We have lost our political canine

By Edward Indakwa

I am no political analyst, but just a little boy who grew up watching his father slouching in the old family sofa in deep thought, his face inscrutable.

For years, one question disturbed me: How could this man sit for hours on end in deep thought? What was going on in his mind?

But with time, I discovered I could read him, not by what he said – because he uttered not a word – but what he never said.

That is why I was amused when, after DPM Musalia Mudavadi’s press conference, the general consensus on Facebook was that the son of Substone was a coward, an opportunist, a lost sheep, a man bereft of political strategy.

In fact, the most posted retort on social media sites was, “So what has Musalia said? Nothing!”

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But Musalia played rugby for his university. He is the son of a master politician.

He has spent five years sitting next to Raila Odinga, another master. It is rumoured that the ‘Professor of Politics’, old wily Dan himself, is in his corner.

And at his press conference, the man flying wingman was young Abdikadir Mohammed, one of the finest brains of his generation. Didn’t add up.

Gullible

So let’s for one moment forget about what Musalia said and focus on what he never said.

While everyone saw him, as gullible, they didn’t notice that Mudavadi is guileless – sincere; honest; straightforward; frank. 

While everyone saw a man who wanted things given to him on a silver platter, they missed a man who was saying, “Look, I trusted this guy and see what he is doing to me!”

While everyone saw a spineless, wavering man, they missed something Mudavadi never mentioned: That we have a frontrunner for President who could be prevailed upon by external forces to sign an agreement, then cool off in Dubai when there is a rebellion within his ranks.

He could then fly back and renege on a gentleman’s agreement when prevailed upon by another set of forces – a spineless, wavering man.

Traits

Looking beyond Mudavadi, even ignoring the shenanigans of the ICC, the question should be, is this the man we want to send to wrestle regional geopolitics with Uganda’s sly old fox, Yoweri Museveni or Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, a deceptively charming man with the cold, calculative mind of the military spy he is, or the hard as nails Rwandan strongman, Paul Kagame?

Can this man stare down Sudan’s Omar al-Bashir or resolutely send our army to battle when he can be held hostage by ‘evil’ forces and a band of MPs in his backyard?

I think Mudavadi would have made a fantastic school principal. He is the sort of guy a child would trust. He is guileless – sincere; honest; straightforward; frank.

These are fantastic traits in a father, husband and human being – even leader. But they are a handicap and a weakness in a society where the political canine must be a mongrel.