“Politics is so corrupt, even the dishonest get screwed.”- George Carlin.
“No one will really understand politics until they understand that politicians are not trying to solve our problems. They are trying to solve their own problems– of which getting elected and re-elected are number one and number two. Whatever is number three is far behind.” – Thomas Sowell.
“Politics – the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.” – Oscar Ameringer.
“Look for three things in a person – intelligence, energy and integrity. If they don’t have the last one, don’t even bother with the first two.” – Warren Buffet.
Politics is in the air! The gladiators, the good, the bad and the ugly, are gradually emerging for the upcoming 2015 general elections – most with enthusiasm and some reluctantly, even after persuasions and collections of millions of questionable signatures. Many are not “aspirants” in the true sense of the word, especially the godsons, the consensus candidates, those who exercised right of first refusal, the clueless, the indicted, the impeached and the despots. To “aspire” is to direct one’s hopes or ambitions towards achieving something. It is to desire, want, set one’s heart on, wish for…
The Nigerian politician is peculiar because he likes to enjoy the perks of office but not the responsibilities that come with it. The politician is a reflection of the larger country – a country long on religion but short on Godliness. The politician will perform the Annual Hajj or Lesser Hajj to Mecca, or Annual Pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to show off his religiosity. It never ceases to amaze me how a country thinks it will progress if the over-riding factors that determine who leads are ethnicity and religion, rather than competence, experience and past records. I’m yet to see a patient in dire need of a life-saving surgery whose choice of a surgeon is dictated by ethnic / religious factors. Neither have I seen the engagement of pilots strictly on the basis of ethnicity and religion. It has always been on the basis of competence, experience and past records. Maybe we really do not wish to progress. Or maybe the elections results in the past do not accurately reflect the wishes of the people, to which I have always advocated a same-day general election, whereby the tally of votes at each level/tier will serve as check/control on the other.
Most Nigerian politicians are like the biblical King Saul, the father of David’s friend, Jonathan. The life of King Saul could be summed up in a modern cliché: It is not how you start; It is how you finish. Saul started out very well only to see his subsequent disobedient actions derail what could have been a stellar, God-honoring rule over the nation of Israel. How could someone so close to God at the start spiral out of control and out of favor with God? Once the Nigerian politician gets into power, he becomes a demi-god, to be worshipped intermittently by the ever available legion of sycophants.
The Nigerian politician can bear “Bukola” or “Yomi” but is labelled a Northerner. He can bear Rotimi Chibuike but is described as neither a South-westerner nor a South-easterner. He can bear “Audu” but is a staunch Christian. He can marry a “Dame Remilekun” or “ Dame Abimbola”, but is considered 100% muslim.
I urge my countrymen to be more discerning when the politicians come to “ask” for your votes. You will be promised “fresh air” and “war on corruption” even if the body language negates these. The D’Banjs of this world may be considering becoming an emergency lone debate host as he did in 2011. The Nollywood artistes may not wish be outdone in endorsement deals this time too. The TANmites and Protectors of Nigerian Prosperity have been giving us a good dosage of humour and comedy in recent times. Each time I watch their rallies and adverts, I remember ABN, YEAA, North Korea and Zimbabwe. The emergency analysts are also springing up, from Femi Fani-Kayode to Femi Aribisala. Even Sheikh Gumi will not be left out. They have suddenly added political analysis to their well-known religious analysis. Are they not trespassing on the turfs of the Sonala Olumhenses, Simon Kolawoles, Segun Adeniyis, Dele Momodus and Abimbola Adelakuns? The list is growing by the day and of course there is no unanimity of who will win or lose the presidential polls. And the absence of a reliable opinion poll is complicating matters, as online polls are curiously pointing in one particular direction.
For those who do not live by “bread”, aka stomach infrastructure, please remind the Nigerian politician of the following each time he comes calling.
1. “When the upright have power, the people are glad; when an evil man is ruler, grief comes on the people.” – Proverbs 29:2
2. “It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.” – Proverbs 16:10
3. “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” – Matthew 20:26
4. “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.” – Ephesians 6:7
5. “Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.” – Proverbs 11:14
6. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” – Matthew 5:13-16
7. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs 31: 8-9
8. “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ “ – Mathew 25: 41-45.
9. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:10.
10. “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” – Psalm 12:5
11. “For the love of money is the root of all evil” – 1 Timothy 6:10
12. ‘Listen to advice…and…you will be wise…’ – Proverbs 19:20
13. “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” – Ecclesiastes 1:2
14. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” – 1 Timothy 6:7
15. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” – Romans 14:12
16. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
17. “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.” -Proverbs 18:12
18. “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”- James 4:17
19. “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” – Deuteronomy 32:35
20. “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
It is also very important to remind the fellow oppressed, long-suffering voting Nigerians that:
1. “….weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” – Psalm 30:5
2. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
3. “Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a disgrace in any society” – Proverbs 14:34
4. “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” – Romans 6:1
5. “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” – Exodus 15:26
6. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
7. “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior…” – 1 Timothy 2:1-3
Please share these with the politicians and your fellow voters. You, as the voter, have the exclusive rights to hire and fire the politician. Exercise that exclusive right to choose wisely. Go for the “brightest and the best”, for he, not your “brother”, will lead you to the promised land. May God bless Nigeria!
Dipo Dosumu writes from Lagos, Nigeria and is available on Twitter at: @asunnydos.
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