Mohamed Omodu Kamara (MOK), popularly known as Jagaban may have come to the political arena comparatively recently, but he has been hugging the political headlines already. If this was a Spotify issue, he would have topped the charts by now. If we go by political carbon dating, Jagaban is a recent find, as he came properly unto the national political consciousness as an APC flagbearer aspirant during the 2023 election cycle. The less said about his impact or relevance at the time, the better. He quietly entered the political arena and quietly slipped out on the very day the 2023 election results were announced. Thanks to the furore surrounding the election results at the time, he left these shores unnoticed. Some of us saw him as he boarded Brussels Airline for the USA that evening. Come Easy, Go Easy.
This time, his return to the scene has been nothing short of headline hugging. Considering that the next election is slated for 2028, Jagaban has taken the stage early, to familiarise himself with the political topography of the country. He has been traversing the country with serious publicity in tow, thanks to a relentless social media machinery that has been choreographing his every move with religious fervour.
Jagaban’s presence on the political scene has drawn all kinds of reactions. He has not shied from splashing the cash, a vital lubricant of electioneering. Many dismiss him as lavishly spending the cash, like a drunken sailor. Interestingly he has been engaging in social issues like supporting the rehabilitation or building of local mosques. His “generous” donations towards local projects like clinics, market buildings, community centres, local APC party offices, etc do not go unnoticed to the local eye.
Since his second coming, his supporters see him like a saviour. He seems to engage in projects that are very close and dear to the hearts of the communities he has been visiting. Some see Jagaban as investor, a local political investor that is investing in local issues. Because he engages in local projects, the employment generated for the local people can pass for his adherence to the local content policy. His supporters see pragmatism in him, addressing pressing issues. Unlike your average politician, they see Jagaban as a politician that promises and keeps his promises.
Jagaban has been touted as “very rich”. His supporters don’t see him as a hustler. They see him as someone who has made it and “only wants to give back to society”. His supporters see him as a self-made man. Unlike the proverbial politician, they don’t see him as someone venturing into politics just to get rich quick. While many people have cast aspersions about the sources of his wealth, his supporters largely see him more like the philanthropist Sierra Leone is missing. They believe that if Jagaban can undertake such projects in transportation like the ferry services, motorbike assembly plant, health care facilities etc; projects that are very close to the hearts of communities as a private citizen, they wonder what he could do if elected President.
Interestingly, many political bigwigs think Mohamed Omodu Kamara (Jagaban) is going nowhere. But take note, he’s not going away either. That is where the enigma comes with his persona. There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent. It is one of the dangerous paths to defeat that comes with surprise. In many political cases, we have seen such opponents dismissed as mere distractions, irritations or nothing to be bothered about. In cases where people have been underestimated in politics, the underestimated have in many cases enjoyed the luxury of going under the radar unnoticed. Remember that those we underestimate in life eventually serve as guides to our lack of vision.
When Donald Trump descended the golden escalator to announce his run for president in 2015, none in the sceptical media pack below could have imagined he could win. As the 12th candidate of the Republican party aspirants, many were sceptical because he had announced his intentions to run in the past but never followed up on it. The media scepticism and mockery centred on his performance at the podium and claim that Mexico was sending “rapists” over the border.
He attacked his opponents like Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and many more with derogatory remarks. At first, people received it as a joke. “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”. He used the big lie like Hitler, a propaganda technique to distort the truth. Trump said it often enough times that people stopped laughing and took notice. Despite all the rage, dismissals, write offs and doubts about Trump, he’s now into his second term as POTUS.
In 2018, President Maada Bio’s candidature was unceremoniously considered a non-starter, thanks to his previously failed attempts to win the general elections. That was after he changed his camouflage uniform for an Arm
This time, his return to the scene has been nothing short of headline hugging. Considering that the next election is slated for 2028, Jagaban has taken the stage early, to familiarise himself with the political topography of the country. He has been traversing the country with serious publicity in tow, thanks to a relentless social media machinery that has been choreographing his every move with religious fervour.
Jagaban’s presence on the political scene has drawn all kinds of reactions. He has not shied from splashing the cash, a vital lubricant of electioneering. Many dismiss him as lavishly spending the cash, like a drunken sailor. Interestingly he has been engaging in social issues like supporting the rehabilitation or building of local mosques. His “generous” donations towards local projects like clinics, market buildings, community centres, local APC party offices, etc do not go unnoticed to the local eye.
Since his second coming, his supporters see him like a saviour. He seems to engage in projects that are very close and dear to the hearts of the communities he has been visiting. Some see Jagaban as investor, a local political investor that is investing in local issues. Because he engages in local projects, the employment generated for the local people can pass for his adherence to the local content policy. His supporters see pragmatism in him, addressing pressing issues. Unlike your average politician, they see Jagaban as a politician that promises and keeps his promises.
Jagaban has been touted as “very rich”. His supporters don’t see him as a hustler. They see him as someone who has made it and “only wants to give back to society”. His supporters see him as a self-made man. Unlike the proverbial politician, they don’t see him as someone venturing into politics just to get rich quick. While many people have cast aspersions about the sources of his wealth, his supporters largely see him more like the philanthropist Sierra Leone is missing. They believe that if Jagaban can undertake such projects in transportation like the ferry services, motorbike assembly plant, health care facilities etc; projects that are very close to the hearts of communities as a private citizen, they wonder what he could do if elected President.
Interestingly, many political bigwigs think Mohamed Omodu Kamara (Jagaban) is going nowhere. But take note, he’s not going away either. That is where the enigma comes with his persona. There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent. It is one of the dangerous paths to defeat that comes with surprise. In many political cases, we have seen such opponents dismissed as mere distractions, irritations or nothing to be bothered about. In cases where people have been underestimated in politics, the underestimated have in many cases enjoyed the luxury of going under the radar unnoticed. Remember that those we underestimate in life eventually serve as guides to our lack of vision.
When Donald Trump descended the golden escalator to announce his run for president in 2015, none in the sceptical media pack below could have imagined he could win. As the 12th candidate of the Republican party aspirants, many were sceptical because he had announced his intentions to run in the past but never followed up on it. The media scepticism and mockery centred on his performance at the podium and claim that Mexico was sending “rapists” over the border.
He attacked his opponents like Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, and many more with derogatory remarks. At first, people received it as a joke. “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”. He used the big lie like Hitler, a propaganda technique to distort the truth. Trump said it often enough times that people stopped laughing and took notice. Despite all the rage, dismissals, write offs and doubts about Trump, he’s now into his second term as POTUS.
In 2018, President Maada Bio’s candidature was unceremoniously considered a non-starter, thanks to his previously failed attempts to win the general elections. That was after he changed his camouflage uniform for an Arm