On The Runup To The 2023 Elections; Have we learnt our lessons?

Photo by Ayanfe Olarinde on Unsplash

It's been a while here; I have been busy with some other things, so I have largely slacked in updating this space. Amidst everything, I decided to do this little opinion piece, and I would honestly love to hear as much feedback as possible when I put the full stop.

Over the past few days, the social space has been swamped with different opinions, commentaries, etc. All of which border on who would be the next president of this country for the next four (4) or eight (8) years based on the zoning agreement. By the time you read this, the country's major political parties have held their primary elections, and their different choices have been placed before us. 

These past few weeks, we have all seen that the political space in Nigeria is an obscenely expensive and dirty scene. It is a place where only those with guts can successfully navigate. We have all watched as party delegates were bought, and everything became severely "Dollarized," and only the financially capable candidates clinched their party tickets at the different levels of participation. 

Amidst all the debacle, it is hard to see how these gimmicks serve the general populace's interest. One can only wonder how the desperation we have all watched on our screens translates to the genuine and undeniable love of the people. Some people have also complained about the pattern of the primaries. 

Some believe that all party members should be able to vote in the primary elections to choose their party representatives. Others wonder why only a few "Delegates" would be tasked with such a sensitive responsibility. But this is Nigeria, and anything goes. The deed has been done, and all we can do is move on. You know, accepting our fate and all that. 

To think these elections were said to be monitored by the electoral body, INEC. We all know the three major choices that have been placed before us. I would not be wasting my time trying to name the candidates of the over 25 political parties that are said to be in existence. We have these choices to be the experienced Atiku Abubakar flying the flag of the umbrella party. 

Then there is the publicly proclaimed master strategist, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, running on the platform of the APC. Then there is the latest entrant into the race, Mr. Peter Obi, flying the flag of the relatively unknown Labour party. He moved from the PDP after some moves against his said principles. Now, this is where it gets interesting. 

The build-up to general elections in Nigeria is always filled with lots of activities. Everyone seems caught up in the moment, as we all get busy trying to sell our preferred candidates. This is while getting some booties for ourselves; everyone would be trying to profit off the entire process. "The National Cake," we all call it. At least this is the only time our politicians come close enough to dangle the "Carrots" before us, only to ghost us again. 

Photo by Ayanfe Olarinde on Unsplash

But amidst all these, there is an inherent lesson we are all refusing to learn. After over seven (7) years of crass failure by the current government in virtually every sector, isn't there something we are all forgetting? I will explain; just keep reading. Now, when you want to describe the average Nigerian, there are not many terms in the English dictionary to tell him. 

But there is this one word that aptly qualifies us all. "Resilient" I have come to have some sort of dislike for that word. No, I do not want to be described as resilient; I want to flourish. I do not wish to be qualified by my ability to survive amidst difficulties. No, I want to be described by how I can succeed in an ideal environment. Now, this resilience in Nigerians is not a flex. It is our biggest undoing. Do you know why?

Because no matter how long you keep pushing the average Nigerian, he would not turn to protest. Instead, he would keep finding new ways to adapt, and if he gets to a wall, he easily gets hold of a sled hammer, breaks down the wall, and keeps going. Our politicians must know this, and couple with our selective amnesia, they have really weaponized it against us. 

Before I get carried away again, let me briefly outline the major candidates we have before us. There is the strategist, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as I mentioned earlier. Riding on the "Emi Lokan" mantra and promising to do better by improving the country's manufacturing capacity, rationalizing key government apparatuses, creating business hubs, etc. 

But for the popularly known "Jagaban," one of the factors that stand in his way is a seemingly dark background, the unassuming ways man has improved the tax revenue base in Lagos, and the worst of it all, his health. Although man seems to be proving us wrong with his tour around the country, meeting with pivotal stakeholders and making moves that would see him clinch the seat to Aso Rock come 2023. 

The second man in the race is the experienced Atiku Abubakar. After being the vice president with the Ota General, Olusegun Obasanjo, and one that has been largely responsible for frustrating the third term agenda of the man. He is coming into the race as a man capable of holding his own. With his numerous business interests, Man promises a return to the regional system of government amidst some other election-worthy promises. 

