There is no gainsaying the fact that desperate and self-centred politicians are on the prowl seeking to grab power at all costs .They do not have any regard for rule of Law and so in their inordinate ambition to achieve their goal, they have thrown caution to the winds. Though they claim to be democrats or rather progressive democrats, these greedy politicians have remained resolute in their determination to satisfy their lust for power.
They arm hooligans with sophisticated weapons purchased with funds they looted from the treasury and in several cases prevent eligible voters from exercising their franchise. It is a well- known fact that they lure security agents, the media practitioners, INEC staff and many others engaged in the elections assignment to compromise through financial inducements among others.
This is the reason for the increasing state of voter apathy, but with the current plan for electronic transmission of votes by INEC, there appears to be a ray of hope for a more credible, free, fair, and transparent elections in Nigeria.
While INEC’s commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2023 is applaudable, the issues of vote buying, the electoral umpire’s disenfranchisement of credible voters, armed irresponsible politicians and their cohorts should be addressed properly before the general elections next year. Delay or failure to do so, will continue to negatively impact on our nation’s nascent democracy.
It is no longer news that some conscienceless politicians have chosen the part of perdition, as they have continued to conduct themselves in the most dishonourable , condemnable and disgraceful manner. The security agencies should this time apprehend any of such political “robbers” no matter their social status.
It is dishourable to continue to allow these shameless and good for nothing politicians to continue to “pollute” our political environment with their wicked acts. The present position in which the provisions of the law are rather seen as what is to be observed in the breach has to be addressed to put our democracy on the right footing.
However , we are glad that we still have some disciplined, humble, and God fearing politicians like Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who has consistently counseled politicians against do or die politics, as he has shown through his actions and utterances that elections should not be a do or die affair.
As a very experienced politician, Okowa believes that any genuine Politician should campaign for votes and ensure that elections are devoid of avoidable deaths. The steady progress Okowa has continued to make in the political terrain has proved that playing good politics pays. With over three decades experience in politics, right from the grassroots, the announcement and subsequent presentation of Okowa as Vice Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by the party ‘s National Working Committee did not come as a surprise.
Okowa’s purposeful and progressive governance has resulted in improved infrastructure, efficient delivery of social services and growing prosperity. He has always preached non-violence in politics and has been magnanimous with friends and foes alike. Politicians should imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship to play the game according to the rules. Politicians should therefore resist the temptation of resorting to violence, and irrational threats, rather they should have high degree of tolerance, mutual understanding and accommodation to make democracy work in the state and Nigeria in general.
