It is quite a long time since the United States saw off a Vice President, Spiro Agnew, who was next in rank to self dismissed President Richard Nixon. Agnew had joined Nixon to get elected as Republican President in 1968, after losing eight years earlier to his younger Democratic President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Therefore, when Nixon won the presidential election in 1968, a peaceful tenure was widely anticipated.
Unfortunately, Vice President Agnew did not seem to be part of that calculation, or at least, so he proved throughout his tenure as VP, a post he quit suddenly, mainly to avoid removal from office for alleged tax offences. Prior to that, for over four years, Vice President Agnew proved to be a loose cannon, a reputation which constantly put him in confrontation with the media at home and abroad. Through the press, Agnew’s sparring partners were critics in America and Europe. Whatever gave the man the impression he could win. When eventually his political fortunes came crashing, it was like rolling down the hill. Regretfully, following in the footsteps of Spiro Agnew is Nigeria’s Kashim Shettima, vice presidential candidate on the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the 2023 election. Major differences are clear. Shettima has no criminal past for tax fraud and he is unlikely to be so faulted even if elected vice president. Furthermore, Shettima, unlike Agnew, is yet to get elected VP. The differences end there.
Agnew got elected before changing into battle gear against students, rival politicians and the media, especially in the United States. Not even the Muslim-Muslim ticket controversy of the APC would justify Shettima’s vicious attacks on fellow politicians and the media. If Agnew was his decent self till the Republican party won the American presidential election in 1968 before going on the rampage, the ex-VP (Agnew) calculated rightly that, in politics, the deed is not done until it is done. That is the badly needed orientation his party should instill in Shettima.
Last time, Shettima took it on himself to harshly and rudely talk down on everybody, rival politicians, critics, dissident fellow party members and, of course, their whipping boy, the media, all on the raging controversy on the Muslim-Muslim ticket, at the centre of which he stands. The manner the man outpoured himself virtually without restraint last time gave the impression he (Shettima) was talking down on his boys, if not his slaves. If that performance came from any other man, there might be some understanding that he was under pressure. From the position of a senator and ex-governor of Borno State where he might have been used to “anything goes” in giving it to the electorate, Shettima must grow up to the fact that he is seeking the favour of the larger Nigerian voters. Surely, not serfs. An applicant (who Shettima is) does not dictate to the prospective employer how or on what subject to be interviewed.
It all began even before he was selected as a running mate of his party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. Whether for unknown reason(s) or seeking to be noticed for preference as the eventual running mate, Shettima tore down Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Reminded that, in addition to being the second citizen in the country, his victim was also a professor of Law, Shettima was even more unrepentant by saying even in that status, he (Osinbajo) should be selling ice cream rather than getting involved in politics. Coming from a product of university education in Nigeria clearly shows our brand of modern intellectual development. Hence, even his party hierarchy apparently ordered him to apologise to Vice President Osinbajo
Does that portend any change in Shettima? Again, for unknown reasons, the same man (Shettima) descended on Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, with the claim that the former Anambra governor could never go beyond being President of Igboland. Shettima is either beyond redemption on ethnic matters or should not be reckoned with. For the same man to be arrogantly dictating to Nigerians, especially the press, to discuss issues instead of Muslim-Muslim ticket, is simply laughable. He was just expressing a totally unrighteous indignation.
The Muslim-Muslim ticket was introduced into Nigerian politics by politicians. Accordingly, there are pros and cons, whether the idea is tolerable or not. What is more, politicians can and will never be allowed to dictate the course of the campaigns. If they don’t want it, they should not introduce it into the contest. Otherwise, contestants should be ready to put across their story for thorough debate.
Loose cannons? Spiro Agnew knew better if later.
Sierra Leone boils
It is always difficult and perhaps impossible to make any distinction among African leaders in matters of suppression of citizens’ right to fundamentals of life. As in Nigeria, so it is in Sierra Leone where, this week, the showdown took place between protesters in many parts of the country and brutal policemen. It was just another aspect of similarities between Nigeria and this West African country. As Fela Anikulapo-Kuti would put it, “Cancelled elections, e deh, army intrusion into politics, e deh, civil war nko? E deh. Corruption nko? E deh. Ethnic hegemony? E deh. Poverty nko? E deh.”
In 1967, a tattered section of the army in Sierra Leone tried to keep defeated Prime Minister Albert Margai in office but there was a counter-coup, which installed the actual election winner Siaka Stevens in office. He proved just another African leader with all the shortcomings. Little wonder the country is still reeling under past upheavals, which included at least two military rules. Public protests again broke out this week, resulting in fatal casualties among the protesters and brutal policemen. Sierra Leonians were protesting (among others) against police brutality, corruption in government and high cost of living. It was possible for the violence to be avoided but that would be un-African, as anarchists always encourage governments in Africa to resist changes or even grant concessions.