WHY SHOULD WE BOTHER VOTING?

Some Nigerians have made up their minds not to vote during the forthcoming elections because they believe the politicians will rig as usual. Rather than engage in the futile exercise of voting in vain, they will not bother voting at all. Voter apathy is high and many have decided to sit on the fence.

Why must Nigerians vote during the 2011 April polls? Has anything really changed that's worth the effort? Won't the politicians rig themselves into office as usual? What difference would the genuine votes make against the established rigging machinery? How much difference will their votes make against the humongous fraudulent ballots? Why not sit on the fence and watch? Adopt the "siddon look" approach?

Well, one problem with sitting on the fence for too long, according to David Lloyd George, is that the iron on the fence enters your soul. When you sit on the fence it is also easy to be shot from either side by the warring parties. Another reason not to sit on the fence, according to John Locke, is that the only fence against the world (and despicable politicians) is a thorough knowledge of it. You don't get that knowledge by sitting on the fence. You have to get off that fence sometime; otherwise no progress will be made. Wherever an opportunity or choice is given, one should exercise that right. That’s why we must not sit on the fence but choose! Let our voice be heard through our votes. Only actions give life strength.

We must decide, who among those aspiring for public office, best fits our vision of a leader. We can easily identify a leader. A leader is someone who walks the talk, someone who knows the way and can show the way. A leader is one with a proven track record that can turn around the tide of slippage. After identifying the candidate of our choice, we must act to support our decision.

We all need to take a stand. Our power lies in our choice, our vote.  All that might be needed to deter a burglar from robbing a house is the sound of a barking dog or voices speaking in the house. If we all sit quietly on the fence, the era of stolen mandates and rigged elections will not come to an end. We must let our voices be heard by casting our votes and protecting those votes as much as we can. Even if the preferred candidate isn't the perfect or the ultimate true leader, he should at least be heading in the right direction and be markedly different from those in the times past who got us to this sorry state. It is time to start the journey to building a new Nigeria - wielding our powerful votes as the weapons of change.

Prof. Attahiru Jega, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, seems to be a man of integrity and honour, determined to deliver free and fair polls. But he is just one man and can't do it alone.

Nigeria won’t make it out of the doldrums without the determination of the people to rescue themselves from poor leadership and governance.

The change we want may not come in one day. But the ship of democratic change and good governance will eventually berth in our country if we are resolute about the change initiative. We need to empower ourselves with knowledge and vote for capacity and capability and not religious leanings or ethnic background. It is by practicing the democratic tenets that we can strengthen our democratic processes and institutions.

Make that decision to vote! There is no value-added to the democratic ethos by being apathetic. Our effectiveness in bringing about positive change is zero when we don’t care.

IT ISN'T THE END OF THE WORLD YET!

There was a time when twin babies were killed in some parts of Nigeria out of superstitious ignorance. The babies were thought to be evil and were cruelly murdered while their mothers were driven from their homes to die in the jungle. That was until Mary Mitchell Slessor of Aberdeen, Scotland brought enlightenment and stopped the barbaric act.

There was also a time when men thought that the world was flat. The erroneous belief was also held by some religious clerics and became religious dogma. Eventually, overwhelming evidence proved that the earth was spherical.

Contrary beliefs or opinions to widely held tenets or doctrines were sometimes punishable by death in ancient times.

We should be able to discard prejudices and inherited antiquated ideas, no matter how dearly we hold them, especially in the face of superior logic or overwhelming evidence.

I've received some Facebook, SMS and BlackBerry messages from friends that got me worried lately. They insist I should forward some messages advocating that the end-time has finally arrived because of the earthquake in Japan. The quake also triggered a tsunami that made it to the shores of California, Oregon and Seattle. The 30-foot-high tsunami brought catastrophe to thousands of people.

The messages I received, point at increasing technology and natural disasters happening everywhere, wars and rumours of war. And that Jesus may be on his way back, possibly riding on a chariot of fire. We just have to be on our toes, they warn!

But even as Christians or believers, the scriptures advise that even the angels in heaven do not know the date nor the hour of the second coming of Christ. And clearly states that this coming will be like a thief in the night. I doubt they will be any electronic advance warning via SMS or BlackBerry.

What exactly is going on then in Japan? Is it not a sign that doomsday has finally arrived?

