THE BEST OF US

Nigeria is a nation of about 170million people with 36 States excluding the FCT. It has 109 senatorial districts, 360 federal constituencies and 774 Local Government areas. My good egbon Abisoye Fagade @saltofdworld once asked me ‘why should we let the worst of us lead the best of us?’ For so many months I have pondered on that statement because it’s a statement of fact. Truth be told there are a few elected politicians that have been outstanding and whether you like it or not Babatunde Raji Fashola is a classic example but even if Lagos is working we still have 35 states left in the country. Although some people may disagree with my choice of BRF but compared to other states in Nigeria and governors he is outstanding. Nigeria has 109 senatorial districts and 360 federal constituencies, their decision is always put to a vote and majority votes wins. Imagine 10 good guys in the senate against 99 bad guys with selfish interest, the implication the is that the 10 will look like they are not looking after the interest of the people and in the process some will crack. This is one of the reason why it seem our democracy is not improving so what is the solution? We all can’t be politicians and the way politics is practised in Nigeria a lot of people will rather just hold their own and keep trying to survive hoping that the brave once will step in to liberate them. So who are the people that will run for elections?

The few brave candidates come out to challenge the desperate one’s but are faced with heavy and violent opposition, the city boils with chaos and pandemonium everywhere. People are even scared to come out and vote for their own candidates. So who will vote during elections? Voter turnout in most elections in Nigeria is usually below 50% of the registered voters. The elected picks their political appointees and to be fair some pick technocrats that have done very well in their field others pick guys with strong political influence while some just pick who ever their party dictates. A mix of all this is good to prevent conflict and also to ensure some right people get to make it into the cabinet but what happens after they are sworn in? Where am in going with this? We are our own problems. Politicians are human beings like you and I, political appointees are selected from amongst us, the civil servants are Nigerian citizens and the people they govern that dumps refuse on the street, commit crimes, robbery, 419, ritual killings, plant bombs are all Nigerians aswell. Those courageous enough but still have the sincere interest of people should start getting involved in governance. When we are selected as political appointees at any level if we will just sit around and kiss our bosses ass then we are doing no good to the nation. At every point the interest of the nation should take center stage right in our heart. We the governed should obey the rules and regulations, let the constitution guide us and be the best citizen we can be. Poverty is not an excuse to engage in crime but then we hope it won’t lead to that day when “the poor will have nothing left to eat but the rich”