The Youth in Nigerian Democracy: Money Politics&Our Birthrights

Already,the economy is suffering from, in a lay man's language, lack of cash...it's as if money is being mopped out of the economy... everyone is complaining 'no money,money! '. It's equally amusing to note that virtually all of us know why this is the case. We all know that our political heads are stock piling the money ahead of the upcoming general elections. But what has money got to do with elections to the extent that so much savings is required?
Under normal circumstances,apart from the purchase of nomination forms,other things that should cost money are election campaign materials and their customization as well as souvenirs... stuffs relating to hosting and presenting campaign promises to potential voters...other than these, there's very little need for money during elections. But,is this the case,how affordable are even the nomination forms among other necessities of electioneering,can we say categorically,under the present circumstances, that contesting and winning elections is feasibly possible for all Nigerians as enshrined in our law book without having to bow or submit to the whims of some godfather... ARE OUR ELECTIONS TRULY FAIR,IF NOT,WHY NOT?
I read on facebook that one of the aspirants for presidency complained of the exorbitant charges for the nomination forms in his choice party and the best defense a spokesperson of the affected political party could muster is that they did that to separate the boys from the men! I think that is crazy! It's like the party's authorities have forgotten what elections are all about!!!
Elections are the only means by which people choose their leaders, any attempt to 'separate the men from the boys' is actually an attempt to disenfranchise the people and impose someone on the people. Let the people decide,not you...stop using your position against the people. Nomination forms are meant to be affordable enough for any Nigerian to purchase without having to pay through the nose. This is, in fact,the very first step to true democracy...an average man should be able to afford the nomination forms both within a party and INEC! 'Separating the men from the boys' by INCREASING THE PRICES OF NOMINATION FORMS,to me,is like saying ONLY THE RICH HAS THE RIGHT TO BE VOTED FOR AND I DON'T SEE THE FAIRNESS IN THAT!THE PRICES MUST BE AFFORDABLE TO ENSURE FAIRNESS.
Another burning issue that's worth discussing here is the idea of 'Unanimous Candidate' which is another way of saying 'look,this guy is popular and have done so well that NONE OF US WANTS TO GO THE PRIMARIES WITH HIM!' Now,that's something,I don't see happening in Nigeria unless you are able to silence the opposition one way or the other. Some are bribed with either money or a post in government others who refuse the bribe are either permanently silenced (killed) or outdone one way or the other or sometimes suspended...there are many ways to keep opposition away. But the bottomline here is that MONEY IS REQUIRED TO DO IT...ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO HOARD MONEY!
So,when I hear 'Unanimous Candidate' or 'Our sole Candidate' I know there's more to it that it meets the eye...most often than not,there's a foul play!
Now,all the above mentioned forms of corrupt practises are done covertly behind the scenes...but,what's with the money game we all get involved with a few days to the elections? I still find it difficult to understand how we expect a change when we keep doing the same things the same way all the time!
Every four years,we get set to elect new leaders but we end up electing the same old hands that has practically robbed us of the dividends of democracy and have done more of embezzlement than development. Yet,we keep on recycling the same old cargoes and somehow hope to experience some change! Isn't that crazy?!
If you desire a change,you have to change the way you do things. If we hope to get a better deal from our politicians, we must learn to live without their miserable, petty bribes of 'rice and semo',or more precisely, their 'money politics'!
Like I mentioned in a previous post,they don't really need your votes, what they really need is our endorsement to rigging... this is exactly what you give to them the moment you accept their...'gifts'. Just because of the money,you attend their rallies, sign documents that say they are the people's choice, you walk around in their campaign shirts, hats and vans and you still wonder why life is so hard in Nigeria? If life was easier,how would they have bought your conscience so easily?!
They would do all that's necessary  to starve you hard enough to sell your birthright like Eesau,brother to Jacob!You buy only hungry people, you can't buy financially independent people. You have to stay poor to maintain the status quo!
