The Politician's promises

Last night, the Edo state governorship campaign was given some attention on the news. A video clip was aired of a particular candidate at a rally ground and later, at a public facility, making promises of what he would do if elected into office.

I was once again shocked by how the crowd he was addressing, seemed to be adoringly swallowing his very ambitious promises hook, line and sinker, without rationalizing anything he said. Everyone cheered him on as he reeled out one ludicrous promise after the other.

If they were not ludicrous, at least they were unrealistic. Why should such a candidate merit such adulation, without going the extra mile to outline how he intends to actualize the promises he was making? Didn't he owe it to his supporters to outline a plan for translating the promises into realities? How was he able with such lacklustre and unsubstantiated utterances, to hold the attention of, and command the loyalty of people?

My attention then shifted to the assembled crowd. On what basis was such a large crowd of people standing in the heat of the day, listening to and applauding these highfalutin promises, without protest?

Was this to imply that there wasn't one single rational being in that assembly who could ask questions, to call the man to task on how he intended to achieve what he was promising? Was I supposed to surmise from this behaviour that Nigerians are unintelligent, irrational and gullible people, easily swayed by emotions?

I can't accept that. I am a Nigerian and I happen to know quite a number of very intelligent, rational and forthright Nigerians who apply knowledge and reason to their endeavours. So, why do the crowds at political campaign rallies portray such contradiction?

I am of the opinion that the sort of lines with which a man woos a woman do not only speak of the man's ability but of the woman's intelligence as well.

I have nothing against inspiring hope in people, as a justification for getting elected into public office. But haven't we learnt, and is it not obvious to us, that a promise without an agenda is unrealistic? What kind of assurance should we get from intentions that do not countenance the existing realities, and offer a clear path from the present to the envisaged future?

How does a man intend to fix a problem without an understanding of the root cause? How then do we justify the integrity of his words and his person altogether? Shouldn't the understanding of a problem be a factor in determining the amount of time and other resources that would be required to implement the intentions to fix it? This then, translating into a quantifiable plan that can be presented anywhere, and on the basis of which support for one's intentions could be justifiably given?

Simply put, couldn’t we have campaigns where aspirants wooed us for their support with sensible conversations as:

'This is the problem, and this is the cause. Do you agree?'

'This is the solution we all envisage, right?'

'I have a plan to get us from problem to solution by steps 1, 2, 3. These are feasible in time 456, all things being equal.'

'Endorse me with your mandate to spearhead this plan.'

The voting public then makes a choice based on the rationality of the candidate's proposal.

In Isreal very long ago, a prophet once prophesied that an economic recession that had held sway in that country, would be reversed in 24 hours? While he didn't explain how it would happen to his listeners, he was able to commit himself by the timeline within which his promise and thus his integrity, could be proven or not.

Today however, we accept promises from public office aspirants without verifying the authenticity or feasibility of such. Then we expect miracles to happen. Why don't we demand the signs and wonders before we believe, and not afterwards?

Should it be any surprise when these men distance themselves from their lofty intentions when the realities of the situation dawns on them, (usually) on assumption of office?

When will we stop trying to elect Superman into office on the merit of his fancy costume rather the testimony of his strength and ability?

When will we stop looking into the sky for the superheroes to come and save us, while the real heroes are walking about in our midst?

To Be Continued...