Opinion: After Mao’s recent rants – I understand why the DP Block went nowhere

Yesterday on Twitter, Democratic Party (DP) Party President Norbert Mao went on a rampage in defence of Jacob Oulanyah and his own treatment abroad at some point. While also throwing all sorts of shade against the National Unity Platform (NUP). That was the key thing in what he was doing. He was trying to undermine and mock the NUP, as it has party funding and medical tourism themselves. However, he rather want them to look bad than take accountability himself.

Mao really showed his hiding in plain sight. His not a trustworthy actor or an opposition for that matter. We can all see why Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga loves this man. His one of them and he could easily wine-and-dine on a regular basis. Surely, he could go to the movies or participate at a venue with them. As they are clearly his friends…

What happened yesterday makes all sorts of sense why the DP Block or Special Purpose Vehicle didn’t work ahead of 2021 General Election. Where he tried to get Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine as the Presidential Candidate under his umbrella and his wings. However, that didn’t work and wasn’t a legit outfit in such manner. That’s why he is still feeling butt hurt that this project didn’t work like the Democratic Alliance (TDA) did in 2016.

In 2016 he was able to nearly get all opposition under the same organization and working together ahead of the polls. However, in 2020 and 2021 that wasn’t happening. Heck, Mao couldn’t even get the Third Force or the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) under his banner. There was never any sights on Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and only trying to hoodwink the NUP to be part of it.

That’s maybe why his on rampage in 2022. The 2021 elections proved how he lacks resources or ability to be viable leader. There is only briefcase parties and former DP leaders who joined in the DP Block. Well, even Abed Bwanika joined NUP instead of the DP together with a band of brothers who left Mao ahead of the polls to join Bobi Wine. That shows the blow and the lack of character he has.

At this point Museveni has the next generation of Ofwono Opondo in Mao. He can become the Government Spokesperson and just get his meal-ticket. So, he can defend the government and their policies. Now his defending party funding and taking a stand against the NUP this way. His defending Oulanyah just like the NRM MPs. The only difference is that Mao is a supposed opposition and outside government.

Well for some, his just turning into a glorified Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi. We can just await him to get Karamjoa Affairs or be a State House appointee. As he rather defend the state who doesn’t deliver proper service delivery and therefore… sending its VIPs into hospitals abroad. Alas, he rather defend the party funding and be a vocal voice like OO.

If he wants to be in opposition… he better act like one. Because, in 2022 it’s hard to see a difference between him or any of the NRM stooges in Parliament. He could just have Chief Whipped by NRM and told what to do. Since, there is no great knowledge or prosperous victory in his argument. It is just as flawed and only discredits himself. If that was his plan?

Well done Sir, I am sure the professors and intellectuals you look up gives you credit. Since, you are only looking like a fool. NUP is a part of the system and isn’t on an island. Still, it is at least trying to be an opposition who tries to keep the NRM accountable. The same does the FDC… but you?

Well… your a magnificent cheerleader who should just wear yellow and start professing your love for Museveni. That would sincere and not this astute disgust, which you delivered yesterday. Peace.

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Opinion: Mao has given up…

We must clarify our historical fundamentals. Our credibility must be beyond reproach on issues like human rights and good governance, on private enterprise and economic prosperity for all citizens, old messages do not work anymore. We must not churn out party messages as if we were addressing a 1960s electorate. We must seek to get elected because the best government is the best politics. Those who when given the chance to lead, lead well will continue to be re-elected again and again”Norbert Mao (Muhamadi Matovu – ‘Mao: “DP should avoid mantra of regime change”’ 07.02.2022, Nile Post Uganda).

It’s official … Democratic Party President Norbert Mao isn’t even shielding it or trying to hide his discomfort. No, his just open about his intentions and his just one-of-them. That’s why he appreciated by Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerubaga recently. It makes so much sense, as his compromised and doesn’t even want to challenge status quo.

When you want to avoid regime change and spread new messages… then your clearly not active or seeking the electorate. It is a reason why Dr. Kizza Besigye run on ‘Defiance’ and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine ‘We are Removing a Dictator’. As the DP President don’t want to do this or follow any of their patterns.

It’s like Mao wants to follow Joseph Kabuleta or others before him. This sort of message is useless, when you don’t want to takeover or have a peaceful transition. The NRM is never delivering that to a man of Mao’s stature.

Mao haven’t proven a track-record, neither has party proven anything the recent election. Neither with MPs or even his Presidential Elections. No, they have been abysmal. So, him speaking of the old ways not working. It is right… is ways of ushering in Amama Mbabazi and other tricks to spoil the electorate.

Therefore, Mao seem stale and without an anchor. Because, he don’t know how to move forward or even be really relevant. That’s why his speaking up against the ones who fighting the dictatorship and the ruling regime. The ones who wants to get rid of it and the root problems of the state.

