By Ezrel Taboowo
I woke up this morning to quite a lot of thoughts in my head and decided to share just a bit from the lot. I feel Nigeria is the way it is because leaders and followers alike do not sit back to take in the lessons that are suposed to shape us into a great nation.
In penning my thoughts, I’ll do so randomly without paying attention to how well thought out and presented same should be. I advise anyone reading to simply take the message and run with it.
To begin, I think the rot we call out today are products of our making – everyone is guilty as charged. Most times, when I attend functions and events and see how Nigerians infuse their speeches with patriotic delivery, I wonder why Nigeria has still not changed in spite of the quality of ideas. But after serving in government, I realize it’s all about keeping up appearances. Nobody really gives a hoot about having a changed system. If anything, they are just out to line their pockets and enjoy the privileges which comes with the office. These are the only motivation which drives their creativity. Else, how do you explain the contradiction of not doing what they preach?
But then, let’s look at the bigger scam that made our leaders – the people. I’ve never in my entire life seen such a deceptive bunch of human beings. I recall my experience from contesting the House of Assembly elections in 2019. Whilst campaigning, aspirants new to contesting elections were of the impression that their popularity was measured on the basis of the crowd they were able to pull to their events – at least, so they thought.
I recall we had a candidates’ whatsapp group for contestants, and we knew the boys amongst the men. Within my party, it wasn’t difficult to identify the HOA heavy weights within the state who could match those of the ruling party. In fact, the flag-off was the acid test.
The SDP in Delta Central at the time was perceived as a breathe of fresh air. All candidates on the platform of the party had no godfathers or sponsors unlike the others. My counterparts vying to represent Udu, Ughelli North LGAs were impressive candidates and their flag-offs were equally very successful. Mine was marred with severe violence half-way through the event because my local government till this day is considered the hotbed of politics. The coaster bus driver who came from Abuja for the event, Mallam Sule, fled for his life. It’s a day I doubt he’ll forget in a hurry.
The point here is: The flag-off in my local government and the two others I mentioned above didn’t translate to a win in spite of all. Not even the ruling PDP candidates could rally constituents or campaign freely the way we did. The practice among the people was strategic. Supporters of APC and PDP thronged SDP rallies as our supporters, then later migrated to PDP and APC to wear different garments. I recall meeting some PDP support groups at our Senatorial Candidate’s house, Olorogun Dr. Ovie Ughwanogho, pledging to work against their own candidate. While this was on, some of our own party members were also into talks to sell us out. Like warri people dey talk, “wetin eye see, mouth no fit talk”. The scam was on a different level entirely.
Election Day came and the outcome of results shocked us to the marrow. Most of our votes from the wards never even made it to the local government and state collation centre. Worse still, if you fail to pay your agents, they won’t show up to secure your votes. I had 178 polling units, now do the maths. My point: It’s almost impossible for an opposition party to win an election in Nigeria, except there’s a calculated plot by members in charge of the structures of the ruling party to hand its victory to the opposition; or maybe just through the courts.
All these put together explains why elected leaders in most cases do not care about the welfare of the people. And for those who do, they end up leaving government unexpectedly with very little to show for it. What I’ve come to find also is that no elected politician is too good not to be ditched by the people. That is the way of Nigeria’s politics. The moment you fail to secure the ticket, the crowd hops on the next available wagon, no matter how bereft of ideas the candidate is. And trust them to shine him with praises to the limelight. A man once looked at as an inconsequential fellow in politics would suddenly become the “Juggernaut of Makoko land”; the “Agogodoza of Kelemu Kingdom”; so long as he understands the language of “greasing the palms”. I need not mention prominent names, but we all know a number of leaders out there who once shone bright as the stars and have become reclusive owing to this experience. Their crowds have deserted them to patronize the next man on the block. Only very few followers seldom stick by them. Such is the illusion and sad reality of Nigerian Politics!
