Apocryphal and Rhetoric Politics: The Bane Of Nigeria's Development

By Terfa Naswem 

It is disheartening to know that many youths and politicians have taken politics to divisive and destructive realms based on their, cupidity, self-aggrandizement, avarice to sustain their wealth and the zeal to covet other people's possession. 

As a result, they have engaged in various duplicity which have led them to commit egregious acts that have elicited anger from others who in most cases are at the receiving end of such actions. 

I have vowed that I can only support or work for politicians who are prudent and have the equanimity, probity and alacrity to take the welfare of the people they lead as a top priority. If in the course of working for any politician and I find out that these qualities are lacking, I will voluntarily resign my appointment. 

In the Presidential election of 2007, I supported and campaigned for Umaru Musa YarAdua in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Muhammadu Buhari in All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) because YarAdua was a better candidate to Buhari considering his leadership as the governor of Katsina State, the development of the state and the over N6bn he left in the state's treasury.

In the presidential election of 2011, I supported and campaigned for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in PDP against Buhari in Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) because I felt Jonathan would continue with the 7-point Agenda of late YarAdua. Unfortunately, his government turned out to be a disaster.

In the presidential election of 2015, I supported and campaigned for Buhari in All Progressives Congress (APC) against Jonathan in PDP because of the fact that Buhari was better than him in managing Nigeria's treasury among others.

I never used political party as a basis for my support and campaign for them. I looked at those that would do better for the common good. 

Even President Buhari that I support, I have vehemently criticized him on many occasions for failing to do the needful in some aspects of his leadership methodology. But yet, I still support him. Most supporters of politician are caught in the web of gross hypocrisy and Sychophacy based on selfish reasons. They see nothing wrong in those they support because of what they gain from them among others. 

As a result of my oratory and elocution abilities, some politicians gave me offers to work for them in their media team which I turned down. I don't want to mention names but some of my friends are aware and some of them insulted me for turning down a once in a life time opportunity to make money. 

I am supporting, campaigning and writing for Rt. Hon. Mrs. Dorothy Mato because she made potent impact on her constituency right from when she was a member representing Kyan constituency in Vandeikya LGC of Benue State at the Benue State House of Assembly and also the impact she is making now as a member of House of Representatives for Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency of Benue State. That is why she deserves to be re-elected to that she will continue with her good work for the good and transparent people of Jechira. 

As it stands, nobody need money in this world more than me because my challenges that need money to tackle keep increasing daily, but I am not desperate to make illegitimate money and from people who are heartless and have turned their backs on those they claim they are leading. 

My late father Mr Richard Ahembe Naswem was the Acting Provost of Federal College of Education (FCE) Obudu, Cross River State in early 2000s. He never tampered with the salaries and other financial entitlements of FCE staff. When he came on board, he cleared all outstanding payments and promoted those whose promotions were deliberately denied by some groups of heartless people. 

His office was opened to all staff and students who could meet him directly to forward their challenges to him. Those that were not severe, he solved them immediately while severe ones where solved on later dates. 

He was a man of refreshing candour, probity and accountability and was complaisant to all those in need who met him and brought succour to them.

It was from him, that I grew up with the philosophy that the welfare of the whole should be the proper purpose of the state and workers salaries and pensions should not be tampered with no matter what. That is why I have been furious with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and others who have failed to clear the backlog of salaries and pensions even when they were given bailout funds, Paris Club refund and also borrowed a lot of money in billions including the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)  from their respective states. 

If I were desperate for money, I would have been a millionaire by now because I had the opportunity of working with many godforsaken politicians but refused. Even if I were working for any politician who fails to deliver, I will voluntarily  resign my appointment. 

One of the reasons most of those who work for politicians find it difficult to criticize their bosses or voluntarily resign is because they are also caught in the web of financial misappropriation and other diabolical schemes.They don't have clean hands so their months are sealed.

If you want to remain incorruptible while working for politicians, do not involve in any illegal activities of making money. Be transparent, if you are given any amount to deliver to anyone, do not remove part or take all; give all. Stay clean and you will have nothing to fear. But if you have stained hands and you resign to criticize them, all the wrongs you did will be dug out and used to finish you. 

Many of our youths and elders today are extremely self-centered and only concerned about how much they will make from politicians irrespective of the leadership trajectories of such politicians. 

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi is in PDP but I always commend him for the impact he has made on the state. I have advised the APC gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi not to waste his time and resources to campaign because there is no way he will even be close to defeating Umahi because Umahi's works are campaigning for him.  Even Buhari has on numerous occasions commended Umahi and made reference to his development to his state.

Some politicians keep making rhetoric political statements in the name of bringing development to their various communities and in the end, nobody sees any impact. These kind of politicians should not be re-elected or voted irrespective of their political parties. 

I am supporting and campaigning for Rt Hon. Barr. Emmanuel Jime because he is a man that has commendable track record. When he was a member in the House of Representatives for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State, he made significant impact on his constituency. He is a man who does not believe in owing salaries and pensions of workers who are giving and have given their services to the state.

If PDP had presented a presidential candidate who is like late YarAdua, there is no way I would support Buhari. I am supporting and campaigning for Buhari not because he is the best President Nigeria needs now, but because he is better than Alhaji Atiku Abubakar since the president will come from either APC or PDP and not other political parties. 

Apocryphal political writers, hypocrites and sycophants are some of those whose abominable actions have affected the progress and development of Nigeria and not only unpatriotic politicians. 

Unless we become patriotic Nigerians and promote only leaders who put the well-being of those they serve above their selfish interests, Nigeria will keep stagnating and would retrogress in its struggle to progress