We have recently emerged from a season where individuals engaged in the packaging and sale of 10kg, 5kg, and 1kg consumer packs of locally sourced Nigerian rice are still savoring the fruits of their labor, basking in the financial windfall accrued during the past Christmas and New Year festivities.
These enterprising men and women have indeed capitalized on a seasonal ‘gift’ ritual, diligently perpetuated by Nigerian politicians to cater to the insatiable appetites of their constituents, the electorate. It is not solely the fault of our politicians that the electorate perpetually insists that our roads remain in a state of disrepair, our medical facilities are allowed to languish in neglect, or that we inflict harm upon one another in the name of supporting politicians who, in pursuit of their personal ambitions, willfully abandon us to languish in despair.
Incredibly, the majority of our electorate, particularly those who enjoy transient access yet assume the role of influential intermediaries to the individuals who should ideally represent us all, engage in extensive harm to our collective plight by demanding that meager handouts be delivered in extravagant abundance. In their gatherings, where they ought to confront these power-brokers about our current dearth of essential infrastructure, they instead sit passively, indulging in protracted sessions of destructive gossip. Their plaintive invocations of terms such as “capacity leader”merely serve to soothe the fragile egos of political representatives, dazed and blinded by visions of re-election in the forthcoming electoral contest.
This rice, in its drowsy profusion, distributed to us, comes with no assurances that our hunger will be satiated or our cravings alleviated upon consumption. I assert unequivocally that rice, devoid of a well-prepared stew or condiments for Jollof, or the accompaniment of expertly crafted beans—depending on individual preferences—cannot be considered a complete meal. Hence, it is not unreasonable to conclude that those receiving recurrent gifts of rice from various sources, without the requisite accompaniments, have no guarantees of a fulfilling meal.
I can confidently state that, as I write, many of us within the electorate are no longer on speaking terms due to disputes that arose during the distribution of this rice, where individuals attempted to shortchange us out of a few grains. Those of us currently estranged after the rice-sharing exercise have faltered in our camaraderie. I mean, why should we even entertain the notion that no one would attempt to cheat us out of a few grains of rice when the politicians who bestowed this rice upon us effectively deceived us at the polls?
What astounds me is that during the distribution of this rice, many of us were served a ‘princely’ and elaborate five cups of rice. It boils down to this—our (s)elected representatives expect us to subsist on five cups of rice for an entire year. It was also painfully disheartening to witness throngs of supporters queuing for hours in sweltering conditions to receive paltry portions of rice. This is the enchantment of our political landscape, a process that relegates us to the periphery, designing programmes and modalities without conducting a thorough needs assessment, demanding no questions, and enforcing only the principle of uncritical acceptance.
Yet, something extraordinary is poised to transpire this year. Our political process is on the cusp of activation, and the scramble for political offices will intensify. This fervor will be accompanied by visits to our homes via the treacherous roads. Promises will abound of air conditioning in our village streets, with the impending arrival of extraterrestrial workers to rectify our faltering public power sector. Hospitals will purportedly operate on AI, alongside assurances that the Super Eagles will triumph in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite not qualifying for the tournament.
Relax, our representatives, who have previously been too preoccupied to respond to our calls and visits, will suddenly become remarkably accessible, even willing to grace the naming ceremony of your new litter of puppies. They will deliver impassioned speeches and promise your puppies fully funded education at an esteemed dog obedience institution. If you choose to believe them, it is your fault. If you choose not to believe them, it is your choice.
Just like several other Nigerians, I just have been praying for a system that works, one that comes with basic sector securities, and not a system that will herd our people to designated venues in search of rice and inanities.
Iwara, is Editorial Lead, www.calitown.com
