In Abia State, the opposition gubernatorial candidates are warming up for the honour of loosing gallantly.
Politics is war by other means. In every battle, there is always a price. It is either you win, or you lose. Great warriors, either in politics or on the battlefield, fight to the finish. They stand their ground until it is over
This is the spirit of political combatants. They do not, no matter the pressure, suddenly throw in the towel. Not even when failure is imminent or quite glaring. So do not expect opposition elements like Eric Opah of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Kelechi Anosike of the Peoples Democratic Party and the other clowns to give up and suddenly surrender. They must fight to the end and lose gallantly. There is honour in losing gallantly.
If not for the allure of this honour, what else could have kept them on the beat after listening to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s audacious and affirmative declaration of the Abia 2027 governorship victory on Channels Television?
When the bold and popular host of Politics Today, Seun Okinbaloye, threw the question: ‘Do you see Alex Otti returning’? Kalu hollered, with awe-inspiring confidence, ‘Yes’. Seun threw his query again, this time in the manner of a cross-examining lawyer to a witness in the dock: ‘Alex Otti will win the Governorship’? Kalu was more audacious. ‘Yes’!
Anyone schooled in the wily ways of Nigerian politics and who has followed Kalu’s political trajectory will accept that Kalu is among the sacred Tribunes and forebears who have the privilege of the crystal ball of Nigerian politics. They are the meteorologist of power who interpret the wind and weather of Nigerian politics… and they forecast accurately.
Indeed, Kalu’s announcement of the crystal ball of Abia 2027 should have elicited a humble surrender. Kalu went beyond responding to a question to announcing, in unmistakable terms, the victory of the Abia State 2027 gubernatorial election. He did not speak like someone making a conjecture or a projection; neither did he speak in the language of prophecy. He spoke an ex cathedra fiat: ‘Yes’! ‘Yes’!! ‘Yes’!!! ‘Yes’!!!!. Four audacious and valiant ‘Yes’. He sealed the declaration with a firm and stern countenance.
Any discerning opposition candidate should have staged a gradual retreat after listening to Kalu. But, no. This is not the way of battle. There is an honour to be won, a trophy to flaunt. The honour of losing gallantly. So fight, they must fight.
Adindu writes from Umuahia. Abia State capital
