OPINION+ POLITICIANS AND 2015 Posted By Admin TIDE Oct 20th, 2014 The 2015 general elections are some months away and yet the drum beats of war are already echoing in different parts of the country. The rising incidence of violence at political campaign grounds is a bad omen for the 2015 general election. Political violence may be old as Nigeria, but as the country consecutively gains democratic experience since 1999, many had hoped that this unfortunate character of politicians would be wearing out by now. But instead, passion for political violence seems to be on the rise. Politicians are breathing new life into an old political machine that should progressively be consigned to the past. The whole politics seem to be stuck in a time warp. It is like the politicians (members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the opposition parties are not prepared for change. They are committed to maintain a cruel political tool-violence – that has in large measure proved to be at the core of the present security nightmare in the country that has according to a recent report, claimed over 14,000 lives since 1999. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had described the process as a do-or die affair and it seems that Nigerian politicians are working very hard towards proving him right yet again. When it comes to providing work for idle minds, the devil seems to have a particular fondness for Nigerian youths, especially around election times. Politicians turn to the country’s pool of unemployed millions to recruit young people to prosecute their inordinate ambitions. Their job description includes anything from intimidating political opponents to seizing ballot boxes and clobbering unco-operative electoral affairs. As 2015 approaches Nigerians must ask themselves some hard questions. Is the upsurge in bloody violence happening only because 2015 general elections are approaching? What kind of leaders do Nigerians want? However, the real issue today is Boko Haram and both sides of the political divide seem to conveniently use the group for their own conspiracy theories. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) believes that the opposition uses the dreaded Islamist group to cause confusion and make the government look incapable of governance. The APC on its part, believe the ruling party is using the terrorists to destabilise the north, the stronghold of the opposition, in order to gain political advantage in the forth coming elections. Nigerians should ask themselves this question. Is the upheaval in the country really a struggle between the south and the north, Christians and Muslims, as Nigerians are being made to believe? Nigerians must act to put a stop to the devious manipulations of the political elite, the inclination of these politicians to increase the deep-rooted mistrust over ethnicity and religion amongst Nigerians. However there are many instances of violence arising from political intolerance and the country is sure to see more as it marches towards the 2015 election. Godfatherism is a symbiotic relationship between two persons namely: the god father and the godson, where the godfather uses his political power and wealth to secure political positions for the godson, who upon ascension into power pays gratification to his mentor in kind or in cash. Godfatherism has become a norm in Nigeria’s political environment where without a godfather, it is difficult for an individual to secure a political position. Where does this leave our youths who are employed as agent in carry out their evil biddings. What is the future of aspiring politicians with vision who have the peoples interest at heart. To get out of this imposition Nigeria must resort to true democracy devoid of godfatherism, rotationalism and selectivism. The government of the day should hands off on who becomes the next governor of the state and allow free and fair election right from the primaries to the main elections. The quest to hold on to power by these politicians as our foremost leaders is on the increase, their interest is as constant as “k” is constant in mathematical variables. Their political oppression and political victimization are on a high frequency. Godfatherism is as old as politics itself. Most times I wonder why godfather /godson relationship never end well as a result of incessant fallouts where the godfather engages the said godson in bitter fights. Among the most prominent cases of these political giants and their political sons was that of senator Chris Ngige and PDP chieftain and financier, Chris Uba who engaged themselves in bitter political fight in the name of who should control the state’s treasury. There are so many other cases. It is obvious that godfathers cause more harm than good to the nation’s polity. Also the struggle for power, fame and prosperity has always been the sole cause of desperation among our political elite. Some politicians indulge in ritual practices to win elections. Each time a major election approaches as in 2015 the rate of missing persons and dead person’s with missing body parts is always in the increase. How would Nigeria prosper and be violence-free with the penchant of politicians to engage in do or die politics and spill the blood of the innocent in their quest for power ? Our politicians should play the game by the rule and make 2015 safe for all. Iragunima, a journalist, writes from Port Harcourt. Benice Iragunima TIDE Oct 20th, 2014 and filed under Opinion =================================================== +The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s), and are not those of COMMUNITY OF INTEREST NIGERIA (COIN). COIN is not responsible for the content of any external Internet sites linked to this page. All comments posted are the responsibility of the posters. COIN does not endorse any opinions expressed. ===================================================
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 03:15:58 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015