Poverty of currency and earthly possessions isn't evil but only factor that militate against decent living of self contentment. One can be poor and still be happy. That's neurophysiological frame of mind. But poverty of the mind as a result of lack of money is evil against every individual and to humanity in general.
Limited knowledge about the indices of governance as it relates to the sociopolitical contract entered into force between electees (elective political office holder) and the electors (electorates) during electioneering when the electees sought for the peoples' mandate and the electorates obliged by exercising their franchise in such direction is the bane of non-accountability of elected office holders today.
That contract is sacred, mutual and a sort of commensalism to say the least. It must be reverenced and always held in awe by both parties. It's not a give-away gift that ought to be benefited by one party only. Unfortunately, many in power have not realized this social pact. Most of them consider it as a mere privilege given to the electorates and not a right. Ignorance.
This right is inviolable (not to be infringed) and inalienable (incapable of being surrendered) by members of the constituency.
Shamefully enough, it's very appalling to assert that only an infinitesimal few of our elected officials are equipped with this knowledge. The rest, I mean the ignoramuses are the ones who detests being criticised. They desire to be canonized. They're unreceptive to contrary opinions from their perceived enemies. Any contrary opinion is an affront. In their eyes, they're infallible and should be worshiped as gods and goddesses on earth. And when one chooses in the very modest ways of expressing his views without minding whose ox is gored, such an individual is considered an enemy and must be gagged. Political nonsense.
Politics has advanced. It gives room for reactions. People must react to issues either as catalyst or not. Everybody mustn't follow the narrow splotch of conventional prejudices. That's why the political doctrines of egalitarianism should be a common knowledge to all and sundry.
One isn't ignorant of the fact that our great nation, Nigeria is at the forefront of nations with high rate of poverty. In fact, it has successfully in unceremonial fashion relegated India to second position. What a feat! Its effects on the lives of the people of Cross River State, nay northern senatorial district are astronomically alarming.
This information is in public domain and our leaders from all walks of life are capitalising on this economy weakness to over-use the lazy youths and even the elderly too. They simply employ these sect of youths to sing their praises on social media and attack whoever is not in tandem with them. Such an individual must be pulverized, vilified and brutalized via vitriol.
The job of these youths is just not arduous but lucrative. They don't have office(s) and job description. Their major duty is to junket, gallivant and hooey around with their bosses in government. Mobile devices are bought for these dudes to carryout the hatchet job. They like it and they're dead drunk in it.
Who're these youths? They're the ass-kissers; brown-nosers, suck-ups, yes-men and hungry-socialists with monthly statutory stipend and emolument. Worse more is the fact that they're not just absolutely narcissistic alone, they're surprisingly and ingloriously overwhelmed in the shadow of their fleeceability.
The other day, I wrote a piece on what I considered immodest about the 'Honourable' member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Mr. Jarigbe Agom where he was snapped at Beer Parlour with bottles of alcoholic drinks littered on his table and the concomitant effects on unsuspected minors.
In the piece, I raised not a few issues, but time and space wouldn't grant me the latitude to enumerate them even in brevity.
The piece generated ripples with mixed reactions from my readers. Many expressed contempt over the piece. Many called, messaged and chatted with me to express their concerns in private. Worthy of note is the action of MP; the lawmaker took a swipe on me in a dishonourable fashion not befitting of a legislator.
His protagonists (rabblerousers and urchins) poured venoms on me. They spit fire. There was nothing that they didn't do to me with their tabs. They broke Hades and called me unprintable names. They didn't stop there, the latest is constant threats. All these to prove their unflinching loyalty — and I've the lines below for them:
"Prove your loyalty O ye parasites
Curry your favour O ye flunkies
Mention my name O ye lackeys"
As I glanced once again at the reply of the policymaker, I was compelled to reminisce in retrospect of my role; a very small quota of contribution I made towards the victory of Jarigbe Agom prior and during his election.
In 2015, I was a students' leader of northern Cross River extraction with enormous influence. The aspiration of the Honourable for obtaining his party's ticket during the primary was at the edge of precipice. His hopes were falling and failing. The permutations of the other camp seemed to be yielding better results. Of course his men weren't ready to wobble or fumble. Yours sincerely was contracted to boost the sagging morale of camp Jarigbe. Someone may like to confirm this from Chris Abang.
I and some comrades did that by addressing gentlemen of the press at NUJ Press Centre at State Housing Estate, Calabar. I remember vividly how I told the press that he'll make a good legislator if elected and that the would-be delegates should maintain belief in his capacity. This press briefing was published in some of the national dailies.
More so, as the coordinator of the Youths Alliance for Northern Cross River Dreams, YANCRiD, I was able to influence many of my contemporaries in the business of activism in no small measure why they should express their universal suffrage wisely. Even myself exercised my franchise for Jarigbe.
With all I've scrupulously put in as my meager contributions to his victory ; that doesn't give me the latitude to be hobnobbing with him for tea and bread. Did I hinge on that maybe to be pestering his office as others are doing? No! Must I follow the band wagon? No! These aren't necessary.
In saner climes where contrary opinions are held in awe; leaders aren't erratic, pugnacious and volatile in refuting issues raised by constituents; but rather logical, polite and magnanimous with superior reasons through their media aides in putting up reply. Amazingly, the opposite is the case in our nation.
About a couple of weeks ago, I was beaten flat by the hurriedly and poorly written rebuttal from my MP. The MP was furious and felt that I was wholely wrong to put out stuff that was considered slanderous by him. Because he didn't seek for counsel from his media aides, he ended up committing fallacious crime: argumentum ad hominem and ad baculum.
As if they were commissioned and dispatched, the MP's apologists from knoll, land and sea gained excited energy to rain insults on me. They called me unimaginable names. They threatened me. They tried many times without success to hack my Facebook account. They sent me threat messages and called as anonymous. But all their efforts proved abortive.
Is this what politics is all about? Why should I be a friend only when my opinion is in the same direction as theirs? An enemy when I differ? Well, hate me or like me, my opinion is independent and not been motivated by anybody (paymaster). I've an unquestionable antecedent of expressing my views in civilized manner.
Methinks expressing contrary opinion isn't an intention to harm anybody and shouldn't be handled with the manner that seems to be the order of the day. Some of these views are wake-up calls. They're capable of acting as check and balance. It's quite boring when one is monotonous in politics. Varied views are political spices. They add flavour to politics. That's why individual's view should be considered a valued point.
Nevertheless, my rights are my properties. They're inviolable and inalienable. Nobody can deny me of these rights. I shall exercise them to the fullest. There are civic media where discrepancies are redressed whenever one feel being infringed by someone's action (s). The doors to these media are widely opened. Let's go through them.
I'm aware that most politicians can't manage criticism. I'm not a critic. However, if my actions or inactions criticizes anyone, such person remains criticized.
Cheers!
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