Historical facts and figures show that earthquakes have always happened around the Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Ring of Fire is a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that encircles the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It is shaped like a horseshoe and it is 40,000 km long. It is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, island arcs, and volcanic plate movements. It is sometimes the circum-Pacific seismic belt.

90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. Tsunamis come when the quakes occur under the ocean and the earth’s crust or tectonic plates collide. Sliding past each other they sometimes get stuck. The problem occurs when they try to become unstuck. The quake in Japan was as a result of the Pacific plate crashing into the Eurasian plate.

In summary, Japan lies on fault lines of the earth. Japan's worst previous earthquake was of 8.3 magnitude and killed 143,000 people in Kanto in 1923. A magnitude 7.2 quake in Kobe killed 6,400 people in 1995.

In 1923, the news of such devastating earthquake would not have shocked the entire world in mere seconds as it has done in 2011. Those in neighbouring countries may have felt the vibrations but would not have known what exactly occurred. Different versions of the event will eventually be relayed as oral folklore as time went by.

We are actually able to view pictures of the devastation, in real time, thanks to technology. More people are now able to access information about such disasters that were previously unavailable until weeks, months or even years after the event.

Earthquakes have always happened along that fault line but we just have more access to information and news travels faster to a global audience. Countries sitting on the circum-Pacific seismic belt are bound to experience earthquakes. We are fortunate that our dear country Nigeria isn't on this belt. But we do have the mid-atlantic ridge threatening our coastlines such as Port Harcourt, Lagos, especially around the Lekki environs. What should probably trigger the doomsday warning bell is when the unusual starts occurring. When, for instance, catastrophic earthquakes inexplicably start happening in countries that are not sitting on fault lines, then we should be worried and possibly go to town with end-time predictions. That indeed will be a mystifying, fearful event and a great sign from heaven.

There are probably not more earthquakes happening recently as end-time or doomsday prophets may aver. It is just that we hear about them instantly now. Some religious persons have even attributed the catastrophe to the "sins" of the Japanese people.

Please let's reach out to the people of Japan in these difficult times and set aside the unfounded religious supposition and false innuendoes.

SNARES OF THE POLITICAL SEASON

The season of politicking is here again. It is always with us anyway. But the heat has intensified. Same old politics of rancour, bitterness and do-or-die.

Unrepentant politicians are up to their usual antics. They "rent" or "purchase" crowds of the downtrodden and unemployed for ragtag rallies. They employ and provide sophisticated arms to thugs and hire assassins to eliminate political opponents. They have stepped up their diabolical game in recent times and now detonate bombs at political events and in public places, maiming and killing hundreds.

University and polytechnic students short on cash and common sense are also recruited to swell political support for as little as N1000.

The unwary, the clueless and the unthinking, as usual, will fall prey to these vicious predators.

Religious extremists and incredibly crafty politicians need canon fodder to achieve their objectives. Osama Bin Laden, for instance, isn't going to blow up himself or his children as martyrs in a suicide bomb attack. Not at all. He is way too smart for that. It is the clueless morons, the misinformed, misled and misguided followers that he will recruit as suicide bombers - the expendables. The likes of 24 year old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab popularly referred to as the "Underwear Bomber".

Those who can't or won't think for themselves are easily lured by fanatical teaching, false dogma or the lure of easy money.

Intelligent and smart people don't bother me during this season. It is those who are clueless and gullible that get me worried. They are often cannon fodder.

About five students are feared dead in Akwa Ibom State and scores of others injured in the process of sharing the largesse given to them by Governor Godswill Akpabio to secure their support.

The students became agitated when they perceived that state government officials supposedly from the protocol unit of the Government House responsible for coordinating the money sharing exercise had hijacked some of the money promised.

N1000 was being shared to each of the over 3000 persons that were gathered, when a bus drove in and sporadic shooting ensued. The money was carted away by the intruders.

The Students’ Union President of UniUyo, Comrade Essien Udoma confirmed that scores of students have been hospitalized but could not confirm where the dead were taken.

The state Police commissioner, Mr. Sani Magaji confirmed that the police were called in to restore calm as the students began rioting over the incident. But he added that operatives did not fire live rounds at the students to quell the riot. Instead tear gas canisters and dud rounds were fired.

