by Odusote Oluwakayode

Our experience so far has shown that some citizens are more reluctant to experience the doubt, anxiety, and loneliness of distrust than an endorsement of candidates’ qualities

In this recent political process, we have already witnessed the incursion of entertainers into partisan politics. This involvement and attachment to political parties has unfortunately created an erosion of confidence in institutions outside politics itself.

What might keen watchers of political development expect to happen when politics is largely perceived as a business enterprise where return on investment is hugely guaranteed in excess? If broke practitioners from the entertainment industry are racing to grip unto political power rather than being focused on professional patterns and thoughts, the notion that some of them are looking for means of survival might not be wrong. Unfortunately, this all comers affairs attitude is simply the mockery our politics has turned into. In all of these annoying displays, what might we expect to happen to people’s sense of trust and obligation?

These entertainers turned sudden politicians are not the only mockers of our nationhood, alleged thugs and pardoned criminals are known to be aspirants who fight hard to govern and lead the people. The ability to lead genuinely is however called to question here. These set of people canvass for support with expected electorates trust, unfortunately, the trust sometimes blindly placed is betrayed eventually.

Trust is supposed to allay anxiety; help lift depression and make it possible to consistently invest interest and enjoyment in a nation’s leadership. Globally, there could be no civilization, enduring political system, or legal system without trust. The most ordinary interpersonal, economic, medical and legal interactions would be impossible without some degree of trust – it is due to lack of trust in our medical system that most of our so called leaders and statesmen travel out of the country for medical checkup.

In the first instance, they created a rot in the system through deceit, selfishness and manipulations. These dirty habits created fractures. Unfortunately, most Nigerians put blind trust and faith in someone without regard to demonstrated reliability or trustworthiness. Most time, the blind trust is aligned to emotional dispositions of religion, tribe and gender.

Our experience so far has shown that some citizens are more reluctant to experience the doubt, anxiety, and loneliness of distrust than an endorsement of candidates’ qualities. The level of carelessness in government and entrenchment of distrust has even moved the nation to the distrust callings of some religious leaders.

The revelation of a $9.3 million found in the “private jet” of CAN’s president gives room for serious concern and the church’s urgent need for soul searching of unnecessary and sentimental involvement in partisan politics. The scandal revealed the mere possibility of betrayal at various levels. It keeps us more in a state of hyper vigilance. When has a church or a pastor’s private jet- proclaimed to be used for easy propagation of the gospel, turned into commercial use?

The reason most leaders betray is numerous but self interest is the dominant factor, therefore, attaching caution assesses the probability of betrayal, in recognition that we are all frail creatures – pastors and imams inclusive, capable of betrayal in weaker moments. Realistically, it’s possible that any of us could betray in discharge of bestowed trust and responsibilities. It is, unfortunately, our blind trust that denies this darker characteristic of human nature while suspiciousness exaggerates it. Exercising extreme caution is an assessment that the probability of betrayal is expected but if it doesn’t come, surprise.

In the name of politics, people betray moral values and principles. It’s an altar designed-in their myopic minds, for dirty acts. To them who need principles – money makes the world go round, so, their actions revolve round the lust for money. Genuine trust is not a goal so much as a by-product of enhanced core values—the ability to create value and meaning in life is dependent on the apt understanding of a system that binds all and not one or few people of same interests. The dangerous self interests relegate the nation to a state of pity and scorn. In plenty of human and natural wealth a nation was given birth to but in penury her stories swim.

What is continuously depressing is that majority refuses to ask questions and we are all still prisoners of primordial attachments and sectarian affiliations. Attachments that continuously leave hearts broken and a nation lacking in prosperity; betrayal that often occurs when elected or appointed office holders violate without remorse, the deeper values of political power to gain a temporary sense of self empowerment. Without honest business, many political leaders boast of billions of naira in several banks…

While a consistent and across board drop in trust level is being witnessed. The pattern is undoubtedly strong on issues relating to the conduct of a free and fair election. The fear nurtured is strong and real because elected officials, going by the sad experience of recent, are motivated by selfish reasons. Reasonably, an unwilling electorate’s perception that political involvement offers nothing may be considered true. Politics in this country has been driven to the point that it no longer meets the challenges our country is facing. What does the government offer its people?

The growing lack of trust in the President comes from the very important constituency that ensured his emergence as president. His failures to ensure sustenance of the trust are numerous. When promises are not kept and lies peddled as fact, the result come to what we are currently faced with. Losing lives, mostly of poor people to insurgents without action from government except for careless excuses that “they are killing themselves to make my government look bad” is a major inability of the president. Stories of corruption and misappropriation had consistently trailed the government of Goodluck Jonathan without genuine action to stop the menace, infact, most responses from government to huge allegations is oiled with excuses and inactions.

In the current electoral process, it amuses senses why an incumbent needs so much energy to convince the people it is performing to deserve another term. Popular trust in politicians and political institutions is vital to democracy.

It is important to emphasize that at a time when we are seriously supposed to be moving towards building a national life of unity, mobilization of the entire citizenry for prosperity after the military experiences, the nation has been relegated further to a state without human face.

What then is the challenge of having genuine leaders with the heart of patriotism? It is obvious without any doubt as we witness in this current electoral process that politicians have become heavily stretched by the public’s obvious lack of trust in some elected officer’s stewardship in office. In truth, since 1999, the people’s political interest is high and they are interested in having that genuine and quality leader in position of authority.

Putting a trust in any political party may be difficult at this time, the need for better option for dividends of democracy however beckons and the beauty of it all is that the power to vote is bigger than any individual or party. The lesson is relevant that the will of the people should not be betrayed or sacrificed for self.

It is important to note that power belongs to the people and the mass uprising that greeted the removal of subsidy in January 2012 by the incumbent could happen if this important electoral exercise is manipulated.

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– Odusote Oluwakayode tweets from @Actionkay1

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija