THE POLITICS OF WORDS, WADS OF NOTES AND LITTLE WORK.

By Prof Gee

No politician would resist making promises he won’t keep, if it gets him popular support. And as far as promises go, students in the faculty of the social sciences have heard one too many from different politicians who only raise students hopes so high that when they’re finally dashed, the effects are usually unforgettable and almost irreparable. And with the lifting of the ban on political campaign by the electoral commission and the resultant official opening of the political arena for gladiatorial battle of words and wits, the mill of promises has been opened once again for action, this time at the students’ union level.

And with faces brimming endlessly with smiles and hands that are handshake ready, this set of politicians are out to conquer your hearts with bold statements and BIG promises (no matter how empty or unrealistic they may seem, who cares – as far as it does the job of convincing you to vote?) The end is what matters and that is victory at the polls. Some have already started wooing would be voters with words coated with so much sugar that could cause one can to be diagnosed of diabetes just by listening as they reel out their supposed scheme of actions once they’re successfully elected into office. Others however, have begun the money spraying spree right from the endorsement periods. And with so much expenditure on political campaign, one is forced some times, to question the intentions in total but hey, it’s the politics of words, wads of notes and little work. At least, that’s how we’ve come to know it. This is not to suggest that there are no good heads left in the system but that the good ones have been widely outnumbered by wildlings seeking to advance their own interest rather than common good.

In this politics of words, wads of notes and little work, promises are made without forethought, votes are bought with recharge cards, cash and sheer charm (not necessarily intellectual content) and little attention paid to the fulfillment of campaign promises. In fact, these promises die at the polls. And even when the fulfillment of some are attempted, failure is always the end as little thought was given into it right from start. But we didn’t start out this way.

There was a time, as I am told by senior colleagues, when student unionism in this citadel of learning transcended excursion trips to Abuja, low quality book packages and failed aluta. A time when ensuring students’ welfare was prime purpose and intellectual radicalism was king, not street radicalism. When padding of curriculum vitae was not the driving force for vying for political offices but rather the advancement of humanity. How things have changed. How we got here, I honestly don’t know, what I do know for sure is deeds got us here and deeds would take us out.

Truth be told, half the blame can be passed on to the electorates, who place very high demands on aspirants (for crying out loud, they’re contesting for the post of students’ union president not Governor of Oyo state) and the so-called stakeholders who are always quick to demand money from aspirants in the name of endorsements and ‘goodwill’. Politicians in turn spend so much on campaigns and spend the better part of their tenures trying to recoup money spent. The result is always lack of accountability as we have seen in recent times. How can someone come to campaign in your hall and the next thing you ask is recharge card or “something for the boys”? Honestly, electorates are part of the problem and the solution will have to start from them.

Politicians for the most part, need re-alignment in their mindset. Political office shouldn’t be seen as an avenue to pad your CV or an achievement of some sorts. Public office in itself is a burden. The average sane human being should be scared of adding such responsibilities to the already bulky academic workload one has to bear. Steering the affairs of about 10,000 students is no child’s play. Merely indicating interest to contest for any post suggests you have counted the cost and are ready to fulfill obligations.

More so, it is just wrong to promise what you can’t fulfill. Think about the effect it would have on your reputation. Before you promise to install ATMs in all halls, think and think again. People may forget the good you do for them but they would never forget the bad you do to them. Making promises without fulfilling them is a bad thing. Don’t say it’s politics, no, it’s human relations. Think and think again!

We all have to think very well. Those that would be voting for the wrong reasons (hall affiliation, charm, ‘he-came-to-me-first’, religion etcetera etcetera), please think again. We’d not go from the politics of noise (disturbing jingles that have started already), wads of notes (you know them) and empty promises (you’ve heard one too many already) if we don’t all have a restructuring of our world views in general. I rest my case, for now.