2023: Soon, They Shall Start Picking Up Your Calls: The Irony Of Nigerian Politicians During Politicking Season

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA 

One of the biggest challenges of political leadership in Nigeria by most elected and appointed functionaries of government is inaccessibility; not picking up their calls, not replying to their mails and not returning missed calls of the people who voted them into office, their close and distant relations, former colleagues and old friends. This is understandably so due to the pressure associated with their job routines, daily itineraries, busy schedules and important state functions. Regrettably, a number of these callers with ‘entitlement mentality’ do not call to proffer solutions to existing problems, but to ask for money to offset their bills; children’s school fees, hospital bills, house rents, wedding ceremonies, burials, contracts, etc. 

The above socio economic challenges posed by the masses to leadership notwithstanding, is no excuse for public office holders to maintain apathy from the outcry of the populace while sitting on their political high horses as the times are so hard. If practical and participatory governance is about the people, any reasonable, responsible, and responsive government functionary, who wants to succeed must be able to create time and give some audience to the people they were elected or selected to serve.

Conversely, we live in a country where estimated 90% of our public office holders, (President, Ministers, Ambassadors, State Governors, Senators, House of Reps members, State Legislators, Council Chairmen, Commissioners, SAs, SSAs, members of government boards, etc) do not pick up their calls or return same until you coincidentally jam them at a function like Dangote trailer.They think so highly of themselves and think less of the ‘poor electorate’, who took different degrees of risk to vote them into power. 

From the above background, one can see that our small measure of success or impressive political trajectory has a way of elevating our ego and natural grandiosity to even more dangerous levels. Our high self-opinion of our goodness, greatness, brilliance, contacts and political exploits also have a way of making us diverge from reality and appear rather starchy and arrogant. Little wonder, elected public office holders more often than not, cut off the important social ladder through which they climbed the exalted positions they now occupy. Forgetting the roles that luck and God-factor in politics may have played in their success, or the contributions of their Ward executives, Campaign DGs, Ward leaders, LGA Apex leaders, stakeholders, support groups, traditional rulers, religious leaders and even ‘the political thugs’, who snatched ballot boxes for them during elections at the jeopardy of their lives; leaving their fate in the hands of security agents.

However, the good news remains that there is always another day; a next time. A day of reckoning. A day of payback. A season of venting one’s anger on those Leaders, who kept the masses in the wilderness for good three years! A day of paying them back in their own coins those who reneged on the political pact or agreement entered with critical leaders and other stakeholders. A day when contractors will remain hell-bent on frustrating government’s efforts for ongoing projects due to unnecessary bottlenecks and delay in mobilization.

Meanwhile, in a few weeks and months from now, ironically, our public office holders, who have been moving about like demigods, shall become ordinary people like you, completely accessible.  You shall meet them and even call them by their ordinary names, especially those who have not made remarkable imprints in leadership in the last two or three years. You shall meet them in churches, Mosques, airports, train stations and even at public functions uninvited. If unfortunately, they did not succeed in their second term bid and returned back to their private lives without the luxury of moving about with a retinue of colourful entourage and security details. You can also choose to call those who have failed ‘Horrible members instead of Honourable members’ like in the case of Adindu from Eziama, Isiala Mbano LGA, Imo State. 

At the end of their tenures, a lot of old friends and political allies shall have deserted them. They will also be deserted by their aides, loyalists, political hangers-on;  including Umunwa (side-chicks). Their phone numbers will no longer be as busy as they used to be. They will start returning calls and replying to messages. Only a few politicians can cope without the euphoria of power. And that is why a number of them easily fall trap to stroke after leaving office. 

At this point, the little shield they took from the government is stripped off and they can be arrested so easily. Those, who they trampled upon their rights would  come after them, those whose ancestral lands were forcefully taken could challenge them in Court as ordinary people, and can even arrest them. Instead of issuing a directive, they can only beg, plead, appeal or negotiate.  Only a few of them would apologize to their old friends for neglecting them while in office. They will watch their steps and economically spend wisely like ‘ordinary Imo civil servants ‘ since they no longer have access to our  collective patrimony, or continued benefits of government largesse since a new dawn has come with a new sheriff in  town. Definitely and regrettably too, they may no longer be able to serve you exotic choice champagne and whisky again; Glenfiddich, Moet, Hennessy, Pero Fornasetti (1956), Donprinyon, etc.  If you eventually visit them and after spending two hours, both of you shall be looking at each other anya -anya!  This is the reality of being out of power. Learn and guide yourself.

Nevertheless, when you see politicians do the unusual; make regular phone calls, regular visits, regular hangouts with the youths, always identifying with the poor masses, unusual respect to ordinary Ward Chairman or Youth leader, reconciliation moves, etc, do not be deceived or carried away. 

“For verily, verily, I say unto thee, for election season is nigh thy political doorstep.” 

Finally, if they call you on the phone, especially those who were not calling you in the last two or three years, do not busy their numbers or reject their calls: simply ask them: ”How far now?” in the words of my friend, Nwadike Precious, Publisher of Nigerian Watchdog Newspapers.

–Njoku MacDonald Obinna, 
Publisher, 4th Estate Reporters.