But like Jagaban, some folks have also questioned the source of his wealth and the fact that after contesting for his party's ticket at the elections repeatedly, his war chest does not seem to be running low. Man is still "Loaded," and we might be seeing clear evidence of that fact when the elections draw nearer. 

Now to the latest entrant to the race, Peter Obi. A two-term governor of Anambra State in the southeastern region of the country, the man, may not be as experienced as the earlier two, but his work in the state seems to be working in his favor. Then going by the various interviews he has done on different social platforms in the past few months, he has managed to curry a large proportion of the youths on his side. It is the "Soro-Soke" generation, and everyone keeps watching if they will actually be "Soro-Sokeing" at this crucial period. 

Peter Obi promises a boom in the knowledge economy. He is insistent that targeted investment in key areas like education and youth empowerment is crucial to the country's development. In addition, he says there is a need to steer the economy from a consumption-based economy to a full manufacturing one. Convincing words, if I must say, but we know it takes more than that to win an election in Nigeria. Not to talk of the presidential elections. 

Now that these choices have been laid before us, it would be interesting to see how Nigerians would vote in the coming elections. In times like these, the complexity of the country and the fact that we are deeply divided along ethnic and tribal lines come to the fore. In times like these, truths and contexts suffer the most in a bid to sell candidates. A relentless pushing of propaganda and fake news are viable tools in this period. 

Our politicians know this, and they invest deeply into it. We all forget that we are all Nigerians, irrespective of our ethnicity. Oh, how I wish engagements are all issue-based. The past seven(7) years have done little good, and we should know that even if individuals change, group ideologies remain the same. This coming election is a crucial one, and it should be taken very seriously. 

I feel it will be a deal-breaker in the development of our country. One would determine if we would continue to descend as we go on this trajectory or one that would show that we still have some hope left. I hope as Nigerians, as we get closer, we move to the side of the collective good and stop thinking individually. Because this has not called us anywhere. 

Pardon me because, at this juncture, I will get a bit into my feelings and just write all that comes to my head. When you read this piece, over 40 people have just been buried in a church massacre some days ago. This is together with the hundreds that have been slaughtered in different parts of the country. It is as if these things are becoming normal to us. We don't even react to them anymore. Save for some social media eulogies, and everyone goes back to normal. 

 The inflation status of this country has reached double figures, and it continues to rise. Pump prices are skyrocketing, and no one is saying anything. But as it is the norm with our behavior, it has not gotten close to us yet, so everything is still good. Let's go about our normal duties and keep finding ways to survive amidst all of it, yeah? As it stands now, lecturers in the university have been on strike for over four (4) months, and it is still bliss as usual. 

I hope at this point, we all critically analyze issues and see where we are and where we need to be. Certain political jobbers and a self-centered nature would not get us anywhere. I know the act of holding political malice and holding our leaders accountable, showing them there should be consequences for every action, is still alien to our polity, but I hope I will be proved wrong. 

This is important for our future, it is important for the collective good, and it is very important we get it right. It has been over six years of failure, and I hope we have learned vital lessons even in the face of possible voter inducement that we might witness as the whole electoral process starts. It is high time we stem the trend of voting along religious and tribal lines. It is time we look at and properly rationalize the best choice for the development of our country. 

The past years have not been ideal. It has been tough, and it is best to critically analyze the choices before us and make the best decision. From Mai Gaskiya, we have to make a better choice. It might be tough, but we have to do better. I know we are a forgetful bunch, and it is easy to get caught up in all the theatrics and the frenzy leading to the elections, but we have to passionately hold grudges and not let go of the past. 

As the days draw closer, It would be interesting to see how we vote and if truly we have learned our lessons going forward. I almost forgot the role of the independent electoral commission (INEC) in all of these. There have been reports of intentional delays in some areas as voter registration picks up. While little glitches are expected, there is a need to improve capacity. If more citizens are now interested in the electoral process, the electoral body should be up to the task. 

There are many things to be said about the pivotal nature of the 2023 elections, but I would pause here and wait for you in the comment section. I am not sure if I made enough sense, but let me know just in case.