It saddens me that despite the fact that democracy has been in existence for more than two decades in Nigeria, still some thoughtless individuals, or even to a certain extent, we could name them ignorant beings, have not yet understood what true democracy is all about.
Sadly, such unjust fellows partially and ignorantly view politics as a system of leadership that only accommodates the use of words of praises about our political leaders, when they fairly and justly preside. This is a highly crippled view of politics as it is failingly like looking at one side of a coin, ignoring the other side of the same coin.
Notwithstanding, it is not faulty to publically praise one who deserves to be praised. What makes their perception about politics ubiquitously crippled and groundless, is their deliberate rejection to look at the other side of democracy/politics that gives room for constructive criticisms which may, if cautiously understood, lead to a positive transformation of our society.
Nevertheless, to such people who behave in a bizarre manner, once they find you critically calling on the attention of authority to eliminate some prevalent lapses that you have clearly observed, such ill mannered people would look at you differently by picturing you as an arch enemy of our political leaders. They fail to learn that the essence of criticism is to help in correcting possible mistakes made and how to avoid making further mistakes just through predictions.
Knowingly, God knows what is hidden in the hearts of men. I believe that as words of praises do encourage the government, the same way criticism energizes and brings back into order any leadership style that seemingly stray into full deviation.
May we be guided at all cost!
Ibrahim Sule,
Department of Mass Communication,
University of Maiduguri
