Nigerians who have lived in Nigeria for a considerable number of years understand how Nigerian politics and especially Nigerian elections work. It is “the winner takes it all” template.

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When as a Nigerian, you witness elections in another country, there is a high propensity you will find it a bit difficult to comprehend elections being conducted in an atmosphere of civility and devoid of rancour. This, I witnessed during the last general elections in Rwanda which I wrote about in a lengthy read.

With considerable experience in all things communications, one tends to follow the news and connect the dots, report the news. In some cases, especially when it pertains to politics, I tend not to focus on it as politics always repeat itself few decades.

In some cases, one is just moved to speak or write and for me this is one of those occasions. Watching proceedings and following the run up to the election in Edo State and the recent election in the state, I am inclined to pen some thoughts on elections and policy-driven thinking politics in general.

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The electorate just need to understand that elections and campaigns just have to be policy-driven; this way, the electorate get into the thinking of those politicians who need their votes and mandate to win elections. This way, the electorate decouple and deconstruct the intended policies and thought processes of the political candidates.

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This way, policy formulations not yet concretised by candidates can be fortified by the candidates and their advisers and consultants. This way, the electorate gauge the political, intellectual capacity and sagacity of the political candidates. This way, electorate hold the candidates accountable.

This way, the electorate become informed voters. This way, the electorate get clarifications from intending political holders. The list is endless.

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But when the electorate have been “jollificated and peppersouped” and when stomach infrastructure (a phrase espoused by the former Governor of Ekiti State: Ayo Fayose) and hunger games are the only templates those seeking political offices can offer and tender as policies to the electorate and the electorate cannot see through the time-old political shenanigans and politricking but rather felicitate and jolloficate to usher in candidates who are not people-driven; the outcomes cannot be different from what history teaches us.

If and when the electorate make the blunder of not scrutinising those who want to lead them, the consequences are generational and in some cases eternal. It is what it is. Like a present minister of a certain country boldly stated recently, and facelifting his “Let me remember you” phrase; “Let me remember you; history repeats itself even in politics.”

Dolapo Aina, a global strategic communications consultant and founder of The Write Communications in Kigali, Rwanda.

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