By John Kenny
I’m not really a big fan of partisan politics. Who has partisan politics helped in Nigeria? Besides, in a political atmosphere devoid of ideology, political parties are nothing but a mere platform upon which varied levels of political ambition can be achieved. I have been consistently vociferous in speaking and writing against the danger inherent in voting into political power, incompetent men and women based on political affiliation.
Nigeria is where it is today because the electorates often jettison competence, capacity, and character for primordial sentiments while exercising their franchise during election times. Even if that candidate shares some biological affinity with them, they won’t support or vote for him or her, hinging their action on party supremacy another word for selfish supremacy.
Sadly, the main reason most people venture into politics in Nigeria is to satisfy their selfish interests. A large percentage of Nigerian politicians, while pursuing, protecting, and advancing their inordinate ambitions, more often than not, are willing and prepared to undercut the development and progress of the country. Nothing else matters to them more than their selfish ambition. Patriotism is not in their genetic make-up!.
Pitifully, we no longer play politics to engender development for the country, but to enrich our pockets. Little wonder, despite Nigeria’s enormous resources and endowments, a vast majority of her citizens continue to wallow in abject poverty. Certainly, the underdevelopment of Nigeria is not an act of God, but an act of man!
Recently, a big fan of Prof Wale Sulaiman once told me;
“I’m a big admirer of Prof Wale Sulaiman. It is a common knowledge that PWS is an excellent candidate by all standards. However, I might not vote for him because I belong to a different political party, notwithstanding the fact that my candidate’s record of performance in the last three and half years has been unsatisfactory”.
Interestingly, there has been a pyramid shift in Kwara politics, particularly in Kwara south, following the Otogee revolution in 2019. The people of Kwara south are better enlightened to make informed decisions. They are still very conscious of their resistance against prebendalism and godfatherism. Meanwhile, the majority of the region’s voters are not partisan politicians, but ordinary people of Kwara south yearning for the betterment of the senatorial district.
