As general elections approach

While some aspiring and existing politicians have slightly begun to roll out their drums in preparation for the next senatorial, governorship and presidential elections in Nigeria, I deem it necessary, to dwell on election affairs ahead of the national exercise in this article.

Without doubt, the turn of election periods such as imminent in Nigeria usually (or it’s supposed to) presents itself as a “reckon your stewardship” moment for the serving politicians and a golden opportunity for the fledgling and aspiring ones to prove their mettle.

This is actually the concept the organised debate, which is held prior every major election demonstrates.

Unfortunately, the value and weight of this crucial democratic practice is widely known to be deemphasized, short of being discouraged, even by the nation’s elections umpire – Independent National Election Commission, (INEC), in Nigeria.

Other aspect of election activities that are necessarily undergone by participating individuals and political parties preceding voting day includes but not limited to;

1) the need for the aspirants to identify with a political party.

2) Taken that incontrovertible and abiding democratic principle – majority rule – one in which supreme power is held by the people under a free, credible and fair electoral system – the electorate must be duly registered.

3) Electioneering activities itself must be regulated and its excesses curtailed by the relevant commission etc.

Certain tenets of democracy needs be mentioned here as their violation by anyone usually spells disaster for any nation if not checkmated.

These are the sovereignty of the people, respect for civil and political rights, mass literacy, the rule of law and good governance, majority rule and minority rights, free press and judiciary independence, social development and economic prosperity.

The perennial challenge confronting Nigeria is not the dearth of well articulated speech makers or the lack of quality legislations properly reserved in the nations archives, never!

It lies in the abject lack of the political will power to match words with actions.

Political leaders are not as patriotic as they are expected, rather most of them have chosen to be ethnically biased, disposed to nepotism while the remnant are guilty of filthy lucre, making merchandise of the nations patrimony to their selfish advantages.

But if they can muster courage, turn away from their perilous ways, perhaps there will be hope for the country.

It is obviously not a matter of controversy that this ageless passing political generation in Nigeria have woefully failed not just the country, but the posterity and soul of Nigeria.

The wind of spontaneous revolution – so strong and mighty – must need flash them into oblivion, sooner than later.

This is not my wish or threat but a declaration of natural law of karma.

That universal law respects no colour, have no regard for religion, nor creed, nor gender, nor age or social affiliation.

It applies to one and every irrespectively and impartially.

As the next general elections is at our door steps, electorates particularly and politicians in general must beware.

On the part of the people – the electorates, gullibility or what is rightly called the ‘selling of one’s birth right’ must be eschewed.

In fact, one should mark and avoid such unscrupulous politicians who are infamously known to be buying votes with liquid cash and distribution of bags of rice and beans etc.

But when you cannot completely achieve abstinence, you may take what in the first instance belongs to you, yet keep your conscience intact and vote according to your convictions on the ballot not bullet day.

Violence of any sort before, during and post election, should not be once recorded.

Government should equally not be seen doing anything that can engender strife in the preparation for the election. 

It is quite pathetic, but just as I picked my pen to commence this writer up, devastating news of ravaging and massive killings in three different local government areas in Plateau State is filtering in and already going viral on both the electronic and social media platforms.

I predict that will be the front page news on most dailies on Monday 25/06/2018.

That notwithstanding, if the past similar killings and the kid glove treatment to the perpetrators and the snail speed reaction of the government in power is anything to go by, then I am not expecting any fantastic or rapid response whatsoever.

Baring the closeness of election and the now sporadic electioneering splashes now taking place, I am sure the story will be different.
Orajiaku is a freelance journalist.

Every non-performing political figure, despite the position he or she is presently occupying in Nigeria, must be showed the exit door with ballot might came next general elections.

By their fruits, you shall know such political redundant. They are habitually mighty in words but abysmal indeed.

They grace our electronic media screens and full newspaper pages with phony completed projects and inflated sprinkling and mushroom works.

They beg to be invited to public events and waste no time to advertise themselves even to the chagrin of the guests.

The inconsequential achievements which they scarcely found time to make … the entire nation or state and economics activities are compelled to shut down on the day of the commissioning and opening ceremony.

They are certainly destitute of quality ideas – empty indeed, therefore they omit unnecessary and avoidable noise.

They hire demagogue and speech makers with deafening amount of money to package and repackage them for presentation before the unsuspecting electorates during preparations for any elections. 

They are not passionate about or interested in the aspiration and welfare of the people as much as they are seriously focused in selfish and parochial goals, and in many cases, satisfying their voracious financial aggrandizement.

They are intolerant to constructive criticism especially coming from real or perceived opposition.

They are ethnically prejudiced, disposed to nepotism, shallow in significant political procedures.

Their political target usually supersedes that of the masses or nation at large.

The plight of the generality of the people does not scratch the surface of their consciences and human kindness in him (that’s if there’s residue of this trait) provided realising his individual goals to the detriment of all is guaranteed.
 
In conclusion, however, hope must not be totally lost. Try as hard, let us hope against hope.

The existing retired politicians who have vowed not to vacate partisan political spaces are all bereft of requisite ideas, remedies for the ills bedeviling the nation.

The same insincere politicians have been on ground, (for a large number of them) before the Nigeria Biafra civil war and till date, for the worst are stiff-necked to disappear.

As the upcoming general election becomes even more imminent, it cannot be argued that the younger vibrant generation, whose population indeed outnumbers that of senior citizens or aged ones, must grab the reins of political power and quickly salvage the nations, forthwith.

There are pitfalls or what is known as the banana peels that must be avoided even by the incoming agile youth politicians -greed for money, ethnic bias, power drunk and dictatorial tendency etc.

Abstain from these and uphold patriotism, probity, equity, pursue national well being and development, economic stability and dependence, technological advancement, democratic political progress, etc.

This is the general expectation in the minds of the people outlaid.

This is the voice of the people who hold sovereignty and give it on loan to whosoever they deem qualified.

Orajiaku is a freelance journalist.