In many climes, Politicians are charitably labelled ‘incurable optimists’. They see dual carriageways in swirling footpaths and sunshine in every drop of rain during a heavy downpour!
Hoping against hope to them is a mantra, character and attitude adroitly rolled into a skill set. Their eyes are always permanently on laurels rather than on the sanctity of ways and means of earning them.
They come in breeds. Politicians in advanced democracies are a rare species! They respect popular opinion and choices. And often allows morality and conviction to calibrate their actions. But their species in other climes are selfish, reckless and arrogant! This breed is a collective of desperados who are Machiavellian purveyors of “the end justifies the means”. They are mostly found in Third World democracies.
Nigeria arguably leads the pack of this infamous league of politicians. In our clime, politicians are not only incurable optimists but itinerant parambulators! They are driven more by convenience than conviction. Pursuit of unbridled ambition for political office relegates every public interest to the background.
But Nigeria never had it this bad in the distant past. Before and after political independence in 1960, there was a considerable quantum of consistency in the politicking space. Political gladiators like Awolowo, Zik, Ahmadu Bello, Aminu Kano and Michael Okpara exhibited palpable consistency in their politics and pursuit of power.
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Since the birth of the present democratic journey in 1999, politics has gained a new character to match the desperation of politicians and the scandalous attendant pecuniary returns! It’s easier to pick a needle in a haystack than recall ten names in the present political space that have not changed camp twice or thrice.
Truth be told, this wandering political spirit had been in existence before the recent suspected sponsorship of moles in some political Parties. How can Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso explain their political peregrination across Party lines during every election cycle?
Admitted, every ambition must be driven by self-interest, but when it relegates conviction and shared principles, it becomes an obscene desperation. When did Obi and Kwankwaso become compatible political bedfellows? Why must Atiku see the presidency in present Nigeria as a gratuity that Nigerians must pay him before he retires from public life?
Why should Amaechi believe that public office has not rewarded him enough after unbroken service of more than 20 years? Is it possible to deduce that El-Rufai’s association with ADC is for the “Nigeria First” mantra but not to settle thinly veiled personal and prebendalistic scores with estranged political associates?
Nigeria needs desperate attention in leadership, but I don’t think desperados will fit the bill.
