Five Lessons I Have Learnt From The Just Concluded Primary Elections: A Case Study of Some Selected Social Media Influencers

Five Lessons I Have Learnt From The Just Concluded Primary Elections: A Case Study of Some Selected Social Media Influencers

By Bashiru Salihu Algusawiy 

1• Karma is real:

In 2018, Bashir Ahmad was the one who sarcastically laughed at some political aspirants who had failed in primaries, particularly Dr. Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso. Now the chickens have come home to roost.

Moreover, don't guffaw at his fortune - as he did before - you can find yourself in the same situation he falls in, subsequently.

2• Don't be puffed up with conceit over your followers on social media outlets:

Bashir Ahmad who serves as Buhari's Media Aide has been blessed with innumerable hoi polloi on social media outlets. He has more than 1 million followers on Twitter, while he possesses over 150 thousand adherents on Facebook. Similarly, Comrade Shehu Sani with over 2 million on Twitter and 380k on Facebook. However, despite their multitudinous social media influence, regrettably, they were vanquished by some aspirants. 

Going by what happened to them, we should understand that delegates are neither on Twitter nor on Facebook. That means before you embark upon politics, you have to possess recognition from the grassroots. ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL. 

3• The grass which you disregard can injure your eye:

Bashir Ahmad, despite his tranquilness and forbearance, has been accused of showing a nonchalant attitude to the youths who were exceedingly in desperate need of his assistance and subsidy in different aspects of life. Nay, he didn't use his opportunity to do the needful. 

On the other hand, there is a brilliant and courageous youth called Adnan Tudunwada. Despite his great brilliance and intellectual capacity, he was denounced by his constituents as a result of irresponsible behavior. Through his chats, replies, and comments being screenshotted, I colossally saw where he abruptly behaves with people, in an unfriendly hooty, and snobbish way. He doesn't know what would happen later, till when he unveiled his political ambition, then people started accusing him of being boastful. 

Lastly, to err is human, thus, both Bashir and Adnan are not too late to change their mindsets and mingle with people humbly and amicably, which will help them to revive camaraderie between them and their people.

There are three things worth having in this world: courage, good sense, and caution.

4• Socialism/Communism in Nigerian Politics: In this double-dealing, hollow-hearted, and corrupt Nigerian political system, which possesses features of Kakistocracy and Kleptocracy; PDP, and other political parties, will never allow people like Comrade Shehu Sani to pass the primaries. Meanwhile, as a proponent of Far-left political doctrine (Socialism/Communism), his ideology is contrary to that of Far-right political doctrine (Capitalism/Liberalism), which dominates contemporary political and economic aspects of Nigeria. 

Another issue is that the very purpose of democracy has been changed in Nigeria. Instead of Nigerian Democracy serving the interest of the common man, it has turned into Plutocracy. The more you possess money the more successful you're in Nigerian politics. Thus, youth have nothing to do other than to take the backseat and watch gerontocrats playing with the future of Nigeria.

5• No hope for the youths in Nigerian politics:

I am completely disillusioned with the Nigerian political parties, especially APC whose nomination forms were sold to the aspirants with a king's ransom. I know it has made a lot of intellectual youths feel low-spirited, demoralized, and discouraged. What happened to Adamu Garba II could be a lesson to all of us.

May Allah bless Nigeria 🇳🇬 

May peace, unity, brotherhood, and blessing be with us.

Amin! 

Good night 🌃

Turkey 🇹🇷 

Monday, 30 May 2022