“What exactly is the Way Forward? The path to victory is clear: it is paved with genuine empathy, policy-driven discourse, and the hard work of winning the support of the electorate”.
BY AHMAD SAJOH
The Osun elections serve as a profound mirror for our political landscape, offering lessons that every stakeholder must internalize. If there is one overarching truth, it is this: In the end the will of a resilient people will always prevail. Yesterday we saw ordinary people stay back to protect their votes to the extent of reechoing the counting loudly.
Relying on or flaunting of a supposed Federal Might is Not a Winning Strategy that a candidate’s campaign should rest on. Yes, goodwill from the center means a lot to a campaign team, but it can also come with its own baggages. When you rely on Federal might also be prepared for the resentment due to the Federal Government. It’s a double edged sword.
Time and again, we have seen that the reliance on a “federal might” fails to translate into electoral victory. The reason is simple. Remember most times the Federal Governments stakes its credibility in giving assurances that the process will be credible. Therefore, it cannot trade its credibility on the alter of political expediency. Let that sink deep.
Every responsible government knows that when the machinery of power is leveraged to suppress the citizenry, it often triggers a reactive, defiant spirit among voters. True power in a democracy does not reside in the halls of government; it resides in the polling booths.
The Failure of Intimidation and Toxic Rhetoric was very manifest in the Osun election. Attempts to intimidate the electorate or drown out opponents with toxic rhetoric are counterproductive. No responsible politician should allow his or her supposed supporters insult, denigrade or intimidate opponents as a vote solicitation mechanism. That process distances responsible support from the candidate.
Such tactics do not build loyalty; they build resentment. In the age of awareness, voters are quick to identify and reject candidates who rely on fear rather than a compelling vision for progress. This lesson is very poignant at this point in time. The resilience of Nigerians far outpace the fear induced by intimidating rhetoric.
The Myth of “Big Names” has been shattered by the outcome of the Osun election. This is largely due to the existing Trust Deficit which governs relationships between the big names and the electorates. In the past such individuals were modest and compassionate. Today they are mostly known for flaunting their wealth in the face of general hunger and deprivations. Most keep away from the people citing insecurity and pressure. They neglect the miseries of the people. The people respond by ignoring their calls to vote for candidates they support.
“Big names” and political heavyweights often find themselves blindsided by electoral outcomes. This is primarily due to the existence of a staggering trust deficit and their city-escape lifestyles while the people suffer in penury. When politicians lose touch with the grassroots, their influence wanes, regardless of their status.
Similarly, while social media is a vibrant space for discourse, its impact on actual voting behaviour remains limited. It is a tool for amplification, not a substitute for deep, grassroots connection. Those who largely rely on social media followers as voters have always been shocked by the outcomes of elections.
Violence is a Path to Sorrow and regret at all times. Those fanning the embers of electoral violence should realize that it is an ill wind that blows no one any good. Those who lend themselves as tools for electoral violence should realize that in the end their deaths achieve nothing other than the sorrows of their families. Those who instigate them do not even remember their names.
Most importantly, we must realize that electoral violence is a senseless pursuit. Violence cannot change the outcome of an election; it only stains the process with blood and leaves behind a trail of sorrow and broken families. It is a lose-lose scenario that serves no one.
What exactly is the Way Forward? The path to victory is clear: it is paved with genuine empathy, policy-driven discourse, and the hard work of winning the support of the electorate.
When we prioritize the welfare of the people over the preservation of power, we move closer to a democracy that truly serves us all. Let us choose conversation over conflict and consensus over coercion.
…Ahmad Sajoh, a Fellow of The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, writes from 35 Oran Street Wuse Zone 1 Abuja
