Are you a slave or supporter of politicians?

It is not wrong to support the politicians of your choice. There is nothing wrong with that.Our constitution throws its weight behind it. Also, it is not wrong to dislike what some politicians say and do. You are free to either like them or hate what they either say or do. No one is going to crucify you for doing so! It is one of your legitimate and valid rights as the citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It is the likeness that you have for some politicians that make you vote for them every four (4) year and the reason you vote and kick some of them out is because you do not like what they either say or do. Buhari was so liked more than five (5) years ago. This made most Nigeriansvote for him.But do those who liked him them still like him now? It is for you to answer, not me.

Furthermore, it is undemocratic for those who do not like what a politician either say or do to demonize those who like what he or she says or does.Likewise, it is wrong to demonize those who do not join the political party of your choice. There is what is called freedom of association—enshrined in our constitution. In fact, it is undemocratic to coerce anyone to become a member of any political party. Nigerians are free to join political parties of their choice.

Having established that, it is also not wrong to hold accountable politicians that you love and voted for. In fact, one of the things your vote does is to empower you to hold accountable the politicians of your choice. Your vote is your voice. And you cannot afford to lose it. This (and more)is what democracy is all about.

Please understand me that there is a wide difference between holding a politician accountable and abusing a politician. Many are abusing public officer holders without holding them accountable. Saying that your president is either a fool or mad has nothing to do with holding him accountable. To hold a politician accountable, you ask intelligent questions and you force (within the confines of our constitution) them to do all they promise while campaigning for varied public offices. Every politician is a public servant, including the president of Nigeria!

Peaceful protests are all part of democracy. If anyone says it is not a right then it means what we are practicing in Nigeria has nothing to do democracy. The job of policemen is to protect you during a peaceful protest, not to harass you. Are violent protests allowed in a democracy? No!But I even doubts very much if a functional and healthy nation can be built without staging sustained, nonstop and unrelenting peaceful protests!

It is good to also know that there is a thin-line between liking a politician and being a slave of a politician. Liking a politician does not make you lose your voice and nod to everything he or she says and does. Many are today slaves to politicians like an alcohol. This is not healthy for our country. Democracy is not for slaves, it is meant for free people!

When Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was in power before leaving for his village, to those whom liked him, he could not be wrong. He was always right; no matter he did or said. They blindly crossed the thin-line between being a supporter and a slave. Those who liked and followed him blindly were slaves to him like an alcohol! They almost turned Nigeria to a colony of slaves.

After GEJ left and PMB got to power from Daura, as an effect of all he went through before he eventually defeated in a presidential contest, Nigerians were emotionally attached to him, liking him to the extent of not kicking against him when he failed to put his kitchen cabinet together six months after he began to sleep on the inside of “Aso Rock.” PMB, the most liked president in the history of our nation!

After spending a year in office, people began to ask questions, but those who liked him began to fight everyone—bothoffline and online. As far as they were concerned, they liked him, so he could never be wrong! Most of those who used to like him blindlynow criticize him more than those who were trying to ask sane (not because they did not like him) questions in those days, though. They unknowingly crossed the thin-line between supporting a politician and becoming slaves to him!

We were told that Abacha never stole a dime, but today, under the same government, millions of dollars have been recovered from beyond the shores of Nigeria and they call it “Abacha’s loot,” but those who have become baba’s slaves still do not see anything wrong with his confusing and befuddling position on everything that transpired during late Abacha’s military junta. Those who truly like baba are asking him intelligent questions on some of his not-befitting and unpresidential utterances, but those who have become his slaves no longer have the minds of their own. All they daily do is to cheer him on.The best decision any president can make is to surround himself or herself with free folks, not those whose minds are being controlled!

When we either deliberately or unknowingly cross the thin-line between liking a politician and becoming his or her slave, then we have knowingly and unknowingly become slavesto him or her. Nodding politicians on—whether they are right or wrong is undemocratic and will further destroy our country. No nation can be built without sustained peaceful protests, asking intelligent questions from politicians and consistently mount pressure on them to do what they promise during political campaigns. Once again, are you a supporter of a politician or his or her slave? Remember, only a free citizen can build Nigeria, not a slave!