One thing is sure. Politicians are birds of the same feathers. For them, it does not matter where the next meal will come from or what it will take to stay relevant on the table of power. To survive in our own political clime is more than pontificating about an ideology or philosophy. Complex, contradictory, convoluted, and treacherous, those are some of the ‘nicest’ words to describe the political terrain of our land. The list of backstabbing, backbiting, and betrayals of principles, values, ideals and ideas is long and breathtaking. Just as the renege on promises of good governance, and dividend of democracy by politicians and public office holders dot the landscape with mirthful abandon.
In the past, loyalty towards a political party used to be absolute. Not again. In an economic built on stomach infrastructure, people care more about the present than the future that is yet to come. In this case, it is almost impossible to come across genuinely loyal party members or supporters of a politician whose survival is not tied to the apron spring of the leader(s). Think of the infamous ‘amala-gbegiri’ politics or the politics of ‘Baba sope’, a brand of politics that is rampant in Lagos where the leader’s words is the law: think of the removal and return of Mudashiru Obasa, Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly. Wherever poverty is prevalent, it shapes people’s decision at critical times, like during election. “The menace of poverty has devastating effect on democratic consolidation”, a paper titled Effect of Poverty on Political Participation in Dutse, Nigeria argues. The paper added that as a result, electoral violence and underdevelopment become rampant. For instance, the reality of most Nigerians is attached to poverty, to cite data: a whooping 87 million Nigerians or 38.9% of the population, lived below the poverty line, World Bank 2023 report indicated. Additionally, the unemployment rate in the country also runs into millions, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. That is excluding the underemployed and unemployable, a category of job seekers that struggle to find employment particularly because of skills gap and structural issues.
Out of school children, another ugly trend in Nigeria is also estimated at 10.2 million at the primary level and 8.1 million at the junior secondary level, according to data from UNICEF. The list of challenges that politicians continue to pay leap service to is ridiculous. By 2027, that trend would have deepened, making it difficult for the electorates act with integrity in a process that will produce the next set of political office holders. In loyalty for sale, a topic I dissected on this column on July 29, 2023, I argued that the ‘Jagba’ style with which the current minister of Power, Oloye Bayo Adelabu grabbed and snatched the ministerial slot of Oyo State show that in Nigerian politics, loyalty is a tradeable and sellable commodity.
In fact, the commodification of powerful and influential positions illustrates the setback that has permeated the country’s political landscape. A situation where ministerial or other juicy government positions are sold to the highest bidders portend a grave danger to the nation’s effort toward development. When you pay through your nose to secure an appointment, common sense tells us that your first assignment will be to recoup and recover the money right from day one. To do otherwise would be a defeat of the mindset and mentality that fuel your action and desperation in the first place.
To take a cue from the fight to finish political fiasco in Rivers State, one is tempted to say that fighting for politicians without ‘sense’ is the most foolish and stupid thing to do – but poverty and ignorance can make people do the most foolish and stupid of all things. The last time Oyo witnessed similar political imbroglio was in 2006 when former Governor Rashidi Ladoja was illegally removed from office by political thugs loyal to late Chief Lamidi Adedibu. Although, that political coup couldn’t have been possible without the covert support of the President, Olusegun Obasanjo and other power brokers in the state. Recall that in other states where lawlessness and brigandage became the order of the day, Obasanjo acted with precise decisiveness by swiftly declaring State of Emergencies while suspending the democratically elected governors in the process. For instance, he axed Joshua Dariye, then Governor of Plateau State on 18 May, 2004 and Ayo Fayose on the 18 October 2006. Instead of acting with the same level of consistency, in the case of Oyo State, Obasanjo turned the other cheek and sanctioned the illegality that almost turned the state upside down.
We live in an age of growing disaffection and dissatisfaction against the political establishment. That resentment and frustration has only made matters worse as support for a course is viewed through the economic lens. Ask a young chap why he abandoned his previous political mentor and he will tell you politics in Nigeria is first and foremost a survival endeavor. That if you’re not surviving in a camp, it is better to jump into another camp where survival might be relatively guarantee. Nobody wants to stay where future is uncertain. In saner climes, politics is seen as endeavor to create a prosperous future. For one, you hardly hear rhetoric or remarks that suggest politics is a do-or-die affairs. In fact, you also don’t see politicians threatening fire and brim storm over power. And ultimately, you don’t see electorates helping to undermine the process or compromise the system. Sadly, unless the twin problems of ignorance and poverty are tackled frontally, it will be difficult to have a critical mass of people fighting for politicians with sense.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting the Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @Upliftnuggets on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com, and 09065176850.
