Rev. Chris Okotie on the 29th of March dropped a message, titled,
A Message for Jonathan and Buhari, that the two political gladiators should accept the verdict with equanimity.
The admonition becomes imperative as the
paradox of the structure of our politicking
continues to baffle even the most optimistic
watchers of events. This troubling trajectory means
that the events of the days following the March 28
elections may be critical as we still have another round of voting on April 11, 2015. The heated campaigns have been worrisome to observers and we hope this process ends well.
With hindsight, we can say that our politician’s inability to resolve intra and inter party conflicts amicably is a serious flaw in our nascent democracy. The cheerleaders in this cesspit of murky politicking are the beneficiaries and cronies
of politicians who have benefits at stake in this degenerate style of partisan politics.
Also, aside this media gibberish that marked these
campaigns, the dangerous trend of unruliness
which the rampaging foot-soldiers and campaign
trains have subjected the same electorate they are
courting to, is in itself a show of absolute
disregard for the people; Nigerians went through
temporary lull in economic activities because of these elections, and one can only hope that
whatever losses they have suffered is worth it at the end of the day.
Despite the ominous picture which these
campaigns painted in the minds of the electorate
these past weeks, voters must be wise and not be
swayed by the ethnic and religious sentiments
which have been some of the underlying emotions
that the devisors of these calumny campaigns have
adopted, as we go for the next round of voting.
Section 102 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As
Amended) prohibits the employment of base
sentiments as campaign or broadcasting tools.
Yet, it is ironic that despite this law, in full glare of
the Independent National Electoral Commission,
INEC, and the law various enforcement agencies,
sectional and faceless support groups have openly
deployed these emotions in their campaigns.
A critical question in this vicious circle is this: Can our aspiring leaders who emerge out of the
rummages of these elections stand shoulder-to-
shoulder with their counterparts around the world
with their uninspiring display of primitive politics?
The answer is no!
After 16 years of a chequered and stagnant
democratic run, what we need now is not a
cunning sleigh of hands in relying on specious
sentiments; to upstage opponents, rather, we need
to be won-over with outlines and timelines of
realistic re-structuring agenda on issues that
affront the progress of our economy.
Okotie reminds us: “Politicians seeking elective
offices are being asked questions about their
record of public service; about their integrity;
about their competence or lack thereof. It is a
whole new ball game; a far cry from some previous
elections when the outcomes were generally well
known before the ballot was cast… We must see
impact-driven growth and the evidence of our
rising economic profile on our citizens. What we
demand from our politicians is how to revamp the
economy to achieve a strong, private sector-led
growth; not how they would tear the nation apart if
the elections don’t go their way”.
The Pastor-Politician rounded-up his message
brilliantly: “Millions are going to vote because they
want their lives changed or transformed, not
because they expect to die in the exercise… Every Nigerian must therefore hear this loud and clear:
go out and vote; and equally important, respect the outcome. Let the politicians receive this with
equanimity and philosophical discernment”.
God bless Nigeria and Nigerians so that the labour of our heroes past must never be in vain.
Preach preacher
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