conducting the freest election so far and for no rational reason, annul it to the consternation of Nigerians. Today the annulment is marked as ‘June 12’ which is made a democracy day in Lagos State. His closest friends, Gen. Mamman Vatsa and M.K.O. Abiola both of blessed memory would probably wish to resurrect if only to educate us on how ‘nice’ IBB was to them. Then Justice Oputa Panel had some sour story to tell us on or about Dr. Dokpesi’s boss. The Mbanefo Panel also sang about a 12 billion Gulf War oil money that was frittered away by Candidate Babangida. Some street urchins were even celebrating him as International Baban Barawo, you remember?
There is something in a name such that once it sticks; it becomes more real as an alias than the original name. Gen. Ibrahim Babangida once described himself as an evil genius, and ever since, many delight themselves in acknowledging him as such. This is the product High Chief Dokpesi has elected to sell or market. The qualities of his product are so much in public domain and human memory that highfalutin slogans and advertorials cannot whitewash. If Babangida’s shadows are properly documented, no credentials could be more intimidating, more excruciating and most difficult to sell than Dokpesi’s client or product. If this is the case – and I am eager to be contradicted – will High Chief Dr. Dokpesi spare the rest of us the pain of his wolf-cry and red-herring?