Re: Politics And Government Should Be Everybody’s Business, Please! -By Isaac Asabor

– Dont Be An Onlooker, Its Time to Actively Participate – Adesanya-Davies

Isaac Asabor writes in Opinion Nigeria as published on February 18, 2022, stating categorically that,
“First and foremost, government and politics impacts nearly on every aspect of our lives. Whether we like it or not, government plays a huge role in our daily lives, ranging from the amount of tax we pay pertaining to the roads we ply on daily basis, and the level of electricity we are supplied with as well as the health and educational facilities that are available to us as citizens, and a such, titled the article: “Politics And Government Should Be Everybody’s Business, Please.”

Adding that, “the Social Media is now of outmost importance, whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any of the social media platforms available. People use social media every day to express their views on any issue that can leave positive or negative impact on their lives, even as any given social media platform is equally use to connect with friends, or keep up with current events. Thus, as the presidential election approaches, come 2023, many are already by each passing day on social media commenting on why some candidates are fit and qualified to contest in the forthcoming election, and by God’s grace, consequently become Nigeria’s president.

In fact, not few presidential hopeful that have so far publicly made their interest to participate in the election known are finding it difficult to cope as they are been calumniated by social media trolls who are by the minute posting derogatory and ridiculous comments about them. In fact, social media trolls are not only after these candidates but also after their supporters who are equally on social media platforms like them. Indeed, social media trolls have started voicing their opinions on political choice or controversial issues.

In a similar vein, in a situation where supporters of these lampooned politicians voluntarily choose to help them mitigate the damages been done on their reputations, they are being virtually attacked by social media trolls through annoying and provocative backlashes. I must confess that when yours sincerely supported a gubernatorial aspirant through his journalistic and writing skills in 2020 that it was so excruciating that I was compelled to adopt a policy of warding off social media trolls from my virtual platforms with diplomacy.

In handling social media trolls at the time, I was wont to first determine if such person is truly a troll by allowing him or her to do it repeatedly. After his trolling status has being determined, I resolved not to stoop to his or her level, and simply ignore posts sent by such troll. Given the provocative nature of the posts I used to receive on my Facebook pages at the time, I was emboldened to either mute or block, and out rightly unfriend anyone identified to be a troll.
Against the foregoing backdrop, those who I confided in, and who were aware of my experience often ask me, “Why are you so interested in politics and government?”

As someone who has spent many years studying and writing on issues that revolve around politics, I recognise that, to some, it is not the most glamorous of subjects.

Combine this “boring factor” with the ongoing climate of cynicism, controversial topics and combative media attention regarding government, and you have a population which is generally disengaged, and while I understand why some might be apathetic toward any issue that border on politics, I would like to share three reasons why people should be interested in politics and government.

First and foremost, government and politics impacts nearly on every aspect of our lives. Whether we like it or not, government plays a huge role in our daily lives, ranging from the amount of tax we pay pertaining to the roads we ply on daily basis, and the level of electricity we are supplied with as well as the health and educational facilities that are available to us as citizens.

Again, since we know that government impacts on various choices we make, why can’t we take the time to understand how the process works? Who makes these laws and how do they impact on us? Having this understanding can help anyone determine the best course of action for himself or herself and the family, regarding a wide range of issues.

Secondly, having knowledge of politics helps make anyone an informed voter. It is a well-known fact that many Nigerians do not vote. In fact, it would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February 2021 disclosed that voters’ turnout across Nigeria hovered around 30 to 35 per cent of registered voters in the last two electoral cycles; that is 2015 and 2019, respectively.

Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, disclosed this in Abuja at the Commission’s first consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) for 2021. Yakubu said while some elections recorded higher percentage of voter turnouts, it was lower in some other elections.

“Over the last two electoral cycles, including off-season elections, voter turnout across the country hovers around 30 to 35 per cent”. For those who do vote, I believe it’s important to go to the polls armed with the facts. Whether you’re voting for President or voting on a local ballot initiative, having the facts helps you make an informed decision on the issues.

This isn’t to say that it’s necessary to read every newspaper article about an issue or watch every television interview with a candidate, but doing some independents research can give you peace of mind that you’ve done your homework prior to casting your ballot.

Thirdly and lastly, Politics is entertaining. While it might not be as entertaining as going out with friends on a Friday night, politics can be quite fun that one experiences catharsis in many different ways, particularly during the campaigns that presage the election proper. Who will not experience catharsis upon hearing that a presidential hopeful urinated on his body? Whether it is true or not; it definitely serves as a comic relief.

