Before you open your mouth to defend your political hero

When I hear some people defending one politician over another, I wonder how long we will continue to defend the indefensible. I have said it before and will continue to say it; under this system, NO POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDER HAS CLEAN HANDS. True, one may steal less than the other and one may manipulate figures less than the other, but THEY ALL DO.

When they campaign, they spend huge amounts of money; money that surpasses how much they are supposed to LEGALLY earn while in office. How do you expect them to get the money back? They invested during campaign and they expect to reap the dividends when they get power, or have you ever seen a businessman that wants to invest and lose?


For instance in 2011, during President Jonathan’s campaign, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu of Buo Group of companies donated N250 million naira. Former Ogun state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, donated N26 million. Senator Bala Mohammed, donated N42 million Alhaji Aliko Dangote donated N100 million naira. Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, Mike Adenuga, Femi Otedola, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Chief Edwin Clark, Chief Tony Anenih, Sanni Dauda, Hope Uzordinma, Senator Mohammed Ohiare, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Engr. Segun Oni, Emeka Offor, Tonye Douglas, Don Etiebet, Senator Ameh Ebute, Ted Nwoko all donated N1 million naira each. Others like Bayelsa State supported the organization with N20 million on behalf of the state executive; former PDP national chairman, Ahmadu Ali, N250,000; Professor Jerry Gana, N250,000; Obong Victor Attah, N500,000; former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, N500,000; and South East Ndigbo, Lagos N500,000.

Now, look at all the donations and money spent on the campaign and then look at the salary he’s supposed to earn. This is a list of the annual salary of some political office holders:

President: N3.51 million naira per year
Vice President: N3.03 million naira per year
Governor: N2.22 million naira per year
Dep. Governor: N2.11 million naira per year

So before you open your mouth to defend your political hero as pure, with clean hands and impeccable record, think again. If your political office holder is said to be clean, it is because he hasn’t been caught yet or has been very careful not to leave trails. It is not only President Jonathan, others too do it. You see a ward councillor that is supposed to earn like N100 thousand naira or less per year campaigning with 5 million. And you praise him to high heavens claiming he is a honest man, you are either naive or an expectant beneficiary of the looting that is to come.

Under this system, there is no good political office holder. Under this system, there is no political office holder with clean hands. The ones seen as clean are not; they have just perfected the art of ‘chop and clean mouth’. Open your eyes and stop believing in this faulty system. Open your eyes and realize that there’s no hope for the masses under a system like this. Open your eyes and see that transparency and accountability will remain myths under this system. Awake and see that only a total overhaul of this system will bring lasting change and restore normalcy to our society.

By
James Ogunjimi