Kogi Central 2019: Changing Nigeria's Political Rhetoric |By Kamri Apollo
Political Campaigns are capital intensive. The logistical aspect of it is enough to scare off the faint-hearted. Picture this if you will;
If you’re contesting to be a Senator, you need to cover your district which could be made up of up to seven local government areas, like Kogi State for example.
To win the hearts of supporters, and to keep your existing supporters, you need very effective teams in place at all the local government areas. The teams constitute a part of your financial obligation through the costs they will incur in office administrative costs and movement around their respective local government areas to name a few.
A greater part of the cost of politicking results from media presence. Reaching the people on various broadcast platforms, printing campaign posters, hiring large spaces to hold rallies and town hall meetings are just some of the areas you can expect to expend a lot of capital.
Many who have ventured into the world of politics were only able to meet some of their financial obligations through the benevolence of political godfathers. Nigerians have decried the effect of “godfatherism” in our politics for years now, but the unanswered question remains; can a political candidate in today’s Nigeria make it on their own steam, through visionary ideas, and without the “Greek gift” that is “financial assistance” from godfathers who dominate the scene?
Meet Barrister Natasha H Akpoti, the Social Democratic Party Senatorial Candidate for Kogi Central. Over the years, she has invested her time developing human capital, a calling she answered after her sojourn as a rising corporate lawyer with Brass LNG. As a social entrepreneur and an activist, she touches the lives of many through her Builders Hub Foundation which focuses on job creation through the revival of local enterprise. Many a student benefits from her schooling program as she sponsors their education.
Her impact on the welfare of the less privileged came to the fore when she stood before House of Representatives early last year to call for positive action as she revealed unjust dealings at Ajaokuta Steel Complex. Her submission led the National Assembly to take action by drafting laws to protect the steel industry. Work is still ongoing on the revival of Ajaokuta.
Barrister Akpoti is changing the political narrative by inviting her numerous supporters to take ownership of her Senatorial campaign by funding it themselves. In her own words;
“Either we crowd fund our campaign or we get a godfather who would own my voice. I believe we deserve an honest representation.”
One of her supporters, responding to the call for donations, writes;
“She can't do it alone but with our support we shall redeem our land together.”
There are, of course, some skeptical responses to her call, but Barrister Akpoti has managed to do the hitherto undone; she has put the good people of Kogi Central Senatorial District in the political driving seat! She is inviting them to be stakeholders with her in building the future.
This presents an opportunity for Nigerians to actively engage the system of governance by taking ownership of the process. Nigerians in Kogi Central Senatorial District can do this by investing in the woman they call “Woman of Steel”.
Far too often, Nigerians have bemoaned the inaccessibility of elected officials. Some analysts have argued that there are no moral constraints on elected officials to account to the people because they “paid” the very same people for the elected positions they hold. The very same electorate they are meant to serve.
By inviting her supporters to take ownership of her campaign by making donations, Barrister Akpoti presents her people an opportunity to embrace a different way of politicking. Her trend-setting methodology has not been without its challenges.
To change the status quo would amount to affecting the lives of those who benefit from an opaque and inaccessible system of governance. In the words of Dylan Thomas, they will “not go gentle into that good night.” One of her volunteers was killed some days ago, as others have faced intimidation and threat from certain quarters.
In spite of these unfortunate setbacks, she is able to rally round her team and inspire them to greater efforts!
Barrister Natasha Hadiza Akpoti’s campaign for Kogi Central’s Senatorial seat certainly bears watching. I believe lessons learnt from her endeavours can only deepen the democratic process in the land.
#GodBlessNigeria
If you’re contesting to be a Senator, you need to cover your district which could be made up of up to seven local government areas, like Kogi State for example.
To win the hearts of supporters, and to keep your existing supporters, you need very effective teams in place at all the local government areas. The teams constitute a part of your financial obligation through the costs they will incur in office administrative costs and movement around their respective local government areas to name a few.
A greater part of the cost of politicking results from media presence. Reaching the people on various broadcast platforms, printing campaign posters, hiring large spaces to hold rallies and town hall meetings are just some of the areas you can expect to expend a lot of capital.
Many who have ventured into the world of politics were only able to meet some of their financial obligations through the benevolence of political godfathers. Nigerians have decried the effect of “godfatherism” in our politics for years