Students, drawn from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Uyo City Polytechnic and the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit had gathered at the Government House on the invitation of the state governor who wanted their support in the April governorship election.

 

It was gathered that over 2000 fresh graduates of the state had converged at the Ibom Hall grounds as the governor had promised them cash and immediate employment if he gets their support come April.

In their reaction to the incident, the wily predators - that's the Akwa Ibom State government - banned all solidarity visits and political rallies to the governor’s office by prey and the clueless till further notice or when cannon fodder is required again. 

We are all responsible for the choices we make in life and live (or die) by the consequences.

CELEBRATING MORAL DECADENCE

In many churches, Palm Sunday is celebrated by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshippers.

It marks the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. According to the Gospels, on this momentous occasion, Jesus rode a donkey that had never been ridden. His disciples placed their cloaks on it, so as to make it more comfortable. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the people there lay down their cloaks in front of him, and also lay down small branches of trees. The people sang (part of Psalm 118) - ...Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father.

The recent fanfare and jubilation marking the triumphant return of Olabode George from prison, by his followers and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) loyalists, assumed overflowing and euphoric dimensions, almost as much as the celebrated entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

Media advertisements by supporters, family members and well-wishers, heralded the release of the man described by the party faithful as “The Lion Heart.”

Chief Olabode George being the humble and modest man that he is, rather than ride a donkey into town, emerged from jail clad in a white agbada, and rode into town in a 2010 black Toyota Prado SUV while some of his entourage rode in commercial buses chartered by party loyalists.

He was received by hundreds of praise singers, political associates and supporters who turned the event into a carnival of sorts. The surging crowd of supporters wore uniform cloaks or Asoebi which are Nigerian outfits made from matching fabric, worn by a group of people to a party, wedding, or funeral. The uniform Asoebi also identifies the particular group of wearers. The crowd waved PDP flags along the way like palm leaves. Bode George, who was in high spirit, acknowledged the greetings with a victory sign.

Mr. George’s teeming crowd of supporters sang his praises like the Psalmist. Some of them wore T-shirts proclaiming him the ‘Joseph of our time,' and 'Mandela of our time.' Apparently riding on the crest of the overwhelming welcome, Bode George said he was ready to lead his party to future electoral victories.

He later rode in a convoy of vehicles to the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos for a thanksgiving service amidst effusive praises. It was reported that with him were the 12 chosen disciples that went everywhere with him. Notably present were Matthew and John. The chosen 12 were former President of Nigeria, Chief Matthew Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, the Minister of the Environment, John Odeh; General Tunji Olurin, the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Ayo Fayose, a senatorial aspirant and former governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Modinot Adedibu, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja, Defence Minister, Mr. Adetokunbo Ademola, Dr. Adegboyega Dosunmu, Ambassador Musiliu Obanikoro, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and General Tajudeen Olarewaju.

Bode George is an ex-convict. A competent court convicted him on several criminal counts of fraud, over inflation of contracts and money laundering amongst others while he was Chairman, Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and was sentenced to prison for two years. He has served his time and should, like any other jailbird, be accepted and re-integrated into society.

But what was the carnival all about? Political sentiments aside, it created unnecessary road traffic and pandemonium. There were even recorded incidents of fighting and hooliganism. Pickpockets disposed passersby of their valuables in the melee. This should have been a sober moment for the “celebrant”.

On the back of this celebration, opposition parties have questioned the sincerity of the ruling party and present administration in tackling the corruption monster.  They posit that they are sending wrong signals to the society with such fanfare. They decried it as appalling that mind-boggling stealing while holding public office is now accepted as normal and deserving of celebration after the "slap on the wrist" jail time.

The opposition parties contend that societal values have sunk to abysmal depths and that the entire show was a celebration of moral decadence. They also express surprise that the Defence Minister, Mr. Adetokunbo Ademola, even with the various flashpoints across the country, has time for such frolicking. They are even more astonished that he was sent as a representative of the President, Goodluck Jonathan.

With the April general elections looming, people are interested in the strategy the Lion Heart, party stalwart, ex-convict and former South-West vice chairman of the PDP intends adopting to lead his party to victory. If only he will heed the advice of the presiding priest at his thanksgiving service, Venerable Tayo Aduloju. The priest had warned politicians against corruption, saying that greed brings trouble.

