It’s funny the way things change in this country as yesterday’s men have become today’s hero. Those who despised the poor and their living conditions have suddenly become part of them. Just to beg for votes! Hmmmm! A new trend indeed in our political history. Before now, it used to be ‘carry go’ meaning that there is no contest. But today, things have changed. It is now a matter of taking the campaigns to the door steps of the masses who have been neglected over the years.
I have been wondering what brought about this new style of politicking. From neighbour to neighbour and now from market to market, that is the strategy.
Its amazing that those who have lived in castles and mansions that outlive them, are the ones who have resorted to take their message, if any, to the slums of Rivers state. Funny as it is, for me it is hypocrisy in its highest form because the moment some of these people are elected, they hardly return to the people. In fact, their first action is to demolish the illegal or makeshift structures of the traders without a proper arrangement to offer them a befitting alternative. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against the demolition of illegal structures. The truth here is that during the campaigns, nothing is seen as illegal.
No one is seen as a non-indigene now, but wait until they win, the will unleash mayhem on the non-indigene through multiple taxation and the notorious ‘Obio/Akpor’ thugs who ask for marching ground from traders and investors. Of course their master knows what they are doing. Just like the DPOs that send out officers to mount road blocks in order to make returns.
Is it not funny that those who chatter private jets for an hour flight for $17,000 per trip from Abuja to Port Harcourt now have to trek inside the dirty market places and ramshackle batchers of the poor in order to convince these vulnerable people on why they should be voted into power. They make all sorts of promises that are way out of this world just because they are desperate.
Ordinarily, I would not have any problem with our politicians going to the real grassroots to woo voters, even those who are neither registered voters nor possess permanent voters’ cards, PVCs. I just wonder if this is part of Nollywood drama or just a wasted effort. My reason is that it would have been better if the energy expended now to go to these places was used to sensitize the people to register as voters.
Anyway, man must wack! The traders, artisans, taxi, bus and keke drivers deserve a share of the national cake. It is said that if Mohammed does not go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammed.
I hear one of the super rich candidates was at the Oil Mill market recently with the people ignored him to continue their business. Am sure the traders must have been scared of his presence knowing his antecedents as Chairman of the second biggest abi richest Local Government Council in Nigeria. Was he there to take an inventory of the size of the market to ascertain the number of revenue collectors that will be sent there if he wins the election? No, he went to beg them for their votes.
I like this 2015 elections as it has really leveled everyone. Those who sit in air conditioned offices, cars and houses can now be beaten by the harsh sun. The only sad thing here is that nothing would be done to build markets with air conditioners for these poor traders.
How can a man who has a penchant for hatred against non-indigenes go to the same people to say he is now born again and has become NEW? A tiger can never change its spots! A man who does not believe in the church of Christ is now submitting himself to questionable pastors for prayers and magic. This is how bad we have degenerated to win elections.
For some of these politicians, they have long forgotten where Bundu waterside is or the high density Marine Base where people live at the mercy of criminals. Now, they are marching their supporters down to these places.
How can a man who drinks alcohol which costs N1.6m a bottle go down to the waterside where ogogoro or the local gin is their mainstay? Is this some kind of mockery or acts of desperation?
I hear the renewed campaign strategy is because their game plan to cause mayhem and create violence has failed. Prof. Jega has disorganised them with his electronic card readers. No more stuffing of ballot boxes with already thumb-printed ballot papers. They are in Court to stop the use of the card readers at the same time, they are involved in rigorous campaigns. Both those in APC and PDP are not finding it easy with this new trend of voting. You must sell yourself to the people. For this, I thank Nyesom Wike, the governorship candidate of the PDP for bringing APC to Rivers state. For those who think he has not offered Rivers people anything, he has actually changed the face of politics in the state where there is credible opposition. If he had not created the crisis in Rivers PDP when he used the court to remove the elected executives, APC would have died a natural death here. Am sure those who were behind all these never bargained for this mess.
When our ‘big’ men and women now visit the markets and the slums on a daily basis to canvass for support, it means that truly we have started the process of Change. Those who would only buy processed wheat flour now go to Mile 3 market to buy garri! Good!
In all these, the important thing is that those who thought they were super human now know otherwise. No election in Rivers state will be a simple walk-over. The only advantage any candidate has is in what they have been able to do in the past for the people. Those who were awarded contracts for road projects and constructed poor quality roads are in for trouble with the people. No amount of name-calling or blackmail against the government will hold water here. Reason being that government did not award these contracts to ghosts.
Some buy wash-wash wrappers from Aba or Onitsha and share to market women when they know where to buy correct krukrubite or hollandaise.
In all, the greatest losers are the masses who are being deceived to cast their votes for men whose wives have never been part of their various town union or family meeting. I will only vote for a candidate whose humility is unparalleled. Not an arrogant, self-conceited person who can pay any amount for the sake of winning the election.
At least, now they are going to the markets and the slums to beg for votes. “The stone which the builders have rejected have become the Chief cornerstone”. Ntorr!
Oby Ndukwe writes from Portharcourt
