2023 election: Focussing on the chaff but letting the wheat slide

By Bernadette Idalu

One interesting but repetitive  campaign setback in the build up towards the actualization of the 2023 election is the deliberate attempt to hoodwink and take electorates on a jaded tour round town, blindsiding them by focusing on the shortfall of political opponents. 

This has happened every election year but people are now better enlightened. They scrutinize and even make commentaries, "They have come again..." For how long does one need to, "Wait for Godot," to make things work in Nigeria a land filled with diverse mineral and human resources and home to some of the best professionals the world has encouraged?

Campaign teams tackle opponents to the ground by spewing and spinning diabolic webs meant to detract or derail their competitors instead of hitting the electorates with messages which highlight their long and short term plans or vision for society. People have been reduced to the level of sifting through chaff instead of gathering  grains due to prevailing political cacophony. Rudeness has become an asset, so is vileness.

The need for a political debate which ordinarily ought to be eclectic as to unravel the pedigree of these political gladiators has been roasted to bits. Politicians mistrust the process. They rather choose who they speak with or interviews them. There could be hidden landmines during political debates. The ship must sail.

As trying as the times are, some media establishments got accused by politicians as doing the hatchet job for their media owners who double as politicians. They point to an infiltration and the danger this poses to their political careers. Moreover, there is also the allegation of open affinity by some journalists to political parties. The witty aphorism, "Whoever pays the piper dictates the tune," readily comes to mind, the issue of job security is real. Just as the need to employ and give journalists a good take home pay is of essence. This can help whip the apolitical drive into place even if the Nigerian situation is peculiar with the, "Man must wack," mentality.

As the countdown towards the actualization of the presidential election gradually chalks out backed by a one week extension in the collection process of permanent voter cards (PVC's) which officially ends now by January 29, 2023, the electoral body and the federal government through this extension process have provided an enabling environment which political gladiators need to latch onto as they can woo more prospective voters. 

Instead of the continuous attempt to taint opponents every election year effort should be put in to sell ideas which better the lot of society. However, if bereft of ideas, such can dance, no need to hurl invectives or state how they got used as the fall guy as a form of distraction, "Norti do u, carrey go."

Interestingly, few days to the election, people are yet to have a glimpse of the manifesto of any of the contestants. Apart from verbal oratory a curious observer has nothing to glean or gather from the process, there is nothing on ground which gives direction or traction on policies to be implemented if voted into power which focus on education, health, agriculture, tackling inflation, job creation or measures to be taken to protect and guard the territorial sovereignty and integrity of the Nigerian Nation/state.

The closest verbal manifesto that came up detailing the welfare of the Nigerian worker by a candidate was the proposed increase of the minimum wage to eighty thousand naira. The process of sourcing the funds or actualizing on this and other issues are being hugged, close to the chest, to prevent a theft of ideas by political opponents.

Political influencers unlike prior election years have not been having a field day due to a more enlightened and educated electorate. Their slurring of opponents with reference to age, educational qualification, health, playing of the ethnic card, religion, reference to political zone, corruption matrix and guiding principles of their candidates as against others have been met and countered one for one and  by direct face timing.

It is humbling, albeit, disappointing, watching contestants, well travelled former public servants, selling their candidacy, not by engaging in intellectually stimulating

discourse and use of gained knowledge to better the lot of society but resorting  to the use of native street intelligence to tackle commonplace problems such as the pledge to put food in peoples table by providing yam, garri and beans or sending youths to join the armed forces so that they can take care of their families. Supporters give them the thumbs up as they shake political tables and chairs of opponents. They beat on their chest, pointing at past glories while in office instead of pointing the way forward.

The electorates once more have become beautiful brides who need to cast their votes as a show of support. As at January 7, 2023, INEC said 13,703 registered voters collected their voter cards in Edo State.

Edo State, "The heartbeat of the nation, state wen no dey carrey last." There is bound to be an adrenaline rush as far as election is concerned here. What could be more entertaining as having a contestant vying for a slot at the senate, as a test of popularity, leaving his campaign ground to go  chase off a presidential candidate in another location who interestingly is not vying for the same position as him. 

