By Apostle Mtswenem Tor-David
Everything on the planet earth seems political in one way or the other in view of the fact that the creator of all creations, from genesis gave to mankind the mandate and mantle of rulership, power, authority and dominion over the world.
By one definition, politics is activity associated with the governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power.
Politics can also be defined as activities aimed at improving someone’s status or increasing power within an organisation.
The concept of politics differs from one person, group, state, nation, country and continental phase and because we’re made in Africa and located in Nigeria by indigenization and naturalization certification, this discourse: Politics of Deceit, Defamation, Deficit, Defeat and Defection Syndrome (DDDDDS) will be x-rayed within ongoing local exigencies, peculiarities and crude malpractices.
Politics in Africa, especially Nigeria is well known for campaigns of deceit (through false promises/ unrealistic blueprint or manifestos), defamation of co-contestants, unqualified or deficient contenders, eventual political and leadership failures with attendant shameless defections to multifarious political platforms, like unrepentant and addicted prostitutes.
It is a disaster to hear or witness politicians in this part of the world promising the unsuspecting electorates the heavens and the earth, while they themselves do not meant to provide a toilet if by chance or incidence they are elected or selected. This may be why some of Nigeria’s political leaders change colour like chameleon, jettison social contracts entered with the electorates and notoriously negates the principles of accountability, democracy, fairness, equity and transparency.
Unlike in highly developed political democracies where politics and parties are well known in clear cut ideological inclinations, irreversible manifestos and loyalty to the electorate, over here in Nigeria, most politicians are elected or appointed based on the pedigree or mastery of deceit, character assassination, pull down syndrome, violence edge style and disservice to private and public institutions.
It’s unbelievable to imagine that individuals with well known record of failure, deficiency, incompetence and immorality are always welcome on political corridors, while others are incredibly recycled in political landscape as if bad leadership in our part of the world ought to be consolidated.
Suffice it to say that once politicians are rightly defeated in their political folds, they somewhat find themselves cross carpeting or defecting to either winning parties or totally smaller parties with warm reception, irrespective of the disservice they caused in previous parties, positions and appropriations.
It’s disheartening to observe that Nigeria politicians seem not to have an iota of shame, remorse or repentance tenets provided they find themselves in political games whether by hook or crook.
This might explain why the definition of politics in Nigeria as a dirty game, crazy enterprise where, the end justifies the means’.
Do or die political patterns seem to be highly rooted in a typical Nigerian politician whether from North, South, East or West of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For anything democratic to happen in Nigeria, the old brigandage, the old order, the unwholesome aberrations hitherto plaguing the characteristics of the universally accepted norms of democracy the world over must be imported, domesticated and internalised by the leaders and the led.
Furthermore, undoubtably, failed politicians or tested but untrusted leaders in Nigeria must be vehemently opposed by all and sundry in whatever capacity to serve as a deterrent to any bad potential leader in making in Nigeria.
Again, good Nigerians should be massively elected, celebrated, honoured and appreciated to spur others to do more, while given any leadership opportunity in Nigeria.
If politics is absolutely devoid of Deceit, Defamation, Deficiency, Defeat and Defection, the much talked about dividends of democracy and result oriented governance, as well as all round development will be achieved both in the short or long run.
Mtswenem, a clergy writes from Makurdi.
