Season of curious endorsements

The president was on tape (and video) saying if he could not deliver on power generation (and distribution) after four years, he would have lost the moral right to seek re-election. His quondam political godfather, the Wizard of Ota, commended him for agreeing to only a single term. Now, don’t get me wrong, he reserves […]

The president was on tape (and video) saying if he could not deliver on power generation (and distribution) after four years, he would have lost the moral right to seek re-election. His quondam political godfather, the Wizard of Ota, commended him for agreeing to only a single term. Now, don’t get me wrong, he reserves the right to change his mind and I’ll defend that right to the death. But his friends are quick to tell us that he was looking forward to a life of fishing and shuttle diplomacy in Otuoke when TAN goaded him into re-contesting. If that were so, blame his ultimate defeat on TAN when it happens. In this game, there’s always someone or something else to blame.
Endorsements have become the torn umbrella on which to hide ineptitude, squandermania and failure across streams of political divides. Religious groups, socio-political and cultural associations have been making curious endorsements of both frontrunners in the hopefully upcoming polls. The untrained eye may wonder why the hoopla about endorsements to candidates seeking popular and not electoral college votes.
Barack Obama did not have to mobilize the Masai, Luo and Kalenjin in the diaspora to threaten Mau Mau-style war on American territory to be electable for a second term. Angela Merkel did not have to threaten to unleash modern day Nazis to win again and again in Germany. Until recently, Stephen Harper’s conservatives do not have to look over their shoulders to renew the mandate he first received in 2006. In Russia, it is unlikely that the coalition of Europe, America and Ukraine would diminish the dubious popularity of Russian president Vladimir Putin. On the other hand, not even the proximity of the Holy See or Papal anointing could save Italian maverick, Silvio Berlusconi when his time came. In civilised societies performance is a winner any day.
A performing government has no fear of the people’s votes. Some governments call early elections and lose, others do so and win, totally shutting up the opposition. A recent example is Greece. In Naija the ruining party believes it is popular and its best test of that popularity is to postpone elections it is bound to lose. In the absence of a true gauge of your popularity, you may induce parochial endorsements.
Seeking endorsements from non-political actors is the worst sign of trouble for an incumbent. Signatures can be procured with the same ease with which anyone with the cash can hire a mason along Berger Junction on Monday morning. In fact, I am surprised that members of the Association of Berger Junction Masons have not endorsed President Jones. Such an endorsement is an umbrella against the elements of Malam Mungu, the FCT prostitute-catcher.
Endorsements have only persuasive power – they have never been known to win elections. An association can endorse a candidate, but the ultimate decision of who gets the votes cannot be wished on anyone. I would defer to my pastor on spiritual matters if they do not contradict the Bible, but never on the colour or make of my car. Endorsements do not win elections any more than mammoth crowds at rallies is a true test of the popularity of candidates. At rallies, parties that have the means could hire thugs, students, the curious bystander and the army of the jobless to come and hail and chant. This is why we see rallies in which protesters turn their placards upside down.
People with nothing to do would always do it at the right or wrong places. On Election Day, only a handful shows up to perform their electoral duty and any enlightened person who shows up votes based on conviction. Yes, there are those who vote as a result of ethnic pressure or religious inducement, but those who really want the people’s votes sometimes go from door to door and at other times at town hall meetings to sell their plans and candidates. This is why I believe that counting your votes based on clannish, ethnic or religious endorsements is like hoping to win a football match because you have invoked the spirit of Maradonna, Pele or Yaya Toure or because you have any of them in the VIP stand.
If you asked me, I would say that endorsements count for very little or nothing when the people have tasted the bad and the worst under a political banner. A good wine needs no bush. This is why, a people convinced they need change cannot be swayed either by the endorsement of the Pope or the support of the Grand Mufti to shift base. If you want votes – you must work for it. If you try to steal it, the results are usually unpleasant.