THE POLITICS OF THE THROAT

There is an African saying that the throat is the route to heaven. The import of this is that all that we do is usually motivated or underpinned by what we literarily want to eat. We are often interested in what is in a particular project for us personally before we buy in. This is the basic human nature. Human beings think of survival first over and above any other consideration. However, where this instinct is elevated to the extreme, caution is thrown to the dogs. Behavioural traits such as avarice, covetousness and self-aggrandisement manifest. You will find a situation whereby a person is proverbially willing to defer to a cow for the sake of getting meat. Self-respect becomes a scarce virtue.

The current happenings in our political space against the backdrop of the forthcoming general elections can be alluded to the foregoing. Of specific note is the ensuing ‘battle’ between the two main political parties (PDP and APC) over the presidential seat of power. All kinds of devices are currently being employed to sway people’s votes. We are now innundated with all sorts of scheming and propaganda. The social media is particularly agog. All manner of material is being circulated on per-second basis.

In the midst of all this, one can sieve the chaff from the wheat. One can easily identify people who sold their conscience, who are solely interested in their personal pecuniary gains rather the genuine interest of the body polity. It is very saddening that, when clear and untainted sound of trumpet for positive change is in the air, these people are hell-bent on elongating or perpetuating the ‘evil’ in the land.

My fellow Nigerians, another year of decision is here again when we elect or re-elect public officers to represent our interest and to serve us the electorate. It is an opportunity to install progressive leadership we truly desire. It is imperative that we get it right. We need to get Nigeria out of the doldrums. Enough of unfulfilled promises. Nigeria is too blessed to be caught up in the quagmire it has presently found herself.

This is a clarion call to all well-meaning Nigerians that we all need to rise above the subsistence level of politics and get united with one voice to take our great country to that exalted pedestal it really deserves.