As we contend with the impact of coronavirus on our health, our businesses and the economy generally, politicians are taking advantage of the situation to project themselves ahead of the next election. This is why I cannot stand politicians: they are conscious of the next election every single time. Even when they pretend to be philanthropists, most times their philanthropy is colored with political ambition. I have a problem with this attitude of transactional philanthropy.
Permit me to suggest that the next election, at all levels, should be issue-based not parochial or nepotic so to speak. Politicians do not allow us know who is genuinely committed to helping the people out of altruistic behavior. People need help now but we don’t want your help in exchange for the vote you so desperately need. If you want to help the people help them, and if you want to campaign then please by all means keep your help until campaign time. If really you want to help the people out of this covid-19 situation then what is the camera doing out there?
The next election in Biafraland should be examplary of what we want to see in Africa. I challenge all the states in Biafraland to look at alternative ways to ensure that our elections are credible and the most credible individuals are given mandates. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Imo State. When it is time for election, let us vote for the state or senatorial zone or local government and not for individuals per se. If you vote for the state, then you will give your vote to the individual who closely represents the interest of the state. The people are the poor masses at the villages who need government to provide them with social amenities.
All these ridiculous political fun fare ahead of elections is not going to deliver the mandate to anybody. Casting your vote for someone because of a 3kg bag of rice is ridiculous to say the least. Letting people buy your vote for N3k is the most stupid way of selling your right to question why schools are not built, roads not tared and electricity not provided. It is you giving up your right to have a good hospital built in your community. The moment you collected the N5k and cast your vote for the clueless politician you just sold your birthright for a plate of yam porridge. What is the difference between you and Essau?
The youth of Biafraland need to step up their game and refuse to be used by politicians who have absolutely nothing to offer your generation. It is time to hold our politicians accountable. We have to match their words with their actions and be convinced that they are committed to that to which we are committed. It is time for Biafran youths to rise up in unison and demand performance and accountability from our public office holders. That is one way we can start showing leadership in Africa.
We don’t have to wait to become independent before we can get ready to be. We need to start rehearsing whatever we plan to do ahead of the game. If you know that in Biafra we will hold our leaders accountable then what stops us from doing that now? If we know that in Biafra we will invest in Biafraland why don’t we start now? If we know that in Biafra we will love each other, care for each other, help each other then why don’t we start now? We can start living in Biafra now before Biafra comes so that when we get Biafra it will be a continuation of that with which we are already accustomed.
Given the challenges inherent in over reliance on oil , our public office holders need to tell us their plan for the future and lead us in the way of alternative ways to survive and develop without waiting for oil money from Abuja. It is time to rediscover ourselves and our abandoned resources, our skills and our talents. How do you plan to be part of the solution instead of a mere onlooker? Let Dubai challenge us. We can do what they did in unison, but we have to start now. Dubai came from being a desert in 1960 to being the tourist center of the world now.
Mezie Okolo is a Texas based leadership analyst at www.mezieokolo.com