SENSE OF BELONGING (14 July 2014) SEPERATING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF: The technocrat, Feeding Bottle Aspirants and the Capitalist By Fodio Ahmad (Mai Gemu) More often than not, I have been nurturing a fundamental thought. Only recently, a big question about our nascent democracy keeps me asking; Is Nigerias democracy practiced by her politicians just for the reason or rather sake of winning elections ? The motive behind my question is from the look of the trends. It seems to me these politicians embrace democracy for a single aim, which is just winning. After winning, comes how to re-seek a second term, accompanied by the tussle of succession. The almighty formula of ambition catapulting is another major factor on our political scene, automatically ruling out the common man from their calculations.The failure of our democratic system has today turned the entire system volatile. The ideal democracy basically should be for the interest of the common man and his aspirations. In more light, his fundamental freedom and rights, free and fair elections, the rule of law, separation of powers, public opinion and functional democratic opposition, which has not been seen in the All Progressive Congress of the present moment even though from inception they seemed more resolute to salvage the common Nigerian, not ‘by force, or by fire snatch power’ from the PDP. APC = CHANGE, this is when change is yet to be practiced within the party itself. PDP = POWER,it is either you quietly give it to them or they collect against your wish. This explains why we need to start considering candidates, not the party. Well, for what its worth,maybe only few are aware that the political consciousness of Nigerlites are marching high to the required political atmosphere. I also have to commend JIDE ORINTUNSIN over such a brilliant, yet balanced and fair analysis of the various governorship aspirants to succeed the chief servant of Niger state, published in the Nation newspaper on 7th July 2014. This is the sole inspiration for this piece. I personally perceive the writer was trying not to hurt or play a ‘Saint Writer’ attitude during his course of analyzing the Guber Racers come 2015 in Niger state, which is good for him as an individual who wants to avoid creating enemies. The thing is such analysis can’t serve our craving for the dividends of democracy. The conundrum on the piece was just the writer’s inability to separate the wheat from the chaff and until someone is bold enough to distinguish between the feeding bottle aspirants and the real racers, we might just end up re-visiting the 2007 polls in 2015. God forbid, Game over to Stomach Infrastructure. Only that, that is of course why it is politics, a very dynamic game, a game of intelligence, calculations and numbers. One can’t do away with blackmails, twists and various styles of scheming exercises by the politicians and elites, just to maintain relevance in all existing governments even at the detriment of the masses. Like Lawal Kaugama will say “The quality of democratic governance cannot be separated from the competence, experience and vision of those elected to govern” from his article Published in Daily Trust of 9th July 2014 titled 2015: WHY JIGAWA DESERVES A MORE ROBUST LEADERSHIP. Indeed, it is Mr. Kaugama but not Jigawa alone.Well,i think Niger state deserves a more-robust governor coupled with some effective constituents representation and not the present day ‘Legislative Robots’ that occupy the Jikantoro Complex, Minna. It is no wonder we are yet to have a pro-masses effective representation, just Pocket-Wise representations except for few who actually understand why they are called law-makers. Imagine the unmitigated legislative embarrassment from the Edo state house of assembly; where law makers turn boxers, and now they have become Edo State Boxers Assembly;clearly a representative disaster. Niger needs a technocrat as her next governor come 2015, a leader who is fully equipped as the case may be with practicable records not just PhD’s and certainly not a Pro in Cosmeticand 3D, sorry 5D bill boards,sophisticated and completed projects,e.t.c. All I am trying to buttress is that we need a governor that has been able to move above and beyond any egoistic and primitive need for power, attention, or establishing his personal agendas, all in the name of works for the good-of-all Nigerlites. Trust me; I have had enough through the giant works of the Nigerian ‘SERVANT LEADERSHIP’ concept, dated back 2007 not the ‘SERVANT LEADERSHIP’ dated far back 375 B.C. which Chanakya’s Arthashastra opined as a leadership style “The leader shall consider as good, not what pleases himself but what pleases his subjects” and not those attention seekers dividing our sense of voting especially aspirants from the Peoples Democratic Party. It is definitely sad. Dear Niger PDP governorship aspirants, for crying out loud,cease fire in polluting our environs with posters; do you need to ? Is it simply because you are targeting a ministerial or ambassadorial nomination ? Ok, Thou shall be giveth a nomination so give chance to the last man standing in PDP, the technocrat I mean. Thank God for the Niger State All Progressive Congress, which so far has one candidate who is very young and educated but is 360° full of pride, ego and lacks sense of respect. This young capitalist could not handle the steering wheel of a commissioner being a ‘Political Saint’ .I quote him “When I was called to serve, I heeded the call but after sometime, I realized that under that environment I couldn’t make a difference; I couldn’t make any meaningful changes and at the same time, I realized that my businesses were suffering. Rather than lose both ways, I decided to save my business”, Save his Business? Has the business being saved, he is already busy investing in the governorship seat. I do not need to tell you what happens after a capitalist invests his money ! Alright,let me ease the brainstorming parade in Mathematical format, CAPITALIST + INVESTMENTS = PROFIT, this is in accordance with the broad-based principles of capitalism. If he eventually becomes the successor of the incumbency, even in our political dreams, that will vindicate the incumbency;for that will be when Nigerlites will appreciate the implementation strides of the vision 3:20 20. In many ways our votes have always exploded into political careers of politicians without any optimism, so for just that sake we can’t just vouch our one chance to democratic growth and development. Nigerlites change in democratic attitude come 2015 will surely determine the altitude of our democracy after 2015. So It’s not too late before 2015 but certainly too late after 2015. Let, he who is the technocrat rule, ‘THAT PERFECT GOVERNOR’ that will not make himself look good by assaulting our elder statesmen publicly is what we need as a hungry society beyond selfish interest, stomach, family and cronies. Fodio wrote in from Kano. Mr_Hodiyo (twitter) 33050122 (BBM)
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 06:01:00 +0000
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