It’s election season once again and let me begin this letter
by complementing you on your beautiful faces plastered around the
capital city, or rather, the entire state. Don’t get me wrong, I am
being sincere, you look great. Your Beautiful posters and billboards
gives me something new to look at, divert my attention
from the loads of abandoned projects, the plight of lots of unemployed
Ekiti youths, deplorable condition of our roads, and the old blocks of
classrooms in our only State-owned University.
You are all probably in different communities as you read this,
going around telling the masses of your platforms if elected
into office. You’re probably tired. You’re probably sick of wearing the
same colors day in and day out. You’re probably missing your family.
You’re probably missing out on several birthday parties. You’re probably
shaking hands with people whose names you won’t remember tomorrow.
You’re probably not eating well. You’re probably not sleeping well.
You’re probably really exhausted with this campaign period. And with all
this, you probably want time to stop, just for a moment to allow you to
breathe, for you to take in everything happening and to motivate you to
carry on once again— but, you know it won’t. You know it can’t stop for
you. There are more people to reach, there are more voters to win over.
So you probably tell yourself, this is for the people. Your blood,
sweat, and tears is for the greater good of Ekiti State. After all, if
seated in office, you will surely immerse yourself in public service and
aim to better the quality of the lives of thousands of impoverished
citizens of Ekiti State. And you probably take consolation at this
thought. And at the end, you convince yourself that all this effort is
for your State anyway, so it’s all worth it.
I honestly believe that all of you are motivated with the idea of
serving our dear Ekiti State. It’s the strength you use to carry on with
this electoral race. As cliché as it sounds, it’s true, right? Most
readers probably won’t believe me but I highly doubt corruption and
greed is your number one inspiration to run – well at least, not yet,
the story changes when temptation is laid out in front of you when
you’re actually in position. However, this is not what I’d like to talk
to you about; you’ve probably heard that argument in articles published
long before this. This letter won’t also be about political dynasties,
nor will it also be about a criticism on personality politics and the
weird political party system of the country. This won’t be a letter of
criticism at all. What use is it to criticize what’s already present,
existing and never ceasing, as much as I would like to fight these
issues, I believe it won’t take me too far as father and son tandems are
already going around the state, as your faces are already plastered
across the state and as some candidates are members of two political
parties at the same time. But allow me to work with the current
landscape of Ekiti politics. Let’s admit it, 99.9% of you are members of
the elite class, you all have several cars, you all go home to a gated
house, you probably have maids ready to address your basic needs, you
probably have children in private or international schools, and you
probably have your own pieces of luxury items. Again, I’m not going to
criticize, it’s fine. It’s fine if you live this way. Who am I to judge
you? I will not condemn you for living such lifestyle. I just wanted to
ground these assumptions so that we’re on the same page.
I’ve already used the word “probably” several times from the
beginning. You might have been annoyed or judged me for my lack of a
more diverse knowledge of words. The reason why I kept on using the word
“probably” was because I was describing your life, a life foreign to
me, no matter how much I imagine what your lives as candidates are, I
will never be able to know what it is like to be a politician. I can use
my imagination and sympathize, but I can never empathize. The same goes
for you when you are elected.
You are obliged to voice out the problems of thousands of Ekiti
citizens, and let’s admit, your way of living is quite far from their
own. You will probably use the word “probably” as well in describing
their lives. “Probably they have nothing to eat,” “Probably they’re
hopeless,” “Probably they’re not educated.” To a certain degree, you
have an idea of their situation, as much as I had an idea of your
situation in describing your lives earlier. But this is not enough. As
their representatives who hold great power in the government, why not
better the service you can offer by doing more research. And I’m not
talking about statistics, but this is my proposal to all of you; to
understand their conditions better by immersing yourself into their
lives.
Keep the fancy suits for a day and wear a typical pair of jeans and a
shirt. Go around hamlets and villages, disguise yourself not to attract
attention. Ride a car or public transport and understand how cramped it
gets during rush hour and the problems of the transportation system.
Eat in a restaurant along the streets and see the food quality served to
majority of Ekiti citizens. Eat there and
listen to the problems of the construction workers on a table next to
you. Line up in government agencies without the VIP treatment and feel
the inefficiency of some offices in giving simple documents. Have
something treated in a public hospital and experience the kind of
service of a public institution. Just for a day, live the life of
majority of Ekiti Citizens and you’ll get a better perspective of their
problems.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a sadist who wants to make it tough on
you but I just want you to open your eyes to our realities. To the
realities you may not have been seeing. Do not separate your lives to
theirs. Do not rely on assumptions or create their stories in your minds
and merely sympathize and speak on podiums on their behalf. If you dare
speak on their behalf make sure you know what you’re talking about.
They say experience is the best teacher, then go and do this research.
Certainly doing this for a day will not give you absolute knowledge on
their conditions but it can give you a better insight on the public
you’ll be working for, on the society you’ll be serving.
So before this campaign ends, go and walk the streets of your town,
pay attention to the worn-out street lamps, weak electric posts, dirty
foot bridges and puddled sidewalks. See the things you never saw before
living in your elite world. See this, feel this, experience this because
this is Ekiti State. The majority does not live as comfortably as you
but they most certainly deserve a life as comfortable as yours. Go out
and do your research so that when you’re finally elected, your face
plastered across the State will be
the face to change and answer these problems.
God Bless Ekiti State
Ayodeji A Aladejana
Email: aladejanaayodeji@gmail.com
Twitter: @Aladejanadeji
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