No matter how far a politician has gone away from the people, it’s always in his best interest to Retrace his steps, Return, Reconcile and Remain with the People. That may be what Dino ‘Smartly’ exploited despite the wrath he incurred from the People over his initial political miscalculation with Bello, his former Political Ally against his Kinsman, James Faleke.
It is also interesting to note that ‘My People’ was the same excuse Smart Adeyemi gave for leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – where he was a Senator for 8 straight years and lost the 3rd attempt – for APC, his newfound love.
Irrespective of the Motive, being on the Side of the People is Always a Popular Cause. The Politicians are now realising that in the Emerging Political era, they now Need the People more than the People Need them. The era where merely belonging to a Political Party was all you needed to win an election is gradually giving way. But the good thing is that the People are also beginning to know who’s really on their side.
I hope Dino has learnt the Hard Lesson and if he has not, I hope he does in this unprecedented political storm he’s faced with. Whether he comes out of it the Victor or the Vanquished is one thing but the fact is he can’t come out Unscathed.
A Breed of Politically Conscious Nigerians is Emerging and any Politician can only Ignore at his own Political Peril.
We now seem to be in an era where no matter how long a Politician stays in Abuja or Lokoja, he will always need the People at some point; don’t neglect the People in this emerging political era.
I hope Bello also learns very fast and return to the Side of the People by paying Workers, opening tertiary institutions and engaging in aggressive development agenda that touches the lives of the People.
Bello must learn from late Audu who became Governor on a platter of gold in 1999 but was roundly rejected by d People in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2012 despite his ‘performance’ in 1st term. The People detested ‘arrogance’ until he ate the humble pie and returned to the People – he particularly used Wada’s payment of 50% workers salary against him. Consequently in 2015, the People elected Audu Governor again. That’s what the Power of what the People can do.
Bello says ‘Kogi will soon catch up with Lagos in development’; this is a Tall and Hard ambition that requires deliberate, strategic planning, else it becomes a wishful thinking. Lagos keeps working on its achievements daily and not waiting for a Bello to catch up with it. However, he can lay a Solid Foundation for the Kogi of our Dream while subsequent leaders build on it. That’s what makes Lagos the Toast of other States.
– Prudence Tia
