By M. Babajide-Alabi
Watching the Sky News special presentation in the 100 days to the 2015 United Kingdom General Elections, my mind shifted to what is going on in the biggest black populated country in the world, Nigeria. Just earlier today, David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party led his party campaign towards the elections.
While he was at this, Ed Miliband, the Labour Party leader was also on the street, trying to woo the electorates. Mr. Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats, not to be outdone, also is raising his voice and making his presence felt. These party leaders are not faulting each others’ educational qualifications. No. They are not blaming each other for the fear of terrorism that is sweeping the UK. Instead they are talking about what their individual parties would do for the Britons if they are elected in the April elections. The parties are holding on to their strongholds. Not the population strongholds. But their policy strongholds.
While the Conservative Party is touting economy recovery as the focal point of its campaign, the Labour Party is focussing on health, by laying out its plans to improve the National Health Service (NHS), keep its services and also improve on what’s in ground now. These are not just coincidences. They are very carefully planned and thought out campaign strategies.
Nigel Farage of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) is still standing on immigration while Nick Clegg is neither here nor there. Not willing to promise anything and not be able to deliver should he find his party in another coalition government after the elections, Clegg is okay nodding to the plans of his opponents.
It is no doubt that the Cameron-led government has done tremendously well in the economic front. Taking over when the British economy was at a low deep, the Tories, by its cuts on spendings and, especially on benefits, have been able to pull the economy ashore. This has endeared the party to a section of the population.
The Labour Party knowing its strong point (and weak points) has not gone to town to tout its credentials on the economy. No. Instead, Miliband knows he is more at home with the NHS than any other aspect of governance. He is concentrating on this.
In Nigeria, there has been discordant tunes from the camps of the political parties. They have been talking in variance with what is the reality of governance. Reading through the article of Professor Charles Soludo titled Buhari vs Jonathan: Beyond The Elections, I cannot but agree with his views on the promises of the political parties. The two major parties have been dancing to popular demands, saying what the public wants to hear and promising heaven on earth for Nigerians.
When the “day breaks” after the elections, and reality stares us in the face, we realise what we are into. Is there no way we can do things right? Do our politicians have to win elections before they start thinking of how to implement the “manifestoes” that brought them to power? One day we shall get there.
