You may be baffled by the title chosen for this piece............ I'm not! (of course, how could a writer be baffled by what he wrote?)
I had a discussion with a Nigerian friend living in SouthAfrica. This discussion centred on the 'ugly' snake that's already reared it's ugly head in the South-Western Nigeria.......especially in Lagos (where it all started).
The conversation started with me campaigning for the only opposition party in my Local Elections (the PDP), only to have my friend in SouthAfrica giving me a severe 'pushback'.
At this point, i knew he was going to need some memory-jolts to make him see that corruption (which he accused the PDP of) is not only peculiar to the party but that it's also prevalent in the party he supports.
That said, i made him realise that the only problem i have with the party is the way it disregards it's members in the sense that only one person determines every decision in their party (i wont call names but every Nigerian knows who i'm talking about, just 'google' "Action Congress of Nigeria")!
I finally intimated him on happenings within the "Local Government". How the LG chairman (something like a mayor) has gone about physically harrassing people (including two women at a night club) and also one-upping his party-chairman at the Local Government level.........even going further to taunt him in his house (and very much in the public!)
I'm not saying that the PDP is good, but at least, it's "democratic" in the sense that it tolerates "dissent".......also, it always makes sure that it holds primaries especially at the Local levels where you have to be popular to win!
I'm really looking forward to the Local Elections coming up on Saturday, the 22nd of october, 2011. (Exactly a week from this write up). A lot o' people have seen the change in their minds and want it with all their hearts! They also know that we have an option.
Oops........my title: i almost got carried away. I gave this piece this title because there have been verified stories of some 'old-men' who hitherto have been actively campaigning against the incumbent, now singing a new (bribery-induced) music of total support for him. As MSNBC's Reverend Al Sharpton will say "we've got you"! ( twitter@thereval ).
Anyway, one week from now, we shall see what prevails, "the voice of one 'tone-deaf leader' or 'the voice of the people' "..........watch this page for more posts!