To Serve or Not to Serve; That is the Question

 

Image credit: The Guardian Nigeria News

Evelyn Temny

Elections have, and presumably will always (all things being equal), be one of the cornerstones of a proper democracy. Elections serve as a means for people to exercise their voting rights; their right to have a say in choosing the hands they would like to entrust their nearest future into. Those canvassing for people’s votes are expected to be ready to serve the people, as that is the main purpose for holding any public position in a democracy, otherwise, the rationale behind a democratic government is defeated. It is against public policy that a public office be held for private gains. 

It is trite knowledge that holding a public office confers on the holder, some authority, as well as some, or in most cases, quite a number of benefits. However, these were not designed to be the reasons people show interest in politics. These are nothing but events ancillary to service. The call to service is not, though, has unfortunately become a call to benefit. When the national and regional politicians are scrambling for political posts, do not be naive enough to think that they are all seeking to serve us. Many are simply and openly just fighting for their bellies.

That is the case in the major political arena, however, one would be inclined to think or believe that in the case of campus politics, there would be some innocence and some dignity. The question, however, is that, do student leaders or political aspirants have this mindset? Is it not true that what we see at the national level is simply a magnification of what began way back, dating as far as campus politics? Didn’t many of the politicians today also start as student leaders?

Now, the question for anyone with an intention to contest in the coming elections, both at the SU level and at the faculty and hall levels is, “Am I contesting to serve or am I no different from the politicians I complain about?”. The answer is simple, if you are for service, then you are on the right path. If you are contesting solely for personal gains, then you might just be on your path to becoming the monster that has hunted Nigerians for ages. In case of the latter, just know that you are actually a hypocrite if you still find fault in corrupt politicians, even though it is a magnified version of what you are doing or planning to do.

Many times, people tend to cast all the blame on the less literate for the election of a failed leader; one who knows little to nothing about service. However, this might just be unfair, as even in a university; a citadel of learning, there are gullible electorates. Beneath the make believe silence of aspirants prior to the lifting of the campaign ban, there are silent moves and strategies put in place; which could be in form of supposed sensitisation, which unfortunately, some electorates fall for. Deciding to cast votes for a candidate all because they approached you first or because you are personally affiliated to them is not always the smartest move, even if you think you stand to gain anything from their win.

In the same vein, casting votes for a candidate and canvassing for same because they have one way or the other been your benefactors is absolutely demeaning. It is no different from selling your votes for rice and garri or for some measly cash.

While it is not bad in itself to be a beneficiary and to be grateful, it is, however, degenerate of an electorate to give their votes in exchange for anything. Those benefits or relationships should only be treated as secondary.

The main reason why electorates should decide to cast their votes in favour of a candidate should be because they are convinced that the candidate is willing, able, and ready to serve them, and in extension, the concerned public.

For a successful democracy, there is a duty on both the aspirants and the electorates; which is conjunctive, to ensure they are contesting to serve and to rob and deceive the public, and to ensure due diligence in exercising voting rights, respectively. This applies in every political sphere, national, regional, and campus based, and is a possibility if everyone does the right thing, not merely a myth. The success and efficiency of the next tenure rests on your and our shoulders, the press has however dispensed our responsibility of sensitising the public, the ball is in your courts.