Wise words spoken by the priest but will a Nigerian politician abide by such counsel after such overwhelming welcome and mammoth expectations in his political capacity to deliver?

WEATHER AND DISPOSITION

 

In every nationality group, people differ from individual to individual. But it is possible, however, to mention certain characteristic which in general describes the common disposition among the people of a country or region. Such prevalent attitude and practice is why others often suffer culture shock when they move between geographic regions or locations.

Having just arrived Nigeria from South Africa, my thoughts are probably the flight of fancy of a jet lagged imagination but I'm thinking that the weather influences the social rules and customs of nationalities more than we acknowledge. How warm and inviting the people are, service in hotels and restaurants, hostile or friendly reception at the airports or other gateways, are largely influenced by the cool, humid or crappy nature of the weather. Which is why timing of visits can be critical.

My remarks are generalizations and there are many cultures within nationalities whose values and behavior differ significantly.

Within this context, the often observed and commented aloofness of the British, for instance, may have something to do with their unpredictable weather. That chilling coldness might be weather induced and not intended to be rude behaviour.

My remarks are based on personal experience rather than any scientific research. I'm seriously considering, from my travels, that there is a correlation between the weather of a region or country and the prevalent moods, emotions and culture of the people. The weather, clearly and greatly, influences the optimism, expectations, social and economic activities of a region. Could the weather report or forecast then indicate what mood we will also find the people? This could prove to be a useful advance warning tool before one goes visiting and could improve cross-cultural communication and interactions. It could also improve empathy where cultural differences arise.

Some unusual cultures may also be better understood. Why did the Eskimos (Greenland) give out their wives to male guests for their entertainment during visits (wife-lending) and engage in spouse exchange? Legend has it that if a guest was offered the host's wife, it was usually implicit that the host would have access to the guest's wife at some point in the future (wife-sharing). Could it be a weather induced need to provide additional warmth or according to some accounts, the act was a ritual supposedly to achieve good weather and hunting conditions? Weather connections again?

The northern region of Nigeria has an arid climate with a harsh topography. Desert encroachment is a real threat and an ongoing challenge. You will observe, generally speaking of course, that the often tall and beautiful inhabitants of northern Nigeria appear more austere in their lifestyle and resistant to embracing other influences and cultures than their southern Nigerian counterparts. The Boko Haram sect has taken this resistance to the extreme in recent times, with their unacceptable violent and bloody agitation. They have made their stand known in no uncertain terms.

Friendliness, just like the dress sense and the diet of a people seems to reflect their topography and the warmth, unpredictability or serenity of their weather. Bright sunny days engender happy moods and warm feelings.

Temperatures in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa are usually fairly mild due to the city's high altitude. I arrived in the Rainbow nation at about 5.45am on a South African Airways flight. The throng of passengers milled around the airport counters indicated for those with African passports for clearance. The reception we received, not surprisingly, was as chilly as the weather. The immigration officers acted contemptuously and we were treated like slimy earthworms that had crawled out of rotten crevices.  They yawned unhappily from being awake at break of dawn to do their jobs. We were also yawning because we were tired from the long flight. But this common yawning ground earned us no points. It brought no bonding and cut no ice with our hosts. They seemed irritable and ordered us about from one queue to another. Unceremoniously, the officers behind the counters will suddenly close shop after attending to a person or two and take a walk around the airport. The walk might have been to keep warm but was interpreted differently by the visitors judging from the growing frustration etched on our faces.

We kept moving from one unwelcome counter to another until we were eventually cleared to enter the country.

Right from the point of entry into Johannesburg, one encounters a city full of diverse cultures, people and sights. A heaving metropolis of undulating valleys, range of hills and well-defined swinging hips - moving, it seemed, from one swinging attraction to another. Gradually the eyes grow accustomed to the everyday reality of the hills and valleys and constantly rolling backsides of the South African women.

But was their cold reception and hostile attitude weather influenced? I've been to Johannesburg a number of times and I often get this chilly reception at some point of my stay. Either at the sprawling shopping malls, hotels or at the airport. It might be argued that the weather has nothing to do with people radiating a positive or negative spirit or energy. It may even be suggested that my experiences could have arisen from the baggage that comes with carrying the Nigerian green passport (our reputation), or perhaps my disarming and charming looks or lack of it - depending on the beholder (my identity), or my personal disposition (attitude) or even my reading of deeper meanings into simple human behaviour that sometimes may swing like a yoyo based on factors other than weather.

