The Cake and Its icing: a rant about politics and good governance in Nigeria

One beautiful afternoon, while driving with two dear friends of mine, we got into a conversation about politics and government. It was clear that one of my friends was tilted towards a candidate I was not a fan of. I had my reasons and by the time I finished listing the reasons and the reality of things, she responded by saying that I was being unrealistic with my demands. At that moment, my heart broke.

That hurt me deeply as I began to ponder what realism is for us as a country.

• Was I being unrealistic in asking that our hospitals are funded so we can at least reduce the brain drain we currently experience?
• Students stayed at home for more than eight months in 2022 and the nation moved on like it was not a big deal. Was I being unrealistic to say we pay more attention to educating the next generation?
• Was I being unrealistic to ask that we have access to power in 2023 for a country that prides itself as the giant of Africa?
• Was I being unrealistic to ask that the government creates an enabling environment that would allow businesses to thrive? Where businesses will not be threatened by random policies that would destroy businesses overnight.

Giant of Africa, Who is your leader?

You see, I am not a politician or an activist. But I know what good governance is. I do not care so much about the politics of it. I see politics and good governance as cake and icing. We are so much about the icing and no real substance (the cake). We have focused so much on the politics of it that we have forgotten what good governance is like. We have forgotten what real leadership feels like or perhaps we have never had one to start with.

Our political rallies are filled with disses and jabs at the other political parties. No actual conversations about policies that influence education, health and the economy. We are not debating each candidate’s approach to solving key issues. Instead, we are inundated with talks of structure, tribalism and the candidate who thinks it’s his turn to become president.

The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.- Chinua Achebe

It seems to me that we are so used to the way the system is being run. For some, it is that they directly benefit from it and for others, they can not comprehend what a working system feels like. It is so normal that asking for the basic things seems like you are asking for too much.

For someone who has not exactly experienced what a working Nigeria feels like, it is rather sad. I am disappointed at the previous generation for handing down this mess to my generation. They should be ashamed of themselves but guess what, they(the older generation) display corruption and cluelessness so boldly. Politics will be a part of most of our lives as far as the human race continues to exist. Politics is played in all parts of the world across all sectors even in our homes. I am not even fighting the politics of it. My plea is that we elect leaders with vision and empathy.

My friends at Bookhub and I organized a conference where we had conversations around leadership, governance and politics. They committed their time and effort to educate the youths about focusing on what matters. God bless them and may their efforts not be in vain. I love you guys.

Enough said, whatever decision we make in this election, is for the future of Nigeria. It’s for your unborn children and for your family. Look beyond the politics and demand good governance. Whatever that is.

Everything rises and falls on leadership –John maxwell

With some of the speakers at the event.