Just like Eesau, we go on a hunt for the heads of the political class, our Jacobs... and just like Jacob, they take to their heels and hide away in bullet proof SUV's and in the protection of the security agencies for another four years during which we complain,lament endlessly and just when we get the chance to have our sweet revenge by voting them out,they starve us a lot more so that we would do anything to get paid and instead of ending the vicious circle,we loose focus,turn around and find reasons why we should accept their bribes...and so begins another circle!
You know, some people would tell you they accepted the money as their own share of the national cake...their share of the loot...so,politicians loot the treasury and give you your own cut...that makes you equally guilty even if his is in millions and yours is just N500...you are equally a thief! This is why it's wrong to accept bribes... you bribe to get UNDESERVED benefits! Whoever accepts it is party to it and part of the problems of the state because, YOU ARE IN FACT A MAJOR REASON WHY HE STEALS...IF YOU WON'T TAKE A BRIBE, HE WON'T BOTHER STEALING AND HOARDING ENOUGH TO PAY NEITHER WOULD HE EXPECT TO GET ANYTHING FROM YOU UNLESS HE EARNS IT!
That's why I'm appealing to every well meaning youth to reject all forms of incentives for their votes and give only to deserving candidate...MAKE THEM EARN YOUR VOTES,DON'T SELL IT TO THEM...VOTE FOR MERIT NOT BRIBES, VOTE FOR PROGRESS,VOTE FOR CHANGE AND GOD BLESS NIGERIA!!!
Regards,
Abdurrahman,
07037595859,
http://moneymakingmachine-alchemy007.blogspot.com

The Youth in Nigerian Democracy:Vote for Merit NOT Zoning

It's funny to note that the greatest hindrance to Nigeria's national development is the Federal Character.
Literally, the Federal Character involves the application of zoning federal posts and appointments based on ethnic and tribal affiliations. How,effective is this policy in our national life,is it affecting us positively or negatively? Let's briefly discuss the reason for the policy in the first place.
Basically, the need for the policy arose from the multicultural nature of Nigerian society. It was thought that for Nigeria to stay a country, everyone must have equal opportunities,every one must be able to aspire and hold ANY federal public post. In order to ensure this, a particular sharing formula was agreed upon... this sharing formula is what we now know as the Federal Character.
For instance,in a federal agency... say in an environmental agency, if the Director of the agency is a Hausa, the deputy Director must either be a Yoruba or an Ibo. If you go to another agency,an Ibo would be the head and a Hausa the deputy, another agency would have a Yoruba on top with an Ibo deputizing him.NO QUESTION IS ASKED ON HOW WELL HE CAN MANAGE THE POST SO LONG HE IS FROM A PARTICULAR TRIBE.This is the idea behind the adoption of the policy. It was expected to give a sense of belonging to all and sundry. Is this the case? I very much doubt it!
If it has been working as expected, everyone would be proud to be a Nigerian and NONE WOULD BE CLAMORING FOR THE COUNTRY'S CESSATION.
I have seen different map models of Nigeria on facebook... one in particular was designed to show the cessation of the country! For any Nigerian at all to think of such a despicable act,it clearly goes to show that the federal character is not working. It means that some people still feel disenfranchised despite the efforts of our founding fathers to ensure equal access to federal opportunities. But what is actually wrong and how do we best right the wrongs?
I would suggest in my opinion that we take after the US whose system of government (Presidential ) we have adopted.
Just like Nigeria, the US is a multicultural society. Funny enough,they too,operate the presidential system of government. The cultural divide is far much more wider than it exists in Nigeria...here we are talking about.differences that's as much as the skin colour... black and white , yet,each day,they see more reasons to remain a country. What's the magic,what's the secret of their unity in diversity? I see none other than the RULE OF LAW!