In this instance it is like Mao cut of his brain and only saw envelopes. Because, if he has seen the popularity and the rise of the National Unity Platform or Forum for Democratic Change for that matter. It wasn’t because they spoke about direct governance or taxes, but about a peaceful transition away from the NRM and Museveni. Which is what Mao is speaking up against now. Calling it old-school…

You have to address human rights and the basics, when the state is not fulfilling it. Neither when the basic rights or constitutional freedoms are there for the electorate. Indirectly what Mao is saying that theories and models matters more than that.

This is defeatism in the middle of a dictatorship. Mao cannot be taken serious as a choice or as an opposition leader. When he doesn’t seek to end the regime or challenge it. That is the message I’m getting. It’s pathetic … and the DP should just become a part of the NRM if that’s the case. Peace.

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Opinion: Mao is clearly not an alternative

It is important that they do that because it looks like these days the football game is played in our half only of the opposition; instead of the half of the National Resistance Movement. It is a big weakness that we have got to deal with! What is the role of an opposition? An opposition should present itself as an alternative government, not just as hecklers”Norbert Mao (Jeff Andrew Lule – ‘Mao to opposition: Stop just being hecklers’ 12.01.2022, New Vision).

The Democratic Party President Norbert Mao is yet again speaking his peace in 2022. He has been the Party President for ages and has little to nothing to show from it. There haven’t been any progression or movement of which proves his relevancy. His only viable because of NBS Frontline appearances and feeding of the plate of IPOD. Therefore, Mao can call things out… but his voice isn’t that viable at this point.

He is a heckler himself and isn’t a figure who inspires, neither is his party a vehicle or a place of vision. No, the DP seems to be a platform for easy access and hopefuls who doesn’t have to challenge anyone. That is how it seems, as Mao is to friendly and to mellow to compete with full force ahead. That’s why the DP and Mao isn’t feared or under scrutiny like other opposition parties. This is maybe why others have left and reorganized elsewhere, where the futures and the possibilities to be viable was more clear.

Mao might not say that, as his blamed Besigye in the past and called him a serial looser. Though, Mao has a worse results and lacking of deliver in comparison. Even Bobi Wine with lesser time and ability to build up a party has achieved more than he has done for over a decade. That should be a warning of his withering role in national politics.

Instead of building a strong and a viable party. It looks more like a paid goofy role of Mao to be in the spotlight. It is not like he has close associates or party leaders who can gain the trust of which the ones who left recently. He might say the party is healthy and dandy, but for who? Him? Is it his domain now and what will leave behind?

The DP haven’t proven itself as a possible answer in the 2011, 2016 or in 2021. No, the DP couldn’t even make the DP Block as a unified visionary group within the opposition. It wasn’t even good enough for newcomers of Muntu and Bobi Wine to be part of. Heck, Mao was last time sidelined by NRM member Amama Mbabazi for the Presidency with the Go Forward Pressure Group within the Opposition Alliance The Democratic Alliance (TDA). Therefore, he cannot even pass as a man of the nation and should settle for MP for Gulu Municipality. That’s where his base is and where he has any hopes of high ranking official position in the Republic.

Mao calling others hecklers, because they don’t follow his guise and the way he purposely moves around with no end in sight. He speaks of being an alternative, but his not even an alternative to himself. Mao cannot even stomach to regain any sort of stature or position, which the NRM would fear or look after. His too peaceful and never does say or bother the state. If he did, he wouldn’t be soda at the police station and be left of the hook so easily. That’s why his just a mediocre leader with lack of enthusiasm. He doesn’t have the charisma or the message to spellbound anyone.

That’s why the academic Mao is a failure, but has to throw shade elsewhere. Just so his securing himself and looks wise. However, this is only backfiring since he has nothing to deliver himself. His a shell of a politician and with time the promise, which he had has withered. There is nothing left, but empty promises and a party of which the promising characters has left as well.

That’s why Mao couldn’t keep Mpuuga, Nambooze or Lukwago. There was nothing left for them to stay or be associated with. The DP Party and DP President couldn’t give them or serve them a purpose. That’s why they fled and sought out other pastures, which they have resolved their needs. Therefore, Mao is proven not to able to sustain the leaders of the opposition within his own organization.

So, at this very point… he is becoming the heckler and the noise-maker without any justification. As he has nothing to prove for his time and work. He only has a name and opportunity to show up on National TV, now and then. Peace.

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A brief look into the Lekki Toll Gate Massacre Report

The protest at Lekki Toll Gate according to eyewitnesses that testified and from the video footages submitted by witnesses and LCC was very peaceful on all the days including the 20th of October, 2020 until the arrival of men of the Nigerian Army” (LASG JPI REPORT OF THE LEKKI INCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020, P: 283).

