Why many governors may not be celebrated
When politicians are vying for elective positions, they would promise goodies in heaven and goody-goody on earth. They would do everything humanly possible using escapades, pranks and propagandas to sway electorates to their side. Nigeria@60: Governors call for peaceful coexistence PDP governors urge dialogue on issues affecting Nigeria But when they assume power, they quickly […]
Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum (2nd left); Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu (2nd right); Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar (right); and former Borno Governor, Sen. Kashim Shettima, during a visit by some governors under the progressive platform to Gov. Zulum in Maiduguri on Sunday over his recent attack by Boko Haram members
When politicians are vying for elective positions, they would promise goodies in heaven and goody-goody on earth.
They would do everything humanly possible using escapades, pranks and propagandas to sway electorates to their side.
- Nigeria@60: Governors call for peaceful coexistence
- PDP governors urge dialogue on issues affecting Nigeria
But when they assume power, they quickly become ‘powerful’ and forget their promises to the people.
I recently conducted an advanced empirical study on “Reconciliation of promises and performances of Nigerian politicians in fourth republic — May 1999—May 2020”.
The scope of the study was large as it cut across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
But what the major finding revealed from the perceptions of Nigerian citizens shows there is little correlation between politicians’ promises made while canvassing votes from electorates and their performances after assumption of power.
For their immunity assurance, they reneged on their promises with impunity.
And regrettably, the new electoral vote-buying introduced in recent times by Nigerian politicians would make us worse as a people.
Since the highest bidder would buy the largest votes, and as a consequence, win at an election, as politics is a game of number, governors and other politicians would have to steal more and save more so as to be the highest bidder come Election Day.
Not many Nigerian governors would be celebrated by the governed in their states because they perceive their hopes as being dashed by the governors as they didn’t receive the ‘goody-goody’ promised on earth let alone the ‘goodies’ promised in heaven.
Instead of releasing the ‘goodies’ or the ‘goody-goody’, many governors become bully; after all, their immunity covers their impunity.
Jimoh Olorede writes from Osun