Elewa Elewa, if you did not make sense, I didn't just read this. I especially loved the metaphor about the sweaty dancing man under the masquerade. That is exactly what politics is in this country. Masquerades and masquerades with piles and piles of decoration added to their garb each election. Do you remember when Peter Obi was campaigning for presidency? Oh...that entire thing about him wearing one watch for...was it 4 years? Kai...maybe that governor that advised us to pray and fast was unto something.
Hi Elewa, I beg to differ on this. Even if we accept the premise that most or all politicians are corrupt and Nigerians are often forced to choose the "lesser of two evils," that reality doesn't make voter apathy rational as you claimed her. In as much as I share the sentiment of those who refuse to vote, I believe refusing to vote only strengthens the status quo. Democracy, flawed as it is, still gives citizens the power to influence outcomes, even if marginally
And if we believe the lesser of two evils exists, then the lesser of the two evil is the better of the two evils. And I'd take that in a situation I do not have a choice to not take any. Consistently choosing the lesser of two evils (which I appreciate as being an ideal btw) is not pointless. It is a proven way to gradually raise the standard. If, as a nation, we keep rejecting the worst options and rewarding the slightly better ones, especially in situations like choosing political leaders where we must choose one, I believe over time the political space shifts. The “lesser evil” becomes the new baseline, and future candidates are forced to rise above it to gain support.
Sitting out elections because no one is perfect doesn't stop evil; it just makes room for the worst to thrive unchallenged. Plus silence isn’t neutral, it’s a passive endorsement of whatever emerges. Choosing not to vote because all options seem bad is understandable emotionally, but it is not rational if the goal is change. So apathy at best is emotional, and definitely far from being a decision made rationally.
I prefer this view. Your point about inadvertently raising the baseline by continually picking the lesser evil, I believe, is as rational as one can be
The answer is REVOLUTION. Our overlords are NOT constrained by morals or virtues, and thus will go to any length to continue having access to power and resources. If the Nigerian masses wish to change the status quo, then they should be ready to match evil with evil, and bloodbath with bloodbath.
We've gone past the point at which democracy can solve the challenges at hand. This is a systemic failure, and one cannot correct such failures without combating the overlords that benefit from the rigged system.
"So here’s my simple question: if you wouldn’t support a criminal in your personal life, why do you support one in your political life? It makes no sense. And yet, here we are. Nigerians are made to pick between thieves and thank them for the privilege"
Elewa Elewa, if you did not make sense, I didn't just read this. I especially loved the metaphor about the sweaty dancing man under the masquerade. That is exactly what politics is in this country. Masquerades and masquerades with piles and piles of decoration added to their garb each election. Do you remember when Peter Obi was campaigning for presidency? Oh...that entire thing about him wearing one watch for...was it 4 years? Kai...maybe that governor that advised us to pray and fast was unto something.
Hi Elewa, I beg to differ on this. Even if we accept the premise that most or all politicians are corrupt and Nigerians are often forced to choose the "lesser of two evils," that reality doesn't make voter apathy rational as you claimed her. In as much as I share the sentiment of those who refuse to vote, I believe refusing to vote only strengthens the status quo. Democracy, flawed as it is, still gives citizens the power to influence outcomes, even if marginally
And if we believe the lesser of two evils exists, then the lesser of the two evil is the better of the two evils. And I'd take that in a situation I do not have a choice to not take any. Consistently choosing the lesser of two evils (which I appreciate as being an ideal btw) is not pointless. It is a proven way to gradually raise the standard. If, as a nation, we keep rejecting the worst options and rewarding the slightly better ones, especially in situations like choosing political leaders where we must choose one, I believe over time the political space shifts. The “lesser evil” becomes the new baseline, and future candidates are forced to rise above it to gain support.
Sitting out elections because no one is perfect doesn't stop evil; it just makes room for the worst to thrive unchallenged. Plus silence isn’t neutral, it’s a passive endorsement of whatever emerges. Choosing not to vote because all options seem bad is understandable emotionally, but it is not rational if the goal is change. So apathy at best is emotional, and definitely far from being a decision made rationally.
I prefer this view. Your point about inadvertently raising the baseline by continually picking the lesser evil, I believe, is as rational as one can be
The answer is REVOLUTION. Our overlords are NOT constrained by morals or virtues, and thus will go to any length to continue having access to power and resources. If the Nigerian masses wish to change the status quo, then they should be ready to match evil with evil, and bloodbath with bloodbath.
We've gone past the point at which democracy can solve the challenges at hand. This is a systemic failure, and one cannot correct such failures without combating the overlords that benefit from the rigged system.
If Nigerians refuse to vote because all the options are thieves, isn't this because the non-thieves haven't put themselves up as an option?
And, to be fair, if you haven't contested an election(even Student Union) before it is easy to point moralistic fingers at the men of the arena.
It makes no sense for people to complain about a lack of options and then they do not try to participate in the process.
We've abandoned Nigeria to the thieves, the dogs, the scammers, and the drug lords. Why are we then complaining that Nigeria has gone to shit?
If you want to change Nigeria, then enter the arena. Refusing to participate won't do shit.
The thieves and the scammers are going to participate whether you like it or not. Why abandon the floor to them?
When I saw Peter Obi's affiliation with these sketchy politician, I knew something was up.
Meanwhile, I can't even give him a 70% pass.
The burden that falls to us is now this:
Who can we truly hand this country to for a better hope?
And Mr Elewa, like you, I do not have an answer to that question.
"So here’s my simple question: if you wouldn’t support a criminal in your personal life, why do you support one in your political life? It makes no sense. And yet, here we are. Nigerians are made to pick between thieves and thank them for the privilege"
OUR REALITY