Political obscurantism, its victims

By Emmanuel Nicholas

It feels akin to the relentless quest for the unveiled beauty of women in the eighteenth century, an era shrouded in prudence and veiled modesty.

Yet, in this modern age, such innocence has been shed like the leaves of a fallen tree, as women now walk freely, naked as in the Garden of Eden, unencumbered by the shroud of concealment, embodying primordial purity and unrestrained liberty.

Politics in Nigeria resembles the delicate act of peeling an onion, layer upon layer, each shedding tears born of pain and frustration.

When one falls in this intricate dance, they absorb the bitter salt of their defeat; yet, when they triumph, they feast upon the sweet nectar of victory, dining in the luminous glow of fleeting triumph, basking in the illusion of lucidity.

Observers from distant vantage points judge this tumultuous arena out of context, blind to the truths hidden within its walls.

For when the political conclave convenes, doors are slammed shut, secrets sealed tight, leaving the common man exiled from the sacred chambers of decision, much like an archbishop forbidden from espionage within the hallowed halls of the Sistine Chapel, privileged knowledge reserved for the chosen, veiled from the gaze of the many.

Sometimes, people judge politics by the smoky haze it leaves behind, by the colour of its emissions, failing to see that the smoke, like fleeting shadows, does not reveal the true substance within.

They forget that the intentions behind political acts often lie concealed beneath layers of artifice, leading to hasty words and reckless actions, only to fall prey to the pitfalls laid within the labyrinth of political deception.

It is as if a floor slick with oil, glossy and deceptive, becomes a treacherous arena where many slip and slide, caught unawares by the false promise of a smooth surface.

Politics, in its guise, often presents itself as a path paved with gold, yet beneath lies a perilous route, where every step can lead to a fall, a slip into the abyss of disappointment and regret.

In the United States of America, many souls, caught in the fervor of fleeting triumph, leaped into jubilant celebration as the last proclamation remained unspoken, while CNN heralded Vice President Harris’s victory, hope shimmered in the air.

Yet, when the final declamation arrived, an announcement from the arbiter of the race, the world was struck with shock and disbelief.

In their bewilderment and disappointment, they cast blame upon her shoulders, whispering that sexism had thwarted her ascent as if the winds of injustice had conspired to dim her star.

Politics can be likened to a crystal ball, reflecting rays of light from the bulbs, yet these rays are never steady or firm until they extinguish; only then can one accurately discern the true direction of the illumination.

In the 1979 presidential election, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was more popular than Coca-Cola, yet Alhaji Shehu Shagari, a humble teacher often regarded as an underdog, was declared the winner, leaving the UPN’s Candidate to wail like lamenting prophets.

In politics, one must refrain from jumping to hasty conclusions, for in 1999, Atuekong Don Etiebet was the favoured candidate of the PDP, yet Obong Victor Attah emerged victorious and was duly elected.

Pope Benedict XVI became the first non-Italian pontiff in history, and Pope Francis gained grace and amnesty through his humility and mercy. Now, Pope Leo XIII has ascended the throne through the opening created by those prior events.

Nevertheless, one should never judge political outcomes as if they were conclaves, where decisions are made in secrecy of truth and divine intervention, because politics is a dead game, done with outright manipulation and masturbation of lies, and parade it like truth.

Contemplate the anguish etched into the soul of Hillary Clinton, whose destiny seemed sealed by the voice of the American electorate, declared victorious by the polls, her popular vote tally soaring to 65,853,514 souls.

Yet, amidst the roar of victory, the shadow of defeat cast its cold pall: President Trump, with 62,984,828 votes and a formidable 306 electoral college votes, consigned Secretary Clinton to the quiet chambers of political retirement, where dreams often fade like dying embers.

Those who foresaw Hillary’s triumph in 2016, whose visions danced like flames of hope, found their hopes doused in despair; many faced ruin, their coffers drained, their ambitions shattered.

Two fair ladies, once emboldened by prophecy, succumbed to despair, their houses exchanged for the final, irreversible gamble, succumbing to the cruel hand of fate and false hope.

Now, the year 2027 beckons with its promises and prophecies. Some have seen visions, others heard voices foretelling that you shall ascend to the helm of governance, yet beware, recall the tumult of 2023, when false prophets spun tales so thick with the deception that the very air seemed heavy with lies.

Never before had prophecy been so cloaked in falsehood, so woven with deceit.

Today, many drown in debt, their pockets emptied by trusting the siren song of false visions, loaned beyond their means, their hopes traded for illusions.

Meanwhile, the false prophets, smiling with greedy glee, count their gains, while many politicians lie wounded in hospitals, their hearts burdened by the relentless pressure of shattered dreams and mounting hypertension.

As Senator Godswill Akpabio once counselled, when a prophet claims that you shall be the next governor, ask him, which year? Lest you fall prey to the sweet, venomous words of false seers, their promises as hollow as the wind.

Politics, dear soul, is likened to an unrefined well of crude oil, beneath the surface lie natural gas and impurities, hidden yet potent. Do not be deceived by seismic reports or superficial signs; often, beneath the surface, greater truths await discovery, waiting to be unveiled with patience and discernment.

In light of Governor Umo Eno’s adage concerning Ibom Air and Air Peace, a silent exodus has transpired, with few individuals discreetly abandoning the People’s Democratic Party to align themselves with the All Progressives Congress within their respective wards.

They have resolved to position themselves among the vanguard, aspiring to secure more advantageous offices. Yet, when Pastor Umo Eno chose not to defect, he unwittingly became ensnared in the web of political desperation.

Governor Umo Eno, PhD, is not a desperate politician; he believes that what he is today is from God, and he won’t take any step without divine direction. Therefore, don’t interpret the proverb to suit your heart’s desire.

Let not the words of a politician’s proverb be the sole measure of their character, for while you may grasp the essence of their context, the true intent may elude your understanding. Politics, after all, is akin to an elusive spirit, discernible only to the grandmasters who navigate its intricate dance.