By Mohammed Bello Doka.
One must be a fox in order to recognize traps and a Lion to frighten the wolves-Niccolo Machiavelli.
64 days Ago, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was declared the winner of one of the most keenly contested elections in the history of Nigeria.
Garnering a little less than two million votes ahead of his fellow contestants, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party. Typical of democracy in most parts of the world, the campaign was tense characterized with hate speeches, intimidation and outright violence in most places, to some it was a regional fight, to others it was a religious war and to some it is a war between the forces of light and darkness who promised to never allow Nigeria to drain again in the dungeon of uncertainty, corruption, favoritism, and Ghana must go politics.
As it should be expected, results of such an election must be controversial to say least, as one would expect litigation and allegations as well as counter allegations in the aftermath of the process will be a norm.
But things were a lot worst, the PDP and their sister opposition parties, mainly the Labour Party reunited in an unholy alliance the very moment they realize they were losing the elections. Tinubu must not be allowed to be declared winner and all hands must be on deck to jeopardize and truncate the process even at the expense of war.
Their cronies in the media, mainly Arise News and the obidients horde on social media, team up to not only heat the polity but to set the whole country on fire to catch a stubborn rat if need be.
They troop out on the street with the intent to provoking the security agencies in order to cause a situation that will make it difficult for the process to continue, their pay masters in the political class have already started calling for an interim government and a reelection to avoid war and bloodshed.
Amidst this confusion and chaos, Chief James Abiodun Faleke the real Fox of Machiavellian supposition recognized the trap; thus he did what was necessary at the moment by sending his Chief Lieutenant, the charismatic Tosin Adeyanju termed the defender of the Renewed Hope to quell the unrest.
Adeyanju called on the progressives from all walks of life, and the answer was trooping out en masse singing solidarity and pro-democracy songs ready to defend the people's given mandate at all cost.
The tables are turned against the Obidients who planned to have a showdown with the security agencies but were unprepared for a face off with fellow civilians where they stand no chance, like a spark of fire in amidst a snowy path.
The Obidients and Atikulators had no option but to go on a tactical withdrawal, they did so without looking back. While they do so, Tosin Adeyanju and his co convener Mr. A.A Mai agogo had another plan they (Obidients) did not envisage.
Tosin and Mai Agogo led the team of the progressive defenders to occupy the Obidients power house, the unity fountain which has become their defector headquarters.
Like play, the progressives occupied the unity fountain for 64 straight days, the longest in the history of Nigerian politics any support group for any politician have stayed in one place doing one thing and that thing alone, most especially post election.
Unity fountain became a shrine for the progressives were hopes were renewed even before the swearing in of the renewed hope Administration, dreams were hatched, born and silent prayers were answered.
The Hangout started as a simple gathering where people come to eat, drink and gist and gradually the event became more conceptualized with activities ranging from open discussion by experts in various fields on the way to go by the incoming administration, dance competition, talent hunting, music and other social events.
The highlights of the Hangout include but not limited to the reach out programs invented and intended to bring succor to the less privileged gathered in the fountain and beyond .
Some major achievements of the reach out includes but not limited to.
a. Scholarship programs where hundreds of pupils benefited from various scholarship programs initiated and executed by the well-to-do members of the Hangout.
b. Medical outreach where thousands benefited from free medical tests, medications, diagnosis, and medical advice.
c. Empowerment Programs where close to a thousand people benefited from grants given by the well-to-do members to the less privileged ranging from 50,000 – 250,000 Naira.
d. Over 100 winners of different cash prices ranging from 50'000-250,000 in different competitions.
e. Over 5,000 wheelchairs and crouches shared to indigent and disabled.
f. Supply of food items and other amenities to orphanages, welfare centers and to individual poor and vulnerable members of the society.
g. Daily feeding of over a thousand members daily attending the Hangout, which helps in the nutritional diets of many indigent and less privileged members of the society.
These and many more achievements at the Hangout make it not only one of its kind but best among equal. A bond has been created between people from various walks of life where total strangers became a family, each supporting and looking out for one another.
Tinubu Hangout has really served not only as a deterring force against the Obidients and Atikulates but also as a uniting force between progressives. The food, the entertainment, the drama will forever linger in the hearts and minds of any who bears witness to the event.
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