2023: "What Are We Doing Differently?" _The Community's Eye Asks

 

Since the dawn of civil rule we've done the same thing every electioneering year. Today, looking back through the lens of history, seeing how far we come in our collective retrogression, I feel our heroes past --those whose sweat and blood gave us what we once enjoyed as independence should be sombre in their graves. They must be ashamed.

NPN emerged the first party to win a national Election which produced Shehu Shagari in 1979 (after 13 torturous years of military rule). What was the style used then in the course of our electioneering transactions? How did the then politicians appeal to our conscience when we (Nigerians at the time) queued behind them as our favorites? was there a social contract signed and sealed?

43years on, from one election year to the next, we've continually toed this pattern.
What pattern? watching politicians appear on TV screens, speak on Radio, Write through the print, appear in Rallies and campaign visits only to tell us what in their mind is best for us.
They marshall out expressions that are only motivated with a winning intent, the cull up ideas that will appeal to our emotions, they draft and dish out seemingly favourable policies as anchores for their administration if elected and when elected it all begins to seem like we've all been deceived once again --grudgingly, we feel the only thing worthy of doing is endure for the next four years to elect another.

So, they (the politicians) go back to their drawing boards to craft out new deceits, work on the hunger, anger, frustration of poor Nigerians by hammering on the seeming inefficiencies of the incumbent. What's next, same comes to power only to become more clueless than the previous.

As we continue to do the same thing again and again, we keep going back in time and losing touch of the dreams our founding fathers had for this not so loveable nation.
As we continue to do the same thing every four years, the country plunges further into what's currently pinching our collective skins, making the environment unbearable to live in and so, our best hands and brains are run away and use their Nigerian life to better communities outside the shores of Africa.

Those who are yet to leave are planning to. Those who have no means to leave wish they had.
What will be left of this country if we, the majority, the electorates fail to seize this golden opportunity to ensure that Nigeria is truly great again is better left imagined than experienced.
Another window is here and though we cannot afford to lose out again as a people, it appears we've started a scheme not so different from what we have all been doing.

Just like the incumbent harped on the inefficiencies of the previous administration, won the 2015 elections and got overwhelmed to the point of not even being able to pick members of his cabinet to man and drive the nation, we are seeing the "Emi lo kan", "Go and Verify", "Atikulated" and all, hammering on the frustration of poor Nigerians against the incumbent for votes.

Rewind to 2015. Just like President Muhammadu Buhari told Nigerians that his predecessor was not capable of addressing insecurity, unemployment, the economy just so he could be given the chance to do better, we are seeing same being done to him today. Six months into his first term in office, Oga was yet to form his cabinet and we were all looking. More so, we know too well that, comparatively speaking, security, employment and economy --the indices on which his campaign was premised have all worsened over time.
What have we truly gained?

Now to the crux of the matter, what can we do differently? who should truly change? how should we (going forward) handle our politicians since we, the electorates are the majority?
Simple! (unless we are not tired of being selfish).

Rather than allow these guys manipulate us with promises of what they think we need, members of every ward, Local Government, Constituency, State, Geo-Political Zone MUST BEGIN TO DOCUMENT WHAT THEY TRULY NEED IN ORDER OF PRIORITY.
When this stage is completed, we should then pick the most important issues to be addressed at the ward levels through the councilor, at the Local Government level through the Local Government Chairman, at the Constituency level through the senator and rep, at the state level through the Governor to the top.

Chief, Prince Kadiri, Jeremiah Enaholo
Èlho Èvbho nits'Èvho'Uchi

Once we have answered the questions of 'what do we want'?, pinned same answers to the various political power levels from ward to presidency, we have just showed how serious we are about the collective good of Nigeria.

NEXT!
Let us now invite them, those contesting to become councilors, chairmen, senators, representatives, governors and presidents. Then give them our proposals --proposals that contain what they should do in their first 100 days in office and make them sign:
1. that they agree to do these things within the time frame stipulated and
2. that they should be recalled or impeached if they fail to address same issues they promised to address at the end of their 100 days in office.

Looking at the above, we have solved what should change --that is, campaign manifestos should change to electorates' proposals.
Terms and Conditions DONE AND DUSTED!

NEXT!
Who should change?
You and I must ensure that even though the elected is related to us by blood or that we benefit on a personal level from same, when s/he errs or does anything contrary to the social contract, you either correct them or rebuke them in the interest of the larger society. Here, we must change from 'ME' to 'US' if Nigeria must be great again.
If your wish is for your paddy-paddy to remain in power, be a good guide and not a sycophant!

HOW TO?
After voting for those we feel should manage our scarce resources in view of giving greater outputs, the next thing to do is that we must all be accountable and stay faithful to the course. Governance is a collective assignment that must not be left for only the elected. In our various wards, local governments, constituencies and states, we must do our little to complement government's effort. We must take responsibility and jealously preserve and safeguard the infrastructures they provide, collaborate with security agencies to secure our communities and what's more?
When the government of the day is doing well, encourage that government. When it is not doing well, stand together and condemn the inactions or actions that are perceived to be against the social contract that was signed.
If they fail to seat up, let us not forget that aside from casting our votes, WE CAN ALSO RECALL or GET ELECTED OFFICIALS IMPEACHED!
It is constitutional and we must promptly make use of all avenues to RESET Naija.

I am not unaware of the level of hunger, strife and pain that currently hovers over us. This will to a great extent challenge this sincere suggestion that I have carefully coined up to right the wrongs we have collectively done this country but let's look at the bigger picture.
Nigeria can succeed if we want her to be. It's our responsibility to set the agenda and make the demands necessary for the growth of our nation --not for us to wait just so our political actors can come with crafty lies to push out the previous only to become more clueless.

Yes We Can!

🖋️ Kadiri, Enaholo Kadiri.
jeremiahkadiri@gmail.com
+2348069055018