As The Drama Unfolds… -By Damilola Makanjuola

‘Jonathan has tried, I mean these problems were existing even before he became the president; he is not God, he cannot change Nigeria overnight…’ (Pro-PDP electorate)

‘We have had enough! For 16 years, it has been stories and more stories with barely any results. To think I was part of those advocating for the incumbent government during the 2011 election; it is about time to try another party…’ (Pro APC electorate)

I have heard such banters and more in the past couple of months as individuals try to pitch for their dream candidate. Nigerians, Africans and indeed the entire world have sat back to watch Nigeria’s political scene go awash with all sorts of adverts, publications, stories in the name of political campaigns. The scriptwriters and directors in the form of media directors and party chiefs seem to have been in their top form lately as they waste no time changing their dance steps to the drummer’s beats. Without a doubt, the media is not doing a bad job framing these stories as the events of Nigeria’s political scene dominates almost every conversation these days.

Although these stories are quite informative and entertaining, I must say; it leaves much to be pondered upon. One of the allegations against General Muhammadu Buhari was that he had doctored his senior school certificate, whilst we watched that particular scene it was interrupted midway with no explanations whatsoever. My thinking is that the scriptwriters and continuity writers of the opposition party lacked what to feed the public with anymore. As the lights came on and the viewer’s got ready to leave the cinema room, the screen came up again with the atrocities of General Buhari’s regime while he was Nigeria’s head of state between 1982-1985. Thanks to the opponents political ‘campaigns’ we are now aware of some of his administration’s misdeeds: unjust killings, maltreatment of citizens, etc. Whilst i think this is somewhat informative, I am wondering to what end this information is.

Suddenly the scriptwriters, directors, producers, A-list actors of Nigeria’s political terrain do not look so bright anymore. They do not seem as the clever strategists and “messiahs” capable of taking our beloved Nigeria to her promised land. I personally grew up looking up to some of these people as they seemed to have all under control and they spoke with such finesse that made one think surely falsehood must be far from these ones. Little did we know that the ones we looked up to were about to utterly disappoint us through their scripts and acts.

Shouldn’t we as a Nation be beyond maimings and dirt digging in the name of political campaigns? What lessons are the younger generations being taught about politics- a maiming game where the most crafty story teller wins or a death trap for those who seem bold enough to be actively engaged? I doubt the storytellers would frame it as such but the truth is this is what we think as viewers.

Good enough, stories can always be re-written; could our political directors and producers kindly re-write an appealing story before the elections. Could we see intellectually stimulating campaigns and articles that leave us in no doubt that whichever party wins will rule us towards our promised land at least. Could we have monies released to the appropriate quarters so that people’s lives are no longer paused all in the name of elections. Could employees get jobs without being told by the employer’s of the uncertainties they currently face due to the political terrain; hence their inability to employ?

The lights are out again, we are back to our seats eagerly watching out for the next scene. Would it be bloody and scary or informative, educative and entertaining. We have to find out for ourselves as the drama unfolds.

Ms. Makanjuola, a graduate of strategic communications from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom contributed this piece as an under-belly review of the ongoing political drama in the country.