Ever since I grew up to know a specie of our leaders called politicians, I have never seen a set that is as hated, so unloved and so despised as this year 2023 set. In this era of uncensored communication where innumerable platforms exist for everyone who has something to say has unfettered access to say them in any form or manner he wants to say them, the invectives, the plain abuses, innuendos and venom spewed out against this class of politicians, is simply alarming and calls for serious soul searching. Many citizens now hardly use the traditional media of communication to vent their vitriol against the politicians. No. They think the newspapers and radio and tv stations are too mild, too ineffectual mediums to adopt in their war against the people they consider too vile. Nigerians (and these do not include the well- known political activists), seem to have agreed among themselves that the social media platforms were specifically invented for Nigerians to deal with their own kind of politicians.
With facebook, Instagram, X and many others of their kind, there is no crime or misdemeanor of our politicians that they think should be allowed hidden or clothed in any kind of dignified veil. Any time of the day you open your phone, you are likely to come across a social media warrior ranting against one politician or another. The name names, point accusing at some selected individuals and use no euphemism to castigate their prey. From what people say of our politicians and about them I am alarmed. I fear for their peace of mind and peace of existence. i even fear for their lives. How do they and immediate members of their families feel about the atmosphere that is created about them? Have they become used to everything and no longer feel uncomfortable about anything?
This hatred or unlovedness is not limited to members of the APC, the ruling party. It includes almost every member of their political tribe. In the Shehu Shagari days when members of his ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN)where denounced for bribery and corruption, squander mania and ridiculed for gluttony as they boasted unapologetically of their memebers having ‘’rosy cheeks and pot bellies’’ as a result of their living on loot, the hatred was almost limited to members of that party. They were some evil men and women in the other ‘’progressive parties’’ but many Nigerians felt they could see a good number of heroes in those other parties.
But that seems not the story of politicians of this Tinubu era. In the eyes of Nigerians there are not even a few good men among these men of political power in any of the parties.
Apart from a few elements like Peter Obi, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, Enyininyi Abaribe and a few others too few for me to forget, who else is there for any honourable mention among our cast of politicians? Things came to this horrible pass with the recent passage of the electoral amendment bill in which Nigerians expected the national assembly to categorically state that there shall be real time electronic transmission of results to the INEC portal. The failure of the members of the national assembly to do just this one thing that all ordinary Nigerians desire is what has inspired this elegy for our horrible politicians. But this also proved to be a redeeming hour for the class 2023. Fifteen members of the higher chamber of the national assembly, the senate cast their votes in favour of real time transmission of votes. The 15 members are:
1. Natasha Akpoti -Uduaghan ( PDP, Kogi Central); 2. Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South); 3. Abdul Ningi (PDP , Bauchi Central); 4. Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South); 5. Ireti Kingibe, ADC, FCT); 6. Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West); 7. Onawo Ogwoshi (ADC, Nasarawa South); 8.Tony Nwoye(ADC, Anambra Central; 9. Victor Umeh (ADC, Anambra Central); 1O. Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe Central); 11. Austin Akobundu (PDP, Abia Central); 12. Khalid Mustapha ( PDP Kaduna North); 13. Sikayo Yaro ( PDP, Gome South); 14. Emmanuel Nwachukwu (APGA Anambra South); and 15. Peter Jiya( PDP Niger South).
Today in the whole of Nigeria, these men and women are now called apostles of democracy, heroes and heroines of Nigeria democracy and other colourful names and some celebratory epithets have been bestowed on them for that singular act although even among these persons there is one question or another surrounding the reputations of some of these ‘honourable’ members.
Even as some few have been excepted from the normal run, analysts are still at work.They have said among others that it is a very sad commentary on their own country’s leadership that there was no single South West senator who was among the 1 patriotic 15. This, they have said , is obviously an ethnic solidary with President Tinubu. They have also said that there was no single APC member who voted among the heroes and heroines, a partisan solidarity that was completely devoid of love for Nigeria. The 94 other members of the senate who voted in favour of rigging, so to put it, did so in spite of the courageous remarks of telcom operators in the country who told senate president Godswill Akpabio and his 94 sinnators that Nigeria has capacity for real time electronic transfer of election results.
Some of the analysts have made scathing remarks reminding those they reckon have not sided with Nigeria that ‘’Trump is watching, the world is watching’’. Above all some of us want to add that ‘’God is watching’’
It is gratifying to note that in the class of the 2023 governors, it is only Abia State governor Alex Otti who has distinguish himself in the eyes of his people. It is also important to say that among those who have so far indicated a desire to be president, Pter Obi is held by an overwhelming number of Nigerians as one to be loved.
Whatever eminent men and women have said about the subject of love and hatred, my humble opinion is that a man should try to be loved and not hated or despised or mocked or held in disdain especially if he is in public life and not living his pure private life. It is good to be loved for your good self and for the goodwill of society. Peace will reign and you too will be a beneficiary of that atmosphere of peace and prosperity.. That summary is simple and obvious.
