A former Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, on Tuesday said the utterances of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Dr. Doyin Okukpe are worsening President Goodluck Jonathan’s chances of winning the forthcoming election.
This was even as Tsav kicked against the insults that had been repeatedly hurled at former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he described as a war hero and two time president of the Nigeria, thus deserving the greatest of respect.
Tsav said: “I’m am sure if Mr. President had handled his re-election with maturity, decorum and in a more civilised manner, void of brazen insults and desperation, maybe things could have been better for him.
“All these visits and gallivanting wouldn’t have been necessary.
“People like Ayo Fayose, Fani-Kayode, Okupe and Madam Trouble are worsening the chances of Mr. President and further puncturing the leaking umbrella.
“Why do human beings forget so soon?
“Why do politicians tell lies?
“Is politics a matter of life and death?
“Some politicians prefer to live their lives on daily basis.
“They don’t think of tomorrow.
“To such politicians, the life of today is more exacting, so they need not bother of tomorrow.”
Tsav said he was disappointed that some of those calling Obasanjo names such as motor park tout were made by him.
He noted that during the 2011 elections, Obasanjo personally led the election campaign for President Jonathan and transversed the whole country to canvas for votes for him against the wishes of some of his Ijaw kinsmen.
He added: “And what did OBJ get in return?
“Abuses and name calling.
“Names like motor park tout by the same man who worked hard to bring him to limelight.
“Worse still, a Yoruba man whom OBJ rescued in the UK as a cab driver and from drug addiction and brought to political limelight is today in the forefront in abusing and disparaging OBJ.”
Tsav stressed that all those abusing Obasanjo today are his tribesmen.
He wondered why these people continue to abuse and insult him, adding that Obasanjo remains a civil war hero, two time Head of State and an elder statesman per excellence.
Describing Nigeria’s brand of politics as clumsy and dirty, Tsav said the allegation of the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), that Jonathan spent five days in Lagos visiting Yoruba and other leaders and doling out money in hard currency to them and canvassing for their votes should not be swept under the carpet.
Tsav said similar visits were made to Yoruba obas and chiefs in the western states.
Tsav queried: “Does this not constitute corruption or is it generosity or charity?
“Certainly, a government, which claims to be fighting corruption, cannot engage in such dishonest and extravagant act occasioned by desperation in a bid to win elections by the misuse of our commonwealth.
“Did the President visit Chibok even for a minute?
“Mr. President’s handlers and his Ijaw tribesmen have not done a good job for him.
“Rather than canvass for votes for Mr. President, his handlers went down town to abuse and threaten vote catchers, while his Ijaw tribesmen threatened war if Nigerians failed to reelect Jonathan as if it is by force.
“The irony of these senseless and futile threats is that Jonathan said nothing in condemnation of the threats, apparently because these attack dogs and miscreants are speaking the mind of Mr. President.”