The story goes that a scramble had ensued. Within a twinkle of an eye, the hitherto filled church auditorium became almost empty. About 99.9 percent of members of the church, including church elders, who were seated earlier, had dashed out of the church auditorium to save their lives from the perceived massacre being planned by the gun-wielding young man. However, instead of the gun man shooting those left in the church, which included the pastor and few others, he had brought his gun down and after taking quick glances across the near empty auditorium, said: “Pastor, you can now start the service. These are your real members, the true followers of Jesus Christ.”

That Sunday morning drama was a script written by the pastor and acted by the gun man to test the faith of members of the congregation. The pastor had wanted to know those who were really the followers of Christ. He could have been shocked that a majority of them failed the test. Those members proved to the pastor that they were pretenders or at best hypocrites. They did not want to die for Christ, explaining why they dashed out of the church to avoid the bullets of the gun man.

Ever since the talk about third term plot started, I have always imagined Obasanjo being the pastor in the above story and flying a kite to test the faithfulness of his apostles or followers. I have imagined him trying to find out the pretenders and hypocrites in his political group, especially at a time double-face and double-speak have become the second nature of politicians. Such test, if you ask me, could be necessary because here, only a handful of politicians could actually stand for what they believe. Some of them say one thing in private and do an entirely different thing in public. For such people, double speak or dual life could just be another way of being smart. They see it is part of politics, leaving one wondering where integrity, principles and conviction come in.

If Obasanjo were to be the pastor in that story, I could imagine how disappointed he would be that his perceived supporters and members of his political group are shying away from publicly identifying with the third term project, which he believes in. He could have known that some of his “apostles” worship him with their lips while their hearts are far from him. He could have understood the Nigerian politicians better, knowing that they will remain slippery and deceitful.

However, he could have seen a true apostle in Governor Nnamani, who has elected to not only stand up and be counted. Indeed, for the first time in this democratic dispensation, the country has seen in Nnamani a man whose faith in what he stands for is unshakable.

The governor’s position on third term may not be popular, but he has proved to be consistent even at the risk of losing his credibility and reputation. To be sure, right from 1999, Nnamani has not pretended that he is an apostle of Obasanjo. He proved this in deeds and actions. That he has publicly declared support for Obasanjo’s continuation in office, at a time such position is like heresy, tells a story about friendship and sacrifice. Nnamani has proved that the hallmark of friendship is not just about when the going is good but also when it is rough. He has proved that in friendship risk taking is involved and true friends stand by one another.

I doff my hat for Nnamani, for his action. This is so because among the lot who want Obasanjo to continue in office he is probably the only one who has publicly declared it. I see courage in what he has done. No doubt, he knows that the position he has taken could cause him followership among his people and peers, especially those who may think otherwise. In a polity, where bandwagon effect is almost a tradition, only a man of courage could take a position that is contrary to that of the majority.

It takes only a man of courage to look Nigerians in the face, at this point in our political history, and tell them that Obasanjo should continue in office beyond 2007 by whichever mean, due process or whichever way. But Nnamani damned all these and stated his position in an unequivocal manner. In speaking his mind, he put up an argument, which, though, debatedable, is based on his conviction. Whether one disagrees with his point of view or not, what one cannot say is that he committed an offence by believing in something and standing by it. We may not agree with him, but nobody can say that he’s stupid.

If one recalls the misfortune of Gen Sani Abacha, after his death, one will better appreciate Nnamani’s support for Obasanjo, a political ally. Abacha took certain actions, while in government and alive, based on advice of some people. He favoured many people, while he was in power and alive. While he lived, many sang his praises, but as soon as he died he became a villain in the eyes of the same people who benefited from him. Only the late Alhaji Wada Nas and perhaps, the late General Abdulkareem Adisa, could say that no matter what people thought of Abacha they considered him a good man. That is what friendship is all about. That is what loyalty is all about. That is what faithfulness is about. And that is what Nnamani has demonstrated with his open support for an unpopular project of his associate.

I find it rather funny that some people are insinuating that Nnamani’s position about allowing Obasanjo serve another term, through constitutional amendment, a position consistent with his politics and personal conviction, has something to do with the quizzing of some of his aides by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This position is tantamount to chasing shadows instead of addressing the issue. The main issue is that a man is standing by his friend; that a man wants to push through the project of his friend; that a man prefer to walk where angels fear to thread; that a man has remained consistent in his politics.

I know that if EFCC did not invite some officials of Enugu State government, Nnamani would still hold the same view on third term as long as he belongs to the Obasanjo political family. I salute his consistency. I respect his conviction.

I may not agree with his position on third term for Obasanjo, but I respect his views. I think that if we have politicians like him, people who are consistent in their principles and convictions, the polity would mature faster. I would rather align with a man, who is faithful to his belief, not those who would change when they think that the political equation does not favour them, who would switch from the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just to remain politically relevant.