It is pertinent to note that as political declarations, especially those declaring for the position of the president, governors and National Assembly dot the length and breadth of the political space, the discuss of governance may have stopped.
The elected representatives that came on board in 2019, have gone through the process of policy formulation till last year, 2020 and it’s expected that real dividend of democracy should begin this year. Some who believe in continuity of government have taken to some aspect of projects started by their predecessors, especially in terms of road infrastructure. Others have decided to kick-start theirs.
The inability of the elected representatives to separate politics from governance has been reasoned for why we are where we are today. Governance is not considerate of political party affiliations, it doesn’t consider those who voted you into power, it is a sharp contrast of politics. More often than not, governance unites opposing views especially across party lines.
What fresh start of policy formulation and implementation cannot do, sincere continuity of projects can do. No wonder, we have myriads of abandoned projects here and there at the economic detriment of the citizens.
May the recent political declarations ahead of 2023 general elections not deviate, distract, bring to a halt the progress of projects especially those nearing completion.
As the political declarations rent the air, what are the citizens, who are at the receiving end of bad leadership, doing to wage the issue of being offered watering campaign promises that have never come realistic. The question that should bother the inquisitive minds of citizens is, has the four years term been converted to two years?. This is because if election was done in 2019 and we are talking about another frenzy of politics, it means that the docility of the citizens must pass through the wheels for purification.
As the politicians come to promise the electorate of building bridges even where there’s no water, making the communities Dubai of Africa, building suspended train when since 1960, as simple as electricity, as simple as building roads and as simple as obeying traffic lights have not been addressed, it tells you that this 2023 election should not be allowed to go through the old order. It should not be business as usual. Citizens, Citizens, Citizens. The onus of change lies in/within you. Change it or it chains you.
Decide to wear off the garment of docility deliberately thrown at you by the political class and decide to consciously draw charter of demands with which to engage the elected representatives as they come back to you, seeking your votes. Your political decision determines to greater extent, your economic growth, well-being and social status. It drives your lives and livelihood, at least for another four years.
Let the distraction of political declarations not deviate the citizens’ eyes on the ball of bringing back the elected representatives to the real issue of governance. Meet them at the table of political glossolalia with your charter of demands, engage them full swing with in depth explanation of their campaign promises. Let the citizens wear their thinking cap of demanding for accountability.
Let’s change the narrative and get it right this time around.
