For many months, some vested interest groups, on realizing
the imminent possibility of a successful Barack Obama candidacy for the
presidency of the United States, sponsored the throwing of different arrows to puncture
same. They either claimed that he was not a bona fide US citizen or was a
Muslim, Kenyan or Indonesian or such inanities. Obama refused to answer those
'issues' and it was from him I first heard the phrase 'silly season' – meaning
(in my view) the 'hot' period leading up to an election where people get so
confused by a myriad of issues and personalities, that they will rather 'cool
off' and enjoy more salacious jibes and mudslinging. In Nigeria there is no
shortage of supplies of arrows and it will appear that even our dear President
Goodluck Jonathan whilst he detests 'opposition' and social media arrows, has
his own arsenal and now fancies throwing a few himself. The problem with
throwing arrows, is that if an arrow is blunt no matter how poisoned or
poisonous the thrower is, the target will suffer at most minor bruises and at
times a backfiring may occur. Another problem I see, is that Buhari like Obama
being of similar frame provide very slim targets and often even the blunt arrow
will miss the target!