But the differences in weather and the impact on attitude is better appreciated when our reception on arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, is contrasted with that of the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

The city of Lagos is densely populated and often has an oppressive heat. Lagosians often appear harried - possibly running from the heat. There is a palpable  air of frenzy and the pace of life seems rushed almost causing dizziness. It is sometimes chaotic, induced in all likelihood by the sweltering condition. The airport officials are often friendly but almost in your face and you sense they are sometimes just a tad too friendly, possibly they want something? Yes, they usually won't mind "something". You hear expressions like:

"Oga, anything for weekend?"

"Madam, anything for the boys?"

"Your boys are here, sir. We're the ones securing this place!"

We arrived at the Lagos international airport at about 8.40pm and to my embarrassment and utter confusion, we were advised that a ramp (the movable staircase for entering or leaving the cabin door of the airplane) could not be found! Perhaps the oppressive heat affects the brain and creates such disorderliness and chaos? Just like the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Direct Data Capture machines, the ramp had simply disappeared from the airport. Bizarre things certainly happen in the oppressive heat.

We waited on board the plane for what appeared like eternity before a makeshift ramp that didn't quite align with the door was arranged for us to disembark.

Can one conclusively say then that nice weather breeds nice people? The weather, our disposition, missing ramps and well-defined rolling hips - is there some correlation? Of course, one can't rule out individual exceptions whatever the weather brings.

Perhaps I should just quarantine my travel thoughts which possibly are impacted by jet lag and the sudden changes in weather?

Anthony J. D'Angelo however advises that, "Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."

EGYPT AND TUNISIA ISNT HAPPENING HERE YET

 

It may be simplistic to aver that the events in Egypt and Tunisia will now happen in Nigeria. My take, sad as it is, is that the ripple effects of those events won't necessarily take root here. Our climate isn't ripe for it. And it isn't because Nigerian youths are all cowards, chicken or lily-livered. Do the Boko Haram and MEND militants appear pusillanimous? These youths willingly put their lives on the line in their violent agitation.

The reason the mass revolts won't happen in Nigeria is because of our culture of avarice and corruption, our sham religiousity, ethnic and religious cleavages.

Nigerians are deeply polarized along ethnic and religious lines. These cleavages do not allow for a common front or unity in dealing issues of common interests. There is a huge distrust and it is passed down from generation to generation. A heavy baggage of deep seated prejudices, mistrust and bias regarding our fellow countrymen. We have derogatory and insulting names for other tribes and religions within our own inner circles which we delight in affirming at every opportunity. We often play the ethnicity card. Viewing events from a pair of tribally tinted glasses which we refuse to adjust. The animosity we carry in our hearts for other tribes is like a simmering cauldron of deeply seated emotions which frequently boils over in fights between groups: Ife and Modakeke, Ijaw and Itsekiri, settlers and indigenes in Jos, Hausa and Igbos, Christians and Moslems claiming thousands of lives. It is estimated that about 218 people are murdered in senseless killings in Jos in one month!

The Niger Delta environmental degradation and sundry issues, for instance, do not evoke much sympathy from other regions of the country. It isn't their problem even if the oil wealth of the nation has turned the region to a wasteland.

Nigerians have also earned a reputation as the happiest people on earth. There is the suffering and smiling mentality as Fela Anikulapo Kuti sang about. We believe it will "somehow" get better one day. One day it will be our turn to “chop” too or our children's turn. If not, something supernatural will happen to change the tide. Note that our often envisaged change is not necessarily by our effort but usually by some miraculous spiritual means that does not need our input. We also have the reputation of being one of the most corrupt people on earth. A confounding paradox. A highly religious and highly corrupt people!

Therein lies our inability to build the critical mass necessary for the revolts in Egypt and Tunisia or even move forward as a country in any positive direction. We just do not have the right soil to sow the seeds of such revolutions or mass revolts. It is usually every man, religion or tribe to his own tent. Even the coalition permutations and voting alliances in the forthcoming elections are tinged by such considerations.

