By Prine Adehi Abdulkareem.
We are in a profound crisis, notably in the infrastructure, human, economic and security spheres, and there is no easy way out.
The choice we make in the next Governorship election, come 11/11/2023 will substantially determine the future of our state and the future of the next generation. So much is at stake! I forewarn all that there is no messiah in sight than Muri.
Anybody elected will definitely have limitations, I knew, but at least we are looking for that man who can think, inspire action, mobilize, and harness our diverse talent, come up with smart ideas on how to use our natural resources, roll up his sleeves to work and radiate hope –the audacity of hope for a better kogi state that will satisfy the yearnings of present and future generations, that will not and will never be found in Bello’s annointed candidate who has submerged the destiny of Kogi workers.
It is a fact that the outcome of the coming election in terms of the quality of Governorship candidates is already predetermined. The leadership selection process of the parties in Kogi has already narrowed the options. The challenge for the discerning is who among the saints or sinners offered us by the political parties meets the criteria of what our state needs at this moment?
Unfortunately, but true, democracy does not always throw up the best. To paraphrase a statement attributed to Thomas Jefferson; “a democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49”. History is replete with nations that elected leaders that plunged them into crisis. Adolf Hitler, the acclaimed motivational speaker, was elected at a time of widespread economic misery, fear, perception of worse hardship to come as well as anger against the reigning government at the time.
Muqtada Al-Sadr rode on the back of religious sentiments and was elected in post-Saddam Iraq. Nicolas Maduro and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and Mauricio Macri of Argentina were all elected by their people. My point is that a certain community, state or nations, both in advanced and emerging democracies, can elect bad leaders just the way we have now in Kogi State.
I am not surprised because he was imposed on the people.
Look, when democracy throws up the wrong leaders, it has a significant detrimental effect on the polity. It manifests as a lack of foresight and ideas to create an enabling environment that will promote national development, a spike in corruption, killings, oppression, abuse of human rights and stifling of socio-economic space.
The existential situation in Kogi State today is such that we cannot afford to elect bad leaders come 11-11-2023. Despite our apparent challenges, which may be terminal if not well managed, why would Kogites elect the wrong leaders on 11th, which is a defining election?
I deliberately surveyed 1 person I consider enlightened but not the the most enlightened amongst them, knowledgeable but not the most knowledgeable amongst them and smart but not the smartest amongst them all.
Muritala Yakubu Ojochenemi Omeiza Oluwatosin Ajaka.
in the political economy of our state, and I will gladly share my findings. From my survey, there are a few reasons why we can elect the wrong persons without vision, the capacity and character to lead us. These issues appear commonsensical and are individually capable of derailing the quest to elect good leaders. However, in the Kogi context, these issues come together to make a cohesive, hydra-headed, and complex form that creates an inevitability of political doom capable of derailing our quest for good leaders come 11-11-2023.
The first factor is the significant relationship between personal economic wellbeing and political behaviour Kogi political milieu. In our political culture, some of the electorate often prefers immediate selfish benefits during elections as an inducement to determine their choice of voting than the long-term considerations of the impact of the leadership on the land. Little wonder people buy and sell votes reminiscent of open market transactions, where many are willing to sell their franchise for a meagre ₦2000 to ₦6000, just as Yahaya Bello once said in the past, give them 6000k and you will take much advantage of them.
This problem is made worse by the impact of economic hardship on most voters living below the poverty line and in a short-term survival mood. Money for survival for a day or two may sway their political voting choice because economic hardship will push them to vote as dictated by their stomach and not the head. When juxtaposed with informed predictions of the possible economic landscape before 11-11, where more Kogites will be pushed below the poverty line, it becomes evident that economic misery will be a factor that will determine choices amongst the poorest folks amongst us and they constitute 70% of the electorate.
Even among the political elite, it is a function of greed and insatiable desire for primitive accumulation.
Our society rewards those who cheat and engage in corrupt practices so long as they are ready to pay. They are the ones with ready and free money. They amass great financial war-chest to prosecute elections to buy power at all costs. And they loot our commonwealth when in power to compensate themselves.
Corruption is a fact that blurs ethnic, religious, gender, and class lines in Nigeria. It’s sadly become a sociocultural norm.
Kogi can’t be better if we don’t take responsibility and keep saying no to those who had taking much advantage of our calmness to loot, oppress and taking power at all cost.
Kogi should be better.
Kogi must be better.
Kogites should enjoy their own state.
Kogi should move on in a positive direction.