The #ENDSARS protests went worldwide, prominent artists and people participated across the Republic of Nigeria. The October protests became known and the police brutality from Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was well-known. Also, the way the authorities addressed it and this is why the Report released was so important. As well, as the Nigerian 81 Division called at alleged “massacre” in their statement on the 27th October 2021. However, this report will dismiss that…

The first devastating blow to the army:

The Panel finds that although the Army gave copious evidence of general commotion, violence and mayhem in other locations in Lagos State other than Lekki Toll Gate, there is no justification behind the deployment of its soldiers and officers to Lekki Toll Gate in particular, when there was no violence reported there instead of the other critical areas (for example in places like Orile, Mushin etc), which indeed escalated the violence. The deployment of the Army to Lekki Toll Gate on 20/10/2020, in the absence of any reported violence, was totally unwarranted” (LASG JPI REPORT OF THE LEKKI INCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020, P: 283).

Second:

The evidence of Reddington Hospital and Grandville Hospital established the fact that not less than 20 persons who claimed to be protesters were treated for wounds consistent with gunshot injuries. It is therefore improbable that the army only used blank ammunitions at the Toll Gate on the day of the incident as claimed. There were many injured and deaths” (LASG JPI REPORT OF THE LEKKI INCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020, P: 287).

Third:

The testimony and report of Professor John Obafunwa, a Forensic Pathologist of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, showed that three (3) corpses were deposited at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba Hospital, all from the Lekki Toll Gate and the autopsy conducted thereon revealed death from bleeding caused by penetrating objects or rifled weapon” (…) “However, the Panel finds that the fact of lack of identity of some of the other 96 corpses on the list supplied by Professor Obafunwa would not obliterate the fact that some of them could have come from the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of October 20, 2020 or that some other unidentified corpses may have been removed by their families or the military, as claimed by the EndSARS protesters, far and beyond the list tendered by Professor Obafunwa” (…) “The Panel also finds that most of the 96 corpses for which autopsies were conducted by Professor Obafunwa remain unidentified but they were labelled with EndSARS, apparently lending credence to the case of the EndSARS protesters that the shootings by security agencies resulted in mass deaths within the State” (LASG JPI REPORT OF THE LEKKI INCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020, P: 288).

Fourth:

The panel finds most alarming and concerning the testimonies of the ACP Oludotun Odubona who appeared on behalf of the CP and that of CSP Raji Ganiyu, the DPO of Maroko Police Station that no investigation was carried out in respect of the incident of 20th October 2020, because there was no basis for such investigation and no complaints were lodged with the Nigerian Police Force by victims or families of victims. This amounts to a dereliction of duty” (LASG JPI REPORT OF THE LEKKI INCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020, P: 293-294).

Fifth:

The atrocious maiming and killing of unarmed, helpless and unresisting protesters, while sitting on the floor and waving their Nigerian flags, while singing the National Anthem can be equated to a ‘massacre’ in context” (LASG JPI REPORT OF THE LEKKI INCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020, P: 294).

Sixth:

It was alleged and corroborated that the soldiers had their vans parked at the Lekki Toll Gate and removed as many bodies and corpses of the fallen protesters which they took away with their vans. One of the protesters who was shot and taken for dead, Olalekan Sanusi, who eventually escaped to narrate his ordeal and experience stated that 11 corpses were in the van, where he was placed in and presumed dead. Miss Dabira Ayuku also corroborated the above by stating that she saw about 7 dead bodies placed in one of the military trucks at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night of 20th October, 2020” (LASG JPI REPORT OF THE LEKKI INCIDENT INVESTIGATION OF 20TH OCTOBER 2020, P: 295).

This reports is a horrific read, but the reports and reporting in the days surrounding it only proved the fact. The army and the police did make a massacre at the Lekki Toll Bridge and this report also proves to show that the authorities tried to cover-up the evidence. Therefore, we don’t know the full extent or the amounts of victims. That’s an deliberate act of the state.

The massacre should have consequences for the ones in-charge of the police and army. They killed civilians singing and carrying the Nigerian flag while protesting. They we’re unarmed and the authorities did aim to kill. We don’t know the amount or the final numbers. However, every single life should be accounted for and these citizens deserves their justice. Their families and loved-ones deserves to know what really happened and the ones doing the killing should answer for their crimes.

The army and the ones in authorities who ordered this should answer for it. The soldiers and officers participating in it should also face prosecution. The state didn’t honour their citizens and instead served them injustice. The citizens who was harmed, scared, injured and killed deserves to see justice filled. This is not only memorials and yearly anniversaries, but see the men who did it face time and get sentenced. The leaders should bow out in disgrace and not serve. As they are no different than mobsters and criminals. There is no difference between them and cartel leaders who defends the massacres.

We know Buhari and his government will not do anything about SARS. He will just prolong the agony and in-act in concern to this. That is why he should act upon this. As this massacre happened on his watch and it was the citizens he was supposed to protect that died that day last year. Peace.