We can't rule it out completely in the distant future though. A time when the citizens will arise and with one voice speak up against tyranny and bad governance. But a lot of work on achieving true nationhood, such as mass enlightenment to provoke attitudinal change and integration of our body polity will have to be done. There is a need to bridge our cleavages and arrest our confounding paradoxes.

2011: WHY THE NEW BREED POLITICIANS WON’T WIN

Globally, we have witnessed a trend of a younger generation of vibrant and charismatic people emerging as world leaders – Prime Ministers and Presidents of their countries.

David William Donald Cameron is the youngest UK Prime Minister in nearly 200 years. At the age of 43, Cameron became the youngest British Prime Minister since the Earl of Liverpool 198 years earlier. Barack Hussein Obama, born in 1961, is the 44th and current President of the United States.

The Nigerian political firmament has also felt the ripples of this emerging global trend. A new generation of young Nigerian politicians and their growing legion of supporters have engaged the political landscape in recent times with debates and the clamour for a change of guard. Some have even been successfully nominated as the Presidential flag bearers of a number of opposition political parties. These include Mallam Nuhu Ribadu (Action Congress of Nigeria), Pat Utomi (Social Democratic Mega Party), Dele Momodu (National Conscience Party) and Kris Okotie (Fresh Democratic Party).

These patriotic and possibly well meaning Nigerians have presented themselves as candidates to serve their fatherland. One salutes their courage and resilience in pushing the frontiers for this change initiative. But sadly this is not the first outing to clinch the top job by a number of them. Some have seemingly been turning around on the same spot in a series of motions without movement over the years. This scenario calls for introspection and reevaluation of tactics. Is it that the time for the desired change has not yet come? Have the new breed politicians taking a wrong fork in the road? Are they sowing seeds in the wrong soil? Or these are not the players for the expected transformation?

The difference between the old and new brigade are conceptualized in the professed ideologies and politics of progressive ideas of the new breed political gladiators rather than money bag politics, their touted integrity and credibility rather than politics of ‘godfatherism’, and the democratic and disciplined party politics and structure compared to the selections, adoptions and impositions of the old breed political parties.

But it seems these articulated differences in the approach to politics are mere posturing. Most of the new breed politicians have emerged as flag bearers from the same undemocratic cesspit and mould of selections, adoptions and impositions in their various political parties. The touted progressive ideas and blueprints have also not been forthcoming from the new breed politicians. They’ve been regurgitating the same platitudes and empty rhetoric of the old guards. Their transformational ideas are seemingly kept in the closets of their minds and possibly revealed only to close family and friends in whispers. Some of the aspiring politicians are not visible or known beyond the cities of Lagos and possibly Abuja.

The new brigade are also polarized by personal egos rather than embracing the bond of the common cause or good of all. They do not have the funds or structures on ground like the old brigade to mount any serious opposition but rather than pool resources, blend or align their progressive idealism and mount a collective opposition, they build individual tents on shaky foundations. Also, unlike Barack Obama and David Cameron, some never started from the grassroots and may not, in all honesty, even win a local government election.

The clamour for a new direction or radical departure from the status quo in Nigerian politics will remain an illusion if the new brigade do not properly plan, position and prepare themselves. Barack Obama did not have the high visibility of Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Democratic Party presidential primaries. But he gained a steady lead in pledged delegates due to his grassroots mobilization, better long-range planning, superior fundraising, dominant organizing in caucus states and better exploitation of delegate allocation rules. Similarly, in the 2010 general election held on 6 May in the UK, the Conservatives gained a plurality of seats in a hung parliament and Cameron was appointed Prime Minister on 11 May 2010, at the head of a coalition between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

Our new breed politicians need to reevaluate their tactics and step up their game by forming stronger alliances and coalitions. They can borrow a leaf from the electioneering and coalition strategies of both Obama and Cameron. They need to unveil their roadmap and convince the electorate in a language they can comprehend. They need to demonstrate to Nigerians that this is a change they can believe in and how they intend taking us from where we are to where we ought to be. For them to achieve the seemingly impossible task of dislodging the old brigade, they have to offer a better alternative in terms of ideas, have a united front and mount an extraordinary challenge.

As things are currently, the new brigade often make you wonder if they were half-awake when they made their political declarations or if the ritual is deliberately embarked upon to provide comic relief to long suffering Nigerians.