A NATION THAT NEVER LEARNS

I don't like talking about politics. Although I had done that countless times in the past, one thing I discovered is that people are often illogical and emotional when it comes to politics. Most especially when you point out the shortcomings of their favourite politicians or political parties. They are clouded by religious, tribal sentiments. Their allegiance is like that of a football club fan who believes he must stick to the club whether the club is losing or winning. Their mentality is for better, for worse. They must be together in the rainy and sunny days, even if their action is affecting multitudes However, that won't stop me from yearning my mind. It won't stop me from telling the truth and from opening our eyes to the fact. And my concern is on the incoming presidential election. My focus is on contenders, most especially the three forerunner candidates The candidates who the odds could favour. Bola Tinubu. Peter Obi. Abubakar Atiku. These are the individuals Nigerian are rallying behind. And these keep me wondering whether there are no other competent candidates who can lead this country. I've been mute. But sometimes, silence can become injustice of its own. And the truth is Nigerians keep returning to the same people expecting different outcomes. We complain about the state of the nation but we keep entrusting the affairs of the nation to those who are the architect of the problem. Check our leadership history since the beginning of the fourth Republic. These leaders have held political positions before becoming president. President Olusegun Obasanjo was former military head of state (1976-1979) before he was democratically elected as Nigeria president in 1999 President Musa Yaradua before becoming a president in 2007, he was a governor of katsina state from 1999 to 2007 President Goodluck Jonathan was a former deputy governor of Bayelsa state, then governor of Bayelsa state ( 2005-2007). He became vice president of Nigeria in 2007 and eventually became an acting president in 2010 following Yaradua’s death President Muhammad Buhari was a former military head of state. He was democratically elected as Nigeria president in 2015 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Former Governor of Lagos State (1999–2007), before becoming president in 2023. You see the pattern right? We elected them because we thought they had the experience. They had been in the government. We assumed they knew where the shoe was pinching because they had been part of the system. But we were wrong. Because it has been proven through the previous and current administration that experience alone cannot get the job done And that's where my concern also lies As they have began to present themselves as the solutions to the problems that were developed under the administration they were part of. And Nigerians are about to fall for their gimmicks again. Now, let's look at Peter Obi, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. Those candidates are not new to the corridor of power. They have held different public offices through different times, capacities, and responsibilities. Peter Obi was a governor of Anambra state for eight years. Atiku served as a vice president for eight years. Also Tinubu was a governor of Lagos state for eight years and a serving president of Nigeria. They've had the opportunities to serve in both states and federal level. The truth is these people should be apologizing to Nigerians for being part of the leaders who brought us to this level, not contesting for election not to talk of parading themselves as the Messiah. Yet, they are acting as though the problems started today. They are behaving as though they are innocent and know nothing about the current wreckagem Meanwhile Nigerians are already rallying supports behind their preferred candidates because we seem to have short memories. We forgot that these people do not have the interest of the common man. We forgot that they've all had the opportunities to demonstrate what they can offer We've experienced and witnessed their administration. They just want to keep themselves in power, while enriching their family at the detriment of the poor masses. And Isn't it high time we scrutinized their performance before we began to sing their praises. Isn't it high time we stopped treating these politicians like a demi god or football clubs whose supporters are expected to remain loyal no matter their performance. Our loyalty should be for the country not to any political party or politician. What we need is a credible leadership, a new change and people who can demonstrate that they're capable of delivering this country from this current menace. But sentiments, emotions and blind loyalty will never allow us to see beyond. And that's why I am shouting at the top of my ink. Because we cannot continue complaining about the same problem while electing the power mongers who have nothing to offer but only to keep recycling themselves in power. @Àdùní

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