Unlike in Nigeria where we harbour 'sacred cows', in the US when found guilty of any crime, you pay the price in full. Likewise, if you qualify for a post or reward, nobody wants to know where you come from before you get what you deserve...their system is generally based on merit! THAT'S WHY OBAMA,A BLACK MAN CAN EMERGE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
Can you say the same of Nigeria, I very much doubt it...here,the status quo is jungle justice... winner takes all. This was the system when the Hausa/Fulani were on top...the same is the case now that a president from the so called minority class is in power. So,what's the difference between a Northerner and a Southerner? None! IT'S WINNER TAKES ALL!!!
This is why Nigeria is in the sorry state we find ourselves today. When we vote,we don't vote for merit but for our tribesman or a man of the same faith as ours. Both (merit and ethnic/religious bias)  has their consequences. When you vote for a man of merit,you would end up with a man of integrity like Mandela, someone like the late President Yaradua who declared his asset when he came to power and allowed justice to take it's course during election tribunals which brought opposition parties to power in some states. However, if you vote based on religious or ethnic bias,you end up with a ruthless man like the Pharaoh and Adolph Hitler! You know their stories... you know how they brought calamity and destruction on their people due to their ethnic bias. These goes a long way to prove that God Himself is against tribal and religious bias of all sorts.
Why do you and I always dream of living abroad? There's none other reason than the fact that in those far away lands,THERE'S RULE OF LAW! When you qualify for a job or benefit,you get it without having to know anybody! In that lies the answer to our multiple problems. We need to ensure peace and unity which is impossible to uphold without a firm establishment of the rule of law.
If you ask me,our problem is not who rules or where he comes from but the fact that he/she abuses power...he/she shields criminals from his/her tribe from prosecution while trying to apply the laws in full measure on people of other tribe or religion... this is in fact the root of our problems as country. It's quite saddening to note that some Nigerians don't know that President Jonathan is not responsible for the South -South alone... they don't think the boko haram issue concerns the president... they say it's a Hausa problem! How can you think like that...it's like most Nigerians don't know the true essence of democracy. All this stems from lack of Democratic awareness... most Nigerians sees themselves as Hausa,Ibo,Yoruba as the case maybe... they don't see themselves as Nigerians. It's therefore difficult to see ourselves as one. This is why it's hard to practice the rule of law.
Unless we adopt the rule of as the US have,reward hardwork like Obama and punish crime irrespective of who is involved like the French who jailed a former president for corrupt practises,progress would be very difficult even at the local level.
Some think Nigeria's problems is as a result of cultural diversity,considering the local tussle between Modakeke and Ife,the Hausa/Fulani and other tribes like the Kaje and Kanuri of the North and between the Ibos and the 'Orno ' ...the 'out casts',I doubt if cessation would solve the impending problems we currently have. There are way too many differences between us...breaking the country based on these differences would not solve our problems. If the differences in cultural heritage is the basis, then,a state like Niger state might end up being a republic...and a Hamlet in Cross-river would one day clamour for independence... those who have explored these areas among other extremely multicultural regions of the country... especially the North -Central and the South-South know exactly what I'm talking about. This is why I laugh when people start talking of the cessation of Nigeria. There's no way you can do it,there would always be the dominant and minority tribes...only in smaller scales. Cessation based on religion is not even feasible... we are too mixed up for that to happen. Not even the major tribes can boast of unity in Nigeria.
Next year's general elections is yet another opportunity to choose our leaders for another 4 years. Without your votes and support, none of the incumbents can be re-elected no matter how much they try...it happened in Ekiti. Likewise, a popular candidate would not loose an election no matter how much the pressure if you vote him. It happened in Osun. Truly, your votes count,just remember to vote based on merit and not on bias. VOTE AS A NIGERIAN NOT OTHERWISE...AND VOTE ON  MERIT...ONLY!!!
I rest my case for now!
Regards,
Abdurrahman,
07037595859,
http://moneymakingmachine-alchemy007.blogspot.com