POLITICS IN NIGERIA: WHAT WE MUST DO

My passion for politics took me out on Thursday. It’s been a while since I had such an opportunity. I believe there is much room for conscientious, God-focused individuals to fill in our leadership and governance structure.

I sat quietly to observe proceedings of the post LGA/LCDA Chairmanship elections in Lagos organized by News Central TV for all political actors to bear their minds. I must say kudos to the founder, Mr. Kayode Akintemi – who I watched on Sunrise weekend editions on Channels TV – and the amazing team at the news organization for a wonderful event.

I saw how politicians lash out at kings and other authority figures in the name of opposition. See, when we say respect these people, it’s not the persona but the office. I feel many young politicians still don’t get it and carry the aluta mentality from the university into national politics. They do need to learn how to moderate ‘sincerely speaking the truth’ with respect.

At the same time, those ones too have become the proverbial ‘agba t’o so yangan mo’di, o ti di alawada adie’. That Yoruba proverb is literally saying that when an adult goes around with maize cobs tied around their body, he becomes the subject of ridicule as hens will flock and chase them around town. The leaders, too, should live up to the honour of their position.

My most important submissions from the program

1. It is difficult, if not outrightly impossible, for an opposition party to wrest power out of the hold of a ruling party in Nigeria. Because Nigerians, all of us, will simply rinse and repeat our sit-down, sit-tight mindset whether we are in blue party, yellow party, green party, or red party. How many times do Nigerians resign in their day jobs, even to retire, na wahala?

2. There is a political front called IPAC – Inter Party Advisory Council – which is grossly underutilized by politicians, especially during off-election cycle. I suggest that organ should be used as a concerted voice to educate and engage the electorates, voter apathy is a behemoth in our society. It should also be used as a policy advocacy tool to push for unified LGA elections. Political parties could be competitors on the field but should be collaborators on this roundtable.

3. It is a good thing to aspire and it’s definitely not about winning. But isn’t it laughable that in a LGA Chairmanship elections, some candidates can’t even muster 10 votes in their whole LGA. Are we saying that not even 5 neighbors on your street would come out to vote in the same polling unit as yours. This is a lesson in social intelligence, if you have an overnight emergency, do you have 2 neighbors who, for their love for you, would rush out in their pyjamas or boxers or wrapper?

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