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A nation is concluding its national elections today. The activities in the country can’t but remind me of Nigerian elections.
Even before a particular election ends, career politicians are already planning for the next elections.
In the elections that are being concluded in Nigeria, meanwhile, a lot of resources would have been committed.
Most of these resources would have been unnecessary if the governments had been mindful of what they were elected to do. But then, the ruling class, which has become the exclusive preserve of a set of people, succeeds in playing on the people’s lack of information.
I wouldn’t say lack of education. That’s because many Nigerians are educated but lack simple information on the principles of governance.
They hardly know it’s the duty of government to provide for the people they are governing. That’s why you’ll see even professors grovelling before power.
It’s a case of the tail wagging the dog!
In Nigeria, the poor will be bribed with useless things by politicians. They too, in their sense of hopelessness, will agree to sell their conscience for the next four years.
For those interest groups that might not be easily subdued, the politicians know they have their prices.
That’s why you have so many betrayals. Once someone goes into a politician’s house, he becomes a different person from what his people had known him for. After all, he didn’t go there for nothing.
We hear about empowerment, but to various people, it means different things.
I can’t but remember a case that happened in my very presence. A speaker of the house of representatives in Nigeria was trying to contest for the gubernatorial post of his state.
He tried to appease to the sensibilities of the people with money. Of course, abeegi (underneath the tree) was a popular political determinant factor in Ogun state.
It was natural that the intending governor would reach out to abeegi. He reached out through his media person. That one arranged a meeting with representatives of abeegi in a neutral place.
I’ve forgotten the amount now but the representatives were given some thousands of Nigerian naira. When they got back, if I’m not mistaken, only one of them stated they were given money and how much money they were given.
That caused an unending conflict in abeegi.
What I’m saying is that the ruling class in the so-called developing countries have mastered the art of divide and rule.
Where the surname of politics is divide and rule, the nation would first need to shear itself of that gown and enter into the world of political accountability.
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