In fact, being a spectator can be exciting. “Is my candidate ahead in the polls?” “What was their latest blunder?” Just think, this fun only occurs during election season. However, vigorous debates with friends and family about the current hot-button political issues can occur any time! Also, who doesn’t like a good political scandal?

While I don’t expect everyone to rush out and become members of the All People’s Congress (APC), or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is expedient we endeavour to get our Permanent Voters Card (PVC), and pay attention to political issues as well as identifying the candidate that portrays good leadership qualities, and help in selling his or her candidacy to those around us in our neighborhoods, churches, offices and other places we are familiar with on individual basis but we shouldn’t be partisan about it as it is not a “Do or die affair”.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is not a misnomer to say that politics and government should be everybody’s business. Even civil servants have won the matter in court a couple of years ago that they can now fully participate by being card carrier members of their parties who can contest elections vote and be voted for, unlike in the past.

As Clement Uwayah, also noted, in a similar article, “It’s Time for a Paradigm Shift in Choosing Political Leader”s – As we approach the upcoming 2023 general elections, we need to beam the searchlights towards ensuring that only the bests get into positions. We all need to fully participate and vote and be voted for.

Leadership remains an instrument for changes. The turnaround of many countries like Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, China, and others took roots from the kind of leaders, especially the political leaders that presided over them at one time or the other. When leaders are strong willed, futuristic, and not self-centered, it becomes possible to do exploits. On the contrary, leaders who are shortsighted, clueless and without vision end up destroying even the already laid down foundation and eventually keep the nation retarded.

This is exactly what separates nations, not necessarily resources, because God was not and could not have been partial in the distribution of resources. No matter the abundance of resources in any country, if the leaders continue to underperform, that country would continue to slide downwards in growth and development, and the quality of life of its citizens would regularly fall below expectations, eventually paving way for crime and sundry societal vices, as daily seeing today. Unless we wake up and exercise our voters franchise and right, nothing may actually change.

Invariably, Nigerians need to understand the concepts of choices and consequences. Every decision has a consequence. Painfully enough, most decisions and choices are not easily reversible. For instance, the decision to be carefree during election help empower the desperate and wrong persons into government, and that could give a minimum of four years of mediocrity if not outright failures. We must always remember that our choices impact our self esteem, confidence, productivity, health and well-being, our community, and the society at large. Since everyone craves for a better nation, then we truly need a new order in our political leadership choices and as such we all need to participate.

We must forgo immediate gains for the emergence of a new political order. Neglecting to do this will keep us in a state of palpable perdition. The best choices in life are the ones which consequences align with long term goals, even if they are hard in the beginning. Our political leadership choices should be predicated upon the ultimate goals we have for our country. It must be emphasized here, that, it is not the declaration of interest to lead, or the deep pocket or sponsorship, or political structures built over time that qualifies one. Rather, critical analyses of political leadership aspirants with respect to personality and records should always be reeled out with the intention of ascertaining suitability.

Therefore, as we approach the upcoming 2023 general elections, we need to beam the searchlights towards ensuring that only the bests get into positions. However, since, our political system is almost entirely at the whims and caprices of the political class we must ensure to do our best in this trying times of our nation.

Ultimately, our failure to attract the best of leaders takes root in the fact that we are not practicing a representative government in the real sense of it. It is my stern belief that consultations are supposed to be the basis upon which representatives make decisions of who to support or not during primary elections, but alas, it has never been so. It has always been a case of the political leaders dictating where the pendulum swings, chiefly by very bogus and mouth-watering monetary inducements. The open sharing of hard currency in past primaries are still fresh in memories. So, when we condemn and seek punitive measures for vote buying, it must start from primaries where high racketeering has always been the order. Again, it is necessary to ensure that equity is brought into play, always.

Moreover, in Nigeria today, the injustice of denial of leadership by people from the Eastern region must be checked and reversed immediately. How can a society of egalitarianism emerge when a particular section is ostracized from ever attaining the highest office in the land? This is particularly worrisome as the region has contributed in no small measure to the respect the country enjoys globally by reason of persons from that region who have made global impacts. Besides, a new order of looking in that direction would be a natural cure to the agitation for sovereignty by some folks from that region. We are truly in dire need for a new order. There should be a paradigm shift from the old order where the old and tired keep popping up in our mundane political practices of recycling leaders, especially the tested and not trusted ones.

Lastly, Nigeria’s greatness must not be a thing of just prayers, but that of doing the right things the right way. No doubts, the general elections of 2023 offer a very good opportunity for a new order where only the tested and trusted should be projected and supported. That way, we would be making a firm choice from a list of only the bests, and that would always be always a plus. It is time, Nigeria joins the league of nations that puts out its best eleven on the political field. Its time for all inclusive and participatory governance. We come in peace!