What Politics Really Is For Soludo…

It was Dr Nelson Omenugha, who defined politics to me as a “negotiation amongst beggers”, he probably does not own the propriety to that definition. But, I will try and ask him the source.

To provide context to the above, two stories come to mind. First, is the story of Dee Sam Mbakwe (Second Republic Governor of Imo State) on why he was referred to as the “Weeping Governor”. We were told he was so people oriented that he had to practically cry to the centre, in the second Republic, to ensure he provided them with good governance. Another is the story of a certain Enugu Legislator, illiterate and not given to parliamentary eloquence, yet each time he stood up on the floor of the House, he would simply shout, “My people want road, road, road”.

Soludo is incensed with people, who come to politics or governance with “personal intentions”. In this journey to becoming the Governor-Elect, many who insisted on extracting commitment from him on what he would do for them personally – – ndị “me, myself and I” – – could not continue on the train, as they never got his attention. 

Sadly, a large chunk of this people are those who were “former this, former that”. Those who have lived off the State for a considerable period of time. Therefore, if politics is truly a negotiation amongst beggers, Soludo insists that the begging MUST be about, and for the people. Once you personalise it, you turn him off.

I know this, ‘cos I am a Soludo Apostle.

– Mazi Ejimofor Opara writes from Awka, Anambra State.