Politics has its ways and every country has its own peculiarities. Being a politician demands tactfulness and smart decision-making to excel in whatever environment one finds oneself in. Nigerian politics is one of the world’s most volatile; it comes with an intriguing mix of money, treachery, deceit, backstabbing, betrayal, and even death. Many who wish to participate in politics in the country are easily discouraged and are forced to back out when they realize the volatility and unpredictability therein. Those who persevere are often the dogged and tough, those who withstand the challenges the political environment throws at them.
Many who just got into politics fail to learn the ropes quickly, and they end up working tirelessly for their candidates and the party, hoping that after victory, they will be compensated. Oftentimes, they are disappointed, and those they worked so hard for to win the elections fail to accord them the necessary recognition. Oftentimes, it is even more disappointing when every effort put into the campaign goes to waste, particularly when the party or the candidates lost the election. This set of politicians is, hyperbolically, the Donkeys. It is commonplace to hear many such individuals complain and lament their woes, saying that their candidates refused to pick up their calls anymore, and they have not been compensated for all their hard work.
Politics is not a straight line that you can always predict it’s outcomes. It is quite dynamic and things can change in the blink of an eye. For those who are inexperienced, they need to learn a few things quickly. In politics, we have those who are purely transactional, whom I term the Riders, and they are in politics strictly to make money and would do anything necessary to achieve their objectives.
Therefore, as a newbie, you often fall into the category of the Donkey, who are often involved in strategic planning, mobilization, campaign management, and grassroots sensitization activities. They are the ones who do all the hard work that delivers the party and their candidates.
Therefore, it is important to understand these two categories and cleverly position yourself to benefit from the activities of the party and those of your candidates whom you are supporting.
Oftentimes, the party would say there is no funding coming from the headquarters, and candidates too would say they don’t have money and are just managing to do what they can to fund their campaigns.
Whereas the truth is that money is flowing among the caucuses and activities are going on. The money is getting into the hands of the riders and the transactional politicians, because they will always position themselves where it matters the most and create the impression that they have the network to deliver the party and their candidates in their respective constituencies.
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This set of politicians often gets deep into the leadership structure of the party and into the skin of their candidates as Personal Assistants, Advisers, and Campaign DGs. They benefit even when funds are lean; they do so through the execution of contracts for the production of campaign materials, event planning, and grassroots engagements.
As a writer and an ardent political observer, I have written this article to serve as a guide to those who are newly participating in partisan politics in Nigeria. It is expected that supporters of the party and candidates must work for their mutual success; nonetheless, you must choose your rightful place. Decide whether to be the Donkey or a Rider from the onset. Bargain with the party as well as your candidates to be included as a supplier or contractor for their campaign activities at the initial stage of the campaign while nursing the expectation to enjoy further benefits when the party or the candidates win. This will help you to make up for lost time and resources, which you commit on a daily basis to support the party’s cause while abandoning your personal business and work. This serves as a safeguard to significantly reduce complaints after the election.
As for the candidates and the party, it is necessary that they consider those working for them first in the issuance of contracts for their campaign activities rather than awarding most of the contracts to their close allies, friends, and relations alone. There is a lot more political awareness amongst supporters and party faithfuls now than it was a few years back, and as such there would be more unavoidable consequences if candidates and supporters stick to the rules.
By March Oyinki
