Politics

Dateline 2019: Of politicians and battle for seats

 

By Christie Doyin

The election year 2019, in Nigeria is just around the corner and that is talking about a few months away. The real contest starts February 2019 but the precursor or the heralding contest to become candidate of the various parties for various seats is now earnestly been prosecuted.

The reality is that best of friends are in opposition or within the same camp fighting for the same seat so as to emerge as candidates of their party. For those who play by the rule, it shouldn’t cause enmity but for those desperate and who see the election as a ‘do-or-die’ affair, all decorum us thrown to the wind and such could resort to diabolical or fervent spirituality.

My take in all these is that from experience, we know that it is rare for many of them to get there and put the masses in the front burner of their governance and legislation. Many, as obvious from the past are there to satisfy their quest for power, some to sedate their power drunkenness and some others, to be in control of the national cake, albeit the economy or finances of the nation, state or local government. I can assure you that very few are there as a result of concern for the nation and, or to alleviate the peoples’ poverty stricken situations.

Many a business enterprise have had their bustling businesses nosedived, while many could not start up any lucrative enterprise because of the nonchalance of those governing to their plights. Ask 95% of the governors or local council chairmen why the masses are suffering, reason for nonpayment of salaries or why necessary infrastructures are not in place, the ready response is that the allocation has not been forthcoming or sometimes reduced allocation that was given the state.

The questions citizens have often asked are where then do they get money to pay thugs and hangers-on, where did they get money to bribe and buy choice cars for monarchs, families, cronies and selves? Friends and hangers-on are sent on holy(unholy) pilgrimages and holidays to rub their backs while those who were dedicated to duty and went through ‘hell’ for their successes at the various elections are left to the mercy of hunger and general lacks.

Workers’ salaries are not paid and where paid are in percentages, fragments of their whole salaries, leading them to alms begging and often, frequent visits to hospitals, which of course lack necessary amenities and drugs and where available, is out of their reach because of the cost.

The Osun State gubernatorial election must have sent some messages to desperate politicians that power lies in the electorate and to the voters, that they can wield their power in any direction they so wished in spite of the intrigue that played out during the rerun election that led to the controversial result. My submission is that the electorate should be ready to protect their votes and make a stand against those with penchant for vote buying or robbery. It is about time those wolves are given such treatment that they never can forget by voting out the pretenders and arrogant dictators pretending to be progressives.

This is the time to say no to mediocrity and irresponsible leaders who do not have their concerns at heart. Those who used them to get to desired positions and thereafter discard them like used pad. My take is when they offer you money, accept, it’s part of the money they ought to have given you through good governance, however, go ahead to vote according to your conscience.

Just like was done in Osun, let’s decide who we want as we monitor and protect our votes. Reports from a Situation Room’s observations, stated that it was obvious “that circumstances that led to the cancellation of the elections in the seven polling units where the elections were re-run, including violence, was also repeated in the rerun election, raising questions on why results obtained under these conditions should stand.

“It is of great concern that the entirety of the Osun State re-run election derogates from the recent gains made in our elections process and the confidence that was beginning to be built. The lapses in the Osun re-run elections has put a serious question mark on the electoral process and raised concerns about the forthcoming 2019 Nigeria general elections”. But then, the concerned Nigerians should go out to show them they have blood flowing in their veins and deserve to eat, live and be taken care of because they work, they served and put them there.

Osun election is a directional arrow therefore Nigerians should be ready to decide come 2019 General Elections and send uncaring money bags back to wherever they belong and allow us hold our destinies in our hands.

Show More

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button