..in Delivery of  Democratic Dividends

an, society and the Church have remained a tripod for observation, study and reference over time, with highlights on the sale aim of achieving a balance for the co-existence of all men, whereby the subject would gain fulfillment from exploits in his environment. Man's needs have varied over time from region to region, but the most essential factor has remained the rules of engagement at meeting such satisfiwtion. 

In today's dispensation, the mode of governance is structured on democratic principles set to be "Of the people, By the people and For the people". Certainly, pressure mounts from participants focused at nothing less than achieving power (and absolute power) and control if not checked, ignoring the stipulated rules and guidelines. There have been mismatch, misadventure and misrepresentations in the course of events, and nothing less thereafter. The 'seal' for horse-trading has amazed us with results having astonishing effects, calling to question the mark of entrusting such people with public peace, order and development through political bias.

The political class has been on the offensive against public good due to a misplacement of priorities. There has been a carry over of long drawn battles on the dictates of rabid intolerance for the opposition, in accountability by public servants and delegates while in service, lack of respect for the rule of law, disregard for human life, a feign of indispensability from 'enthroned' public servants, incoherent adjudgement of the indices of progress and development, inordinate manipulation and rigging, shameless self assessment on performance in office with no regard to opinion polls.

Man has forgotten that a good name and good works build a nation and grants a vista for one's children. Our representatives and delegates have been overtaken by a drive for vengeance, vendetta, lawlessness, wealth accumulation from the public treasury with little call to actually serve the people. It is now advisable and pertinent that the Church and the government enshrine in the transition calendar the holding and conducting of recollection and retreats for aspirants and emergent flag bearers before the campaigns are initiated and sUbsequently too, to calm nerves, soothe ego and refocus the subject's value for human life, and the need for cO-existence, fair trial, good rating and level ground competition. Over time, men will simply imbibe what is being taught by the Church and enrolled by Code of Conduct agencies, and equally endorsed by electoral monitoring institutions and political parties, instead of systemic maiming and killings.We must look at ways of making things better, not forgetting that we live in a country where most murder cases have remained unraveled, but many are known to be politically motivated. What has been found to be the cause of dissent has not varied from the interest of the state being beclouded by the interests of the powerful, manipulating untouchable caucus.

The Church should now ask whoever aspires for public office at such recollection and retreat, to stop and review their modes of engagement before the big event. There should be mind searching points for thought on who owns our lives. Also, refocusing their minds on the essence of service delivery. The arbiters should redefine the criteria for election (or selection?) and uphold the upright. There should be a finm check on character otherwise the expectations will be eroded. There should be a call for integrity in the course. Politics is 'honourable' when the soul of service to the people is protected and guaranteed, but is tenmed 'dirty' when vagabonds and thief take center stage.

It is on record that the members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have respectively and jointly issued communique from conferences on the quality of elections and the type of governance it shall deliver to the society. What has remained as a question on our minds has been the extent or level of assimilation of such authoritative statements from the Church by the government of the day. Roles have been politicized in the relationship between the church and the government. Some have been known to speak from both sides of the mouth. Over time, Nigerians have been inundated with such claims of divinedirection by would-be or incumbentleaders on various national issues, only to realize a little later that lies were marketed to fool the ones who cared to ask. A collective will of the people should be promoted, uphoiding the national cause above building only few ruling dynasties, with little or no dividends for the common man.

The mark of real democracy shall be the citizens actually voting or being voted for based on human judgement and reason, propelled by evidences of truth and love for one's neighbour. Otherwise the church should enlighten and educate all who are involved, to re-orientate our leaders-to-be and the incumbent on the ills of rigging and falsification of data by so called election officials and their cohorts.

Then we shall ask and get answers on who plays for and pays the killers of helpless people in politics who had been tipped to win based on their power of persuasive ideological presentations and organizational pedigree.

Within each trade there is always a need to reinvent and rediscover one's skills and techniques to resell one's products and services with respect to the last heralded occupant who must have set a record in public service delivery.

In this age, in a networked global village, we achieve more when an action in a remote part of the world influences mankind pivoted on emblems and portals of equity, justice, fairness, truth, love and care for posterity, with references to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Love thy neighbour as thy self. There is none other commandment greater than this." KJV Mark 12:31

We can sure make our country a much better place.