Last week, I had a friendly conversation with Mr AbdulWaheed Shola Jimmy IDIAGBON. It was about the upcoming national convention, and I taunted him by asking him why he’s running, given that he’s not a professional politician like many of the contesting gladiators.
To this, he answered, “Politics for me is a form of protest; a protest against all that’s wrong with us as a country; a protest against this direction our captains are facing; and a protest against every bad thing that’s happening to us, even though we don’t deserve them.”
What culminated into this discussion isn’t just my taunting. I’ve had a series of discussions with him over the last few years, including when he first informed me of the idea that he’ll be contesting again in 2023.
He knew that I was taken aback and nothing in our conversation in the last few years had hinted me of this possibility.
So, he pressed forward and explained, “Ali, soon enough, each major party in Nigeria will gather for their conventions, where they’ll choose their leaders, and that leadership, with all other party faithfuls, will put forward their candidates.
If you have been paying attention, you’d see that all across our media platforms — National TVs, National Dailies, Radio Stations, and Social platforms — discussions have always been about people who belong in either of these two major parties: PDP and APC.
Beyond that, they are also the only parties with established structures and foot armies that can take their message far and wide.
This means, it isn’t just the popular electorate but the party members who participate in the party primaries that are the heroes and villains of this country.
Because whoever they put forward as their flag bearers are almost the only options we have to choose from.
Of course, other parties and candidates exist. But we already know that they are far away from being victorious at the poll. So with each day the supposed good men fail to get in power, our ship drifts farther and farther away into collapse.
To turn it back on time, we must do all we can to win and be on the table when the Nigerian fate is being determined.
That works better than protesting on the streets and getting harassed. Anyone that will change the Nigerian fortune have to be among those who control the money, the media, and the guns.
And that’s why I have to keep trying. The protest in me does not rest, but the precocious wisdom in me also knows that an individual can’t do what a government can do.
And that’s why I’m joining the government.
Ali, I want to bring the “representation” back into “representative” for our people.”
That was when I stopped haranguing him. For whatever happens in 2019 to his ambitions, the fight for a better Kwara continues. And if the representatives from various constituency(ies) can complement the good work of our governor, that’d help us move fast.
After I heard this frank but honest perspective, I have no choice than to support Jimmy IDIAGBON fondly known as SIJ.
I will tell you more when I remember some of our other conversations.
— Ali Faagba
