Is politics really only for politicians?

In the days Monarchies ruled Europe, the Estates of the Realm divided society into three groups. First was the Clergy, Second was the Nobility, and Third, were the Commoners. The Kings were not considered part of any estate. Later on an fourth Estate was recognised as that segment of society that wields indirect but significant influence on society even though it is not a formal part of the political system.

Democracy replaced Kings and nobility with elected officials. This was the genesis of politicians believing erroneously that they alone should be in charge of the affairs of men. In reply to the statement by the Christian Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) that the current administration poses a threat to democracy, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity has advised them to “leave politics to politicians”. Contrary to this myopic point of view, all Nigerians have a civic duty to be politically active. There are many who say that the statement reeks of insincerity because the Vice-President is a Pastor who has not been advised to resign and leave his office for “politicians”.

The issue at stake is what exactly qualifies a person as a politician? Who are the so-called politicians? Are the electorate not politicians? Is politics a full-time profession? Are people who change from military uniforms into Agbada politicians? Are politicians born? Politicians aren’t from another planet. Nigerian politicians tend on the whole to be re-cycled, incompetent, characterless, and unethical jobbers who jump from one platform or political party to another in complete disregard for any known political principles. The political class is the biggest problem with Nigeria. They have proved totally incapable of running the affairs of this country for the benefit of the majority. When political actors start complaining about not being left alone to do things their way, it’s clear that panic is setting in.

Nigeria doesn’t belong to politicians who appropriate to themselves monies and privileges that stretch the bounds of decency. Now that elections are approaching they are waking from their slumber. The same familiar faces are telling the same falsehoods while telling the rest of us to steer clear of their territory. They have started singing the praises of their leaders, massaging bloated egos and celebrating mediocrities as heroes all in the name of putting food on the table for their families. There is no gainsaying that the bulk of Nigerian politicians are motivated by selfish ambition. They openly promise things that they have neither the intention, nor capacity, to deliver.

In a country where nothing works properly and which has been placed firmly in the category of “sh*t hole” nations it would be foolishness in the extreme to leave politics to politicians. The American theologian and philosopher James Freeman Clarke famously said that a politician thinks of the next election, a statesman thinks of the next generation. Since the advent of democracy in the nation, Nigerians have been given all manner of spurious excuses by political leaders who have ruined the nation and want to be left alone while they scheme to be re-elected. Senator Shehu Sani has told the world that Nigerian politicians are only interested in being reelected.

Paradoxically those who he refers to as “politicians” aren’t those who studied political science in University, or have written books on political theory, or even have a clear understanding of political ideology. They are simply those who have chosen to join the cult group known as “politicians” in order to spend their lives living a life of luxury at public expense while the majority of citizens live in penury. The irony of Nigeria is that we don’t seem to make progress in the one aspect of our national life that matters most and can guarantee sustainable growth and development. i.e. politics.

Since Nigerian politicians do not encourage the participation of youth in our politics other than the tokenism of over-aged “Youth Leaders”, old people with expired ideas, or even dead people have been preferred for appointments! In practically every developed nation youths are taking up major responsibilities in government and the results are discernible. In Nigeria young men and women have been virtually left out of politics. If politics is left to politicians who see themselves as indispensable, the urgently required generational change away from yesterday’s men will never be effected. What is even worse is that Nigerian politicians are not concerned about philosophy or principles, but with personalities. Political sycophants who have nothing concrete to say about their candidate’s achievements or antecedents prefer to deify them as being “ordained by God” to lead.

There is really no denying that we could have done much better as a people and one of the major reasons for this our unprincipled political class. In nations where decent politics is played, matters can truly be left in the hands of politicians. But in Nigeria, election rigging, destruction of property, murder, and corruption are the hallmarks of the political class. Their best simply isn’t good enough. They do not represent the cream of our intelligentsia, neither do they represent the elite of our morally upright. They do not comprise the most patriotic amongst, neither do they exude any high ethical values. They seem to feel that democracy only involves elections and once these are over nobody has any right to try to keep them in check until the next election.

Therefore, as long as they can rig elections to keep themselves in power they can safely ignore the aspirations of the generality of citizens. The politics of personalities has led to registration of 68 political parties while another 90 being lined up for approval! With no concrete plans to put a halt to this registration bazaar, politicians will continue to place an unbearable cost upon the nation in terms of financing elections. Politicians and political appointees need to be reminded that Nigeria belongs to us all. It is trite that politics is too important to be left in the hands of politicians!