Politics should be for service, not amassing wealth

Politics should not be an exclusive profession as people engaged in it should do so to serve their country and not a means to amass wealth. And to me, this is the main reason why some of our politicians are whacking our resources because they believe that whenever they leave the mantle of leadership there […]

Politics should not be an exclusive profession as people engaged in it should do so to serve their country and not a means to amass wealth. And to me, this is the main reason why some of our politicians are whacking our resources because they believe that whenever they leave the mantle of leadership there would be no source of income to sustain them.

It’s observed that many of our teeming youths today are fully engaged in politics, hiding under the banner of “not too young to run” bill. But youth participation in politics is a choice and depends on how you perceive it. You can be in politics without being a sycophant or praise singer in order to get cheap popularity within the society.

Going by history, most of the politicians in Africa and Nigeria in particular that excelled are retired civil servants and military officers that served the country diligently and they mostly depend on their entitlements/pensions. They don’t depend solely on what they’re going to gain through the political offices.

Regrettably, some of our teeming youth take sycophancy as a profession by protecting lies and being enslaved trying to make someone happy. Hailing and fabricating lies through their various platforms such as Facebook, whatsapp, twitter and other social media platforms day and night writing and posting rubbish is their trade. They don’t want hear anyone or any medium criticizing their bosses or identifying their faults.

Mr. Henry Shield twitted, saying that “there’s difference between being a supporter of a politician and being a slave. Many have crossed to slavery without knowing it. A supporter will point out mistakes to the leader. A slave continues shouting, oh yes! oh yes!”. Then we should understand that pointing out a leader’s mistakes is not hatred but just like recommendation or observation, and I advise that criticisms too should be constructive and not destructive. Hate speech is not a solution to the development or unity of our dear nation, it can only create disunity among the citizens.

Astonishingly, it was recently gathered that the new governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, has barred political thugs and other idle people from the Government House unless on invitation, urging them to find jobs to do. Though the governor had variously stated during his campaigns that he would not tolerate thuggery and indiscipline in the state,  the truth is that the issue of sycophancy is not only happening in Borno State but all over the country.

Most of them are answering the name “comrade” while others answer “activist” but the truth is that they’re “corporate beggars” because they mostly create groups or associations to give awards of excellence to politicians that don’t even deserve such awards, or writing to request for funds in the name of “service to humanity”.

It’s hoped that the government will provide a platform for the so called comrades and activists in order to make them to be self reliant and shun sycophancy so that the rate of poverty and criminality and crime in the country will be reduced. Politics is not an occupation and sycophancy is not a profession!

Gulani  writes from Damaturu.