There is more than enough evidence, that in coming months, the 2008 election campaign is going to get very dirty indeed, Jomo. Muck will begin to fly, and with the muck, some really fierce sparks. It has something to do with one big monkey business of a potentially dangerous political campaign game called "Oppo". If played by professionals, "Oppo" can yield positive dividends in the pursuit of democracy. Where quacks jump onto the campaign turf to join in the game, the consequences can be quite dire, and ultimately disastrous for national peace and harmony. Do you recall the so-called spy films which so captivated many patrons of public film theatres in our towns and cities decades ago? The spy hero was typically a tall bloke in a dark trench coat, dark sunglasses and a hat pulled down over his face, who went snooping around all manner of places, trying to unravel secrets. That is how quacks who try to play "Oppo", apparently perceive ofthe game, and that is why in the interest of peace and a decent campaign, we• have to sort out this "Oppo" business before campaign managers of the various presidential candidates get into the coming fray. To understand why "Oppo' is played in presidential campaigns, it is necessary to appreciate that a presidential campaign is actually an attempt by campaign managers to demonstrate to voters that their candidate would make the ideal president; that he is competent, trustworthy, morally upright, principled, dependable, and all said and done, the perfect choice for president. Simultaneously, the campaign team will seek to convince voters that their candidate's leading opponent is by sharp contrast, incompetent, unprincipled, unreliable, morally shady and all said and done, a potentially disastrous choice. In short, Jomo, it is all about blowing up the stature of your candidate to giant size in the voter's mind, and diminishing that of his leading contender to the zero which occupies the centre of nothingness. That is where the intelligence gathering game called "Oppo" comes in handy. It was some smart fellow who used the name "Oppo" to refer to "opposition research." Without this kind of research it would be difficult for campaign managers to convince voters that their candidate's leading contender would be a wrong choice. Professional campaign managers play "Oppo", using legitimate means to investigate the moral and social life, as well as the professional, political, personal, business and other ethically-related records of the opposing candidate and make the findings known to voters. Some of the key sources are pub1ic and official records, media reports, archived information and other verifiable sources. If what turns up about the candidate is mud and muck, but true and verifiably so, campaign managers will usually consider it a matter of public interest service and necessary for informed voter choices, to let the muck fly. Somehow, this neither sounds pleasant nor right, Jomo, but hey, anyone wanting to be the president, leader and father of a nation, must very necessarily go through this grill. It is part of the proverbial 'hard testing." Every public office ever held, every word ever spoken in an official capacity, every deed in the office, street or hotel room, every statement ever made in relation to a sensitive national or ethical issue by a presidential candidate, are brought under microscopic examination by "Oppo" operatives, for the benefit of voters. ‘Massa, enye easy!’ The problem with "Oppo" in developing countries like ours is that it is often played by quacks who dig up and throw about as much dirt and muck about an opposing candidate as they can, without enough concern for accuracy and truth. The muck they dig up usually comes in the form of innuendos, unsubstantiated allegations, unverifiable accusations and rumours about an opposing candidate, in order to inflict maximum injury to his integrity. Some of the muck unprofessional "Oppo" throws up usually lands on people who are not running for public office, and, therefore, ought to be left well alone. Close friends and relations, business associates, wayward offspring, offspring gotten out of wedlock and moonlight mistresses of the presidential candidate. Some candidates brave "Oppo" under the illusion that for fear of libel suits, "Oppo" operatives will not dare take the muck raking against their candidate too far, even if he has question marks to his integrity. There is a bit of a snag there, Jomo, Non-professional "Oppo" operatives, will invest in the creation of a media black market for the throwing of muck at opposing candidates, and let the media take any legal flak that may come. That usually means the candidate must spend money, time and other resources fighting court battles with a host of newspapers, instead of concentrating on his campaign. A fat lot of good that would do in terms of redeeming his integrity in the minds of voters. As a matter of fact, the effort could well end up turning up more muck in the course of court hearings. That is not to say muckraking media will easily get away with clear cases of libel, innuendo and slander if wounded candidates resolve to pursue libel suits to their conclusion. It is all up to journalists to decide how far they will go with "Oppo” operatives in this money business. This is certainly the season when journalists will get a constant stream of information from "Oppo" operatives. It is left to reporters and editors to determine for their good selves, what would be legitimate to publish and what to spike. There is talk about holding televised debates by the presidential candidates to bring them up close to voters for scrutiny. We must credit voters with the ability tom be able to make up their minds from listening to the debates, but hey, they need a little help front experts, don't you think? I am referring to media and other analysts who will be able to see through any false or exaggerated statements or any signs of hypocrisy, double standards, lack of confidence, dishonesty or other signs of unsuitability for the presidency, and make their analysis available to voters through the media. Catch the photo, Jomo? E-mail: georgeabu@hotmail.com Source: George Sydney Abugri/Daily Graphic