Last year, Nollywood
actor, Samuel Ajibola released an episode of his web series, Dele Issues,
starring Nigeria’s former President, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo.
The episode titled Dele for President, shows
Dele in a hilarious meeting with Obasanjo, who has come to draft him into the
2019 presidential race. Obasanjo’s declaration of support for Dele causes Dele
to jump about and dance with joy, emitting guttural animal noises. Dr. Olusegun
Obasanjo in Dele Issues The drama Having entered Dele’s abstract presidential
villa in his absence, former president of Nigeria, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo sits
there, waiting for Mr. Dele. Soon, Dele arrives (with a supposedly Obasanjo’s
aide) and finds Obasanjo sitting and waiting for him. Seized by the excitement
that former President Obasanjo is waiting for him, Dele screams: “Eeeeeh! Baba!
Eeeeeeh! Good morning Baba, good afternoon, Baba. Good evening, Baba! Even good night sef!”
Whichever one, make e just be good – good morning, good afternoon, good
evening, good night – make e just be good,” Obasanjo answers. “Baba, this man
(pointing at the aide) said that you are looking for me. Baba I hope there is
no problem?” “Adele! Problem ke? Yes, I de look for you. People come to me and
they say (who is going to be) president for 2019? And I say, of all the young
people I know, Dele is the most qualified.” “Eeeh! Baba! Me? President?” Dele
screams. “Yes. You, president. The people wey don be president, they better
pass you? You never hear say France get a 39-year old as president? That one, e
better pass you?” Baba asks Dele. “Yeeeh! Aaaaaah! Ngriiiiih!” Dele coos,
prattles, and jumps up and down with excitement. “But wait o. for where I go
see money to do campaign and everything?” “Don’t worry. You no go spend money
like drunken sailor as people de spend money before; only small money for the
administration of your campaign. That one, we can get. Dele, you have all the
attributes that the young people of this country want in a president.” “Yeeeh!
Aaaaaah! Ngriiiiih!” Dele chokes with more excitement, and begins to chant:
“Dele for president! Dele for President! Dele for president!” “Dele, me, I go
go out to campaign for you.” “Eeeeeh! Baba!” “Not only are we going to raise
money, but I will also go out and campaign for you. Dele for president!”
Obasanjo hails him. “Dele for president! Dele for president! Heeeeh!” Dele
continues the chant…. “President Dele!” “Yes sir!” “President Dele! How does
that sound?” Obasanjo asks. “Good! Dele for president! Dele for president! Dele
for president…!” Then suddenly, Dele wakes up from sleep and realises he had
been dreaming! The interpretations Full of humour and wit, this drama is
instructive in quite a number of ways. It seems predictive of the type of
change looming in Aso Rock in 2019. It could also be interpreted to mirror the
mirage which young people’s hope of capturing political power in Nigeria has
come to be.
The project, however, is a joint initiative
of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Youth Development Centre, Samuel
Ajibola Foundation, and Cream Entertainment, aimed at encouraging youth
participation in politics. It encourages
young people to register as card-carrying members of any political party.
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