My driver in his limited native intelligence explained why violence is rife. Na politics dey come, he said, a smirk on his face, as I tried to make sense of the killings and unspeakable violence that have bedevilled our nation. But it was there before now, I answered pulling my bag out of the car.
And madam, he replied. E dey get worse. Politicians! He shouted across the car as I made my way to the entrance door of my house. Na me you dey shout for? I asked beginning to get angry. No… he said, as I half turned. And under his breath in almost a loud whisper, he muttered… dem dey find all means to win…even ritual. Not that I had not heard this before but as I crashed into my sofa, I heard the chatter of my driver and my neighbours driver. This thing e go increase oh as we dey near politics dey go, my driver added. My madam no know dis things. E shock her. And his partner in political violence discourse answered. Na say make everybody mind im side oh! So dat you no go be meat for bad people. And I said Amen to that.
The unspoken and spoken prayers of many Nigerians is that our Amens will rise up to the heavens for a better Nigeria and a better set of leaders. Say Amen to that…
We live in a nation of many contradictions. We have some new blood who seem almost more vicious in disenfranchising us and focusing on what’s in it for me
We live in a nation of many contradictions. We have some new blood who seem almost more vicious in disenfranchising us and focusing on what’s in it for me. Then we have some yesterday politicians; same old. For me there has to be a new orientation and people who honestly mean to improve our lives and take us to the promised land. So a mix should really be the answer. Those with ideas who can rescue us. And if the person is young and foolish, we are finished. If they are in the older generation and vacuous then we are cooked. Let’s have leaders who know that their job is to serve us and not to help themselves while being clueless.
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Nigeria should be a nation in a hurry, not a giant that has been stultified by a people, and some of their leaders who do not care about the nation and her peoples. Let us look critically. I am talking even at local government level and states. At the local government level, who are those who have looked after their citizens. We need relief. We need relief. We need relief. That makes this election a break or make affair.
Many elections ago, I received a note from foremost economist, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi. In it he congratulated me for an article I wrote on this page. It was an election year and I had written about political posters and psychological profiling of candidates and politicians in the race.
It gives me the greatest pleasure to paraphrase some of my thoughts as it was those many elections ago. And it applies to that election as it is with this one. The posters. What do we see. Look closely at the pictures. Look into their eyes. Which ones present a fraudulent look? Which ones are bloodthirsty? Which ones are going to molest us? Which ones won’t keep their promises? Which ones are returning to complete our impoverishment which they started in the last election? Which ones are deranged and need help? The posters are here.
They are on bridges. On walls on billboards everywhere. Look closely. Even at the words. Which ones mean well and which ones don’t? And politically deviant behaviour is not gender-selective. It’s as bad with some female politicians as it is with some men. As the election fever heightens, let us be wary. Let us stay awake. Let us pick wisely. Get your permanent voter’s card (PVC). We are all in this together. I profess peace for 2023.… Amen
