[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Sign-in] [Mail] [Setup] [Help]
Status: Not Logged In; Sign In
|
(s)Elections See other (s)Elections Articles Title: Nigeria: Barack Obama Nigeria: Barack Obama Vanguard (Lagos) 8 June 2008 Kola Animasun BARACK Obama. Nobody now asks who he is. He has broken the barrier of our consciousness and now resides there. He was not altogether unknown. He has been known in the confines of the United States as senator; damned good lawyer and a well-educated citizen. Now he stamped most forcefully into the political history of the most powerful democracy in the world. He has stopped to be a byline. Perhaps, at 46, he typifies what the world thinks and what the world wants as its rulers. Clinton came into the Presidency of the United States at about the age that Obama will, if he wins the Presidency. But Obama's case is different. He is the first coloured man to win the presidential primary of any major party. He will be the first coloured man if he wins the Presidency. And that will be history. It clearly shows that America knows her mind and would give anybody the chance at the highest level, regardless. Obama has dealt the last vestiges of racism its punchiest blows. Of course, she is still reeling and let us hope that it would not be a case of being punch-drunk but one of a deadly blow. For good. It has been a stormy primary: Sometimes dirty in places. Obama, however, discounted the hit beneath the belt and played it with some decency. Those who resented him, he ignored and wooed them. It is fair to say that both contenders - Hillary Rodham Clinton and himself - were marvelous and in spite of accidents of language here, there and yonder - played according to the rules. Now that the chicken has come home to roost, Americans have chosen the better of its democratic best. And Clinton was not worsted. She manifested the American penchant and gave her best. She underwent the rigour of election tours and campaigns. Till the end, Hillary did not show she was worse for tears. They never say die and she fought to the last in South Dakota. The results showed the amount of work one has put in. As I write this, there is no confirmation that Hillary had been offered or accepted the vice-presidential slot of the Democratic presidential ticket. But it will be a wonderful combination and a winning one. Both have dynamism and character and will complement each other. Simply because Hillary would pull the women's votes across the board just as it has been demonstrated that Obama has crashed the racial barrier. Come November, their chances are very, very bright. Particularly against the background of war and economic crises. Usually, people are clamouring for change. In the opening gambit of his campaign, Obama said: We came together as Democrats, as Republicans, and Independents, to stand up and say we are one nation, we are one people and our time for change has come." And they may have the change against the background of Afghanistan and Israel. I would keep my fingers crossed. Even if some are skeptical that a blackman cannot mount the Presidency of the United States. Justice delayed is justice denied IT is well over a year since elections have been held. It is impossible to contemplate how much more of our hard earned funds have gone into the re-defining of elections. Judges have been appointed into tribunals and the counsel are smiling to the banks. The losers are the losers at the election. I do not know how counsel to the respondents are paid but I guess the bills are picked up by the exchequer which means by you and I. It may be a below the line account but surely it does not come from the personal pockets of the respondents. The governors currently wear the crown and the crown settles the bill. Therefore, it does not matter, for the respondent, how long it takes. A year has gone in a tenure of four years and only God knows how much more longer it will take. For a governor that may eventually lose, the many months in power is a bonus. In Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi has been waiting in the wings; in Osun, Rauf Aregbesola has been roaring to go for these many months. In Ondo State, Segun Agagu is in government despite Segun Mimiko's impatience; Ibadan has been decided at the first election tribunal and the Biola Ajimobi appeal is inching its way to the Court of Appeal. There must be a way of fast-tracking election petitions to spare litigants the agony of going through the process painlessly and on time. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: All (#0)
I am just in awe and shocked beyond expression at this reporter's obvious talents.
#2. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#1)
figures... Anyone that has found their Savior most likely would be in awe when the sun comes up.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest |
||
|
[Home]
[Headlines]
[Latest Articles]
[Latest Comments]
[Post]
[Sign-in]
[Mail]
[Setup]
[Help]
|
||