NIGERIA is populated by leaders. We probably have more leaders than the led. Everywhere you turn, there is a leader, where he leads, and his ideas of leadership do not seem to be issues that bother the people.
Leader is the buzz word for anyone who seems to wield influence, mostly imaginary. Admitted that fairness is alien to our politicians, we should be fair, by asking them questions about our future which is rarely captured in the bogus promises they are making about 2015.
It is the season of promises. Most of them are rehashes of fabulous promises that have been made since 1999, copied from faded copies of 1979 manifestoes and regurgitated to digital relevance for a people, who can really say they have seen it all.
From all sides it is the same. The bigger the promises, the bigger the befuddlement of the electorates – politicians have held them captive.
We have promises from all sides. Without an appraisal of what others have done, all those who want power are on a campaign to prove that Nigeria had been badly managed.
Now they remember the people. Politics is about the people they keep telling us, especially at times like these when they want the people to vote for the next round of the invasion of our resources.
What roles have the same politicians who want our votes played in our lives since 1999? When last did they bother about our lives? Are they telling us anything new? What proof, from their performances, do they have to support their promises?
If national concerns are the welfare of the people, how have our governments applied Section 14 2 (b) of the 1999Constitution to their actions?
According to the section, “The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. Concerned politicians should know they have ignored the people for too long.
As if they have not done enough damage, they are determined to shut down the chances of the peoples’ participation in their government, contrary to Section 14 2 (c), which states, “The participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”.
The indifferent position of governments, not only in Abuja, to Section14 2(b) is responsible for democratic governments that have become government of the people “without the people”. Things are getting worse. Politicians through their actions distance the people further from their governments each election season.
Our people should realise that token politics for votes, is not only insulting to their dignity but is the ticket politicians require to appropriate our country to themselves at the people’s expense.
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