The political process in Nigeria was at its peak in the 70’s and 80’s due to the personality of individuals involved in the process. Elections in this era were keenly contested as the players were all distinguished individuals. From their party manifestos and campaign slogan, its was a display of class, as they all devised several ways to win the heart of the electorates.

One of the most important and unforgettable experiences of the era was their numerous speeches made at campaign grounds. The speeches were well laden with promises and visible means of achieving such promises. Their campaigns were much of speech making as the candidates tried to outwit each other in their display of command of English language.

The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Bola Ige among others were renowned for their dexterity when they mount the soapbox to the admiration of their teeming supporters. The speeches made at some of their campaigns which include their manifestos were later converted to books for political science students to read.

This good fortune was totally reversed with the coming of democracy in the year 1999. The crop of individuals that found themselves in the political area knew little or nothing about what it takes to be in the political circle and the result is visible for us to see in the structural decay around us.

Electoral campaign that used to be a learning ground in the 70’s and 80’s is now history. Today electoral campaign is about who has the highest money to rent crowd from nooks and crannies of the state to the campaign ground. All decked in customised t-shirt and face cap with mobilisation fee of five hundred to one thousand Naira only as the case may be.

To make it more lively, popular musicians will be on ground to entertain the rented crowd to take away their boredom. The candidate will later come in a convoy of vehicles, mount the stage, spend thirty minutes to dance with his supporters, spend the next ten minutes to abuse his opponent. Say the usual rhymes: we will build road, we will provide water and so on. If he has money to share like Peter Obi he will share to the people. That ends it all.

They’ve devised a clear method to avoid debate among other voter education initiative. There is nothing like speech making or presentation of manifesto, that’s why till today Nigerians can’t debate the manifestos of their elected representatives. The current ruling party came to power with the chant of Change, today, there is no concrete manifesto book that can be attributed to the party as they’ve denied the ones in circulation.

The political arena has lost its finesse and attractions when compared to what exist in the 70’s and 80’s, what we have now is nothing.