Crowds Of Chaos -By Kene Obiezu

 It is election season and save for the uninitiated and those who will feign ignorance, it is again that time in Nigeria where there will be just enough money to throw at people who will driven by   privation into forming crowds that will chant at arranged rallies meant to  launder the image of those running for offices.

Nigeria is Africa`s most populous country and easily its biggest economy and largest democracy.  Big things have always been expected and will continue to be expected of the Giant of Africa.

 However, over many years, experience has shown that the many challenges confronting the citizens of the Giant of Africa are just as big as the country is.  Many of the problems have traditionally been put down to desperately poor leadership.  Election season after election season which threw up opportunities to fix the country`s leadership woes have seen those opportunities go begging as the vicious cycle of bad leadership has continued.  Over many years, a favourite narrative of those who have presumed to prescribe remedies for the Nigerian malady has unfailingly been that the led in Nigeria have been just as complicit as the leaders in cooking the convoluted challenges that  today  convulse the Giant of  Africa.

 A movement of discontent

 In May 2022, Peter Obi jumped the ship of the  Peoples Democratic Party.  After days of waiting, he ended speculation about   his next move by pitching his tent with the Labour Party. That he would clinch the presidential ticket of the party was a forgone conclusion long before the primaries were convened.  Suddenly, on a platter of gold, he had  in the Labour Party what he  refused to buy with money in the Peoples Democratic  Party.

 Since then, his popularity, which was surging even before the move, has acquired the ferocity of wildfire.  Many in the country and outside the country, including many of Nigeria`s prominent intellectuals and thought leaders have lined up behind the former Anambra State Governor. Many of those who would rather look elsewhere have preferred to keep their opinions to themselves probably for fear of drawing the ire of the supporters of Mr. Obi who have been accused of going as far issuing death threats to those who disagree with them.

Thunderous rallies have rocked many cities in Nigeria to rally support for a man who  is said to have no structures but is a refreshing departure from the crumbling relics of old days that other political parties have plunged into the race. For many young Nigerians, Peter Obi is Nigeria`s only hope.

 On Saturday September 24,2022, one of such earth-shaking rallies in support of Mr. Obi surged through Abuja, the nation`s capital.

It has since drawn mockery from some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party who have alleged that many of those who attend such rallies are rented.

 With the campaigns for the elections about to begin officially on September 28,2022,Nigerians must be reminded of their commitment to ensure that only credible people find their way into public offices next year.  To do that, there can be no compromise whatsoever in the demand that the process which will throw them up are kept free of   the fraud that so freely and scandalously mark elections in Nigeria.

 Those who make themselves available for all manner of odd jobs during elections will do well to heed superior counsel.

 However, experience over the years has shown that the problem of bad leadership begins even before the polls properly commence and continue long after the polls have ceased. These problems have proven costly and even deadly.

 In the light of these, those who give up years of peace, progress and prosperity for peanuts and pittances in the interim may want to rethink their choices and the consequences of those choices not just for themselves but for their children too.

 Kene Obiezu,

Twitter: @keneobiezu