This is in addition to alleged pressing issues which prevented the release of the prime Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to opposition political parties for campaign purposes even if used by the ruling party. An outcry by opposition parties of the rejection/non display of their billboards fell flat on the ground. They were told they made late bookings for space. In this Edo was synonymous with Lagos State. Defacing or tearing of posters goes across political divides in all states. Thrilling moments for the non partisan in Nigeria who stare, mouth agape, as youths climb up to rend or deface billboards of opposed politicians.

With a much more enlightened electorate, the 2023 election has a lot of surprises no doubt in store for all. No political party can boast of sweeping off all the political positions from the stakes before  going to the polls, that mathematical abracadabra is no more in existence. 

Societal focus is now on individual capacity and ability to discharge duties diligently. People are no longer bamboozled by the antics of opinion moulders but by facts. This has helped at curbing the rate of misinformation in society and attendant free flow of insults in the blogosphere. For now, political violence is not widespread as in previous election years. The masses are hungry and tired of it all.

There is a certain realization that, "Person wen dey cry dey see road o," as people analyze the present state of insecurity hitting the nation and biting hunger as they point accusing fingers at the federal government which enjoyed public goodwill but fell flat on its back concerning actualization of electioneering promises. 

Fact checking on released information has gone a long way to curb misinformation, disinformation and spread of fake news. Journalists due to trainings on election reportage have been made to realize that toning or cutting down on use of inflammatory words/language which could act as conflict drivers is key.

At the peoples parliament - a conglomerate of common people who hobnob, voicing out their thoughts,with or without biases, it was noticed that their political focus for now is not on focussing on achievements of contestants or need to go thumb print on a political logo based on what, "The leader says," anymore, it is about screening the political integrity of candidates based on the need to salvage the nation from the shackles of poverty and deprivation. It has nothing to do with tribe, religion, zone or ethnicity.

This has nothing to do with stomach infrastructure. It is about empowerment and leaving lasting legacies behind. Distractions and dragging to filth of names of opponents while "selling snake oil" to the electorates on how trite it is to vote in "my candidate" now, lacks in appeal. People get told to 'collect what is offered but, vote from the conscience

Nonetheless, there has been comedic relief from bootlegged released videos which tarnish the image of opponents. A presidential candidate had to state that he had stopped going to social media for feedback or anything as they have abused him to filth. He does not want a high blood pressure. No need to go there.

Away from the negative energy that come with politicking and the need to hype about class and connections by junketing to foreign countries such as going to the United States or Britain to network with the Prime Minister or President , there is need to ask, to know the relevance of selling your candidacy to foreign nations/nationals who won't raise their little finger to cast a vote in your favour, though ready to do business and have bilateral relations with you or any other person who come into office? "Home is where the heart is, conquer here to enable you stand tall before others at the committee of nations."

In 2008, during the Democratic  Presidential Primaries debate, the more popular candidate, Hilary Clinton, of New York, urged Barack Obama of Illinois, to step down, assuring him of a position in her administration. But, against all odds, he informed her that he had brainstormed with his think-tanks, intellectual volunteers who were in direct contact with the mainstream (grassroots) people to know what they wanted and their expectations of him if voted into office. And, the prognosis was good. He made history being the first African- American President.

How connected are these contestants to the people? Online polls are not a true reflection of popularity. Destruction of posters or mudslinging does not take visibility off a candidate. It might even lead to sympathy votes. It happened not too long ago in Edo State.

With the electoral law empowering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cancel results if, "The number of votes cast is more than the accredited voters in a polling unit" the voting pattern and resort to ballot box stuffing, if fully implemented, will cease.

The health status of candidates is topical. Bickering about their health happens almost on daily basis. It is either one of them is said to leak urine, another is alleged to have diabetes and battling high blood pressure or there are a series of fake news tagged as 'breaking news' of candidates jetting out to Germany or other developed nations of the world for emergency health checks only for such to show themselves for public scrutiny in a Nigerian state or speak from the comfort of their homes. 

This propelled the political analyst, Senator Shehu Sanni who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly, for instance, to send out a tweet, calling on presidential candidates to submit themselves to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) for adequate health checks which should be made public, to stem these health controversies.