It is clear that politics is all about protecting an interest. The question is whose interest?
In the globally leading nations, the national interest comes before any other interests in most cases, as structures are put in place already to make the followers have an important role to play in the governance system. Bringing this in comparison with this part of the world which has continued to rise and fall, the reverse is the case, as what is mostly on ground is a system and nature of mild totalitarianism worn under our native attires, coloured with the faded colour of democracy, as the process, values and structure of true democracy are not respected.
One of the values that had eroded the African political space and specifically the Nigerian political space is good sportsmanship. That is why every election around the corner is seen as a time for real battle to get the power baton by force, as against a season of democratic festival in the developed nation. It is perceived in our African clan to be a season to tactically or forcefully rob or shortchange the poor masses, rather than being a period to smartly present a better way forward to the citizens who have the liberty to enthrone their leaders as it is in the developed nations. Why won’t these leaders of the developed world respect and pursue the interest of their citizenry to the fullest?
Sportsmanship has to do with the ethical, appropriate, polite and fair behavior, while participating in a game or a sporting event. The key words for me are all about your conduct, attitude, fair play, courtesy and the grace to lose. Taking Nigeria, among other African countries into perspective here, Politics is viewed by its gladiators as a platform to engage in a muscle combat or a war that needs to be won by force.
Politics is perceived to be a platform to wrestle for power in order to totally clip the wings of your opponent or to clear off your way the ones that proves resilient and vocal. In Nigeria today, Politics is seen as a way to promote a leader as a god and him alone must be adored as long as he is the incumbent lion ruling the land, every other small animals must be outwitted. This has sent some into political exile, some had in one way or the other become suppressed, consequently faded off the political scene unwillingly. Some who still have some political strength in them are made to become politically licentious, jumping from a party to another, just to achieve their interest per time.
This attitude has made many Nigerian politicians to develop an acrimonious mindset against anyone not in their camp chanting them song to rub oil on their ego. If not for this, why would a peace pact be organized by eminent Nigerians with a view of fostering peace, yet the incumbent Governor of Ondo State and the APC Gubernatorial candidate, Rótìmí Akérédolú (SAN) at the peace pact venue, snub his deputy Agboọlá Àjàyí with whom things had fallen apart, due to reasons best known to both of them and in their own interest. This is a means of passing a wrong message to the supporters of AKETI and his current deputy, who is now the candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). Akeredolu’s action at the peace parley organised by the National Peace Commission (NPC) is capable of jeopardizing the objective of this peace pact.
Nigerian politicians should learn to place the interest of the masses at heart, by promoting whatever will bring the common man peace and rest of mind, not heating the polity with bad body languages. These politicians should stop seeing a political opponent as bitter enemies with whom one should never have anything to do. Politics should be about serving the people not fighting for personal interests. The common man should also wise up and know that the politician using you to achieve his selfish goal by inciting you against another politician might end up drinking tea tomorrow, when their interests align. Secure your destiny and betterment, no one is worth dying for. Remember, in politics, there are no permanent friends nor enemies but permanent interest.
Oluwatobi Adeleke is a political analyst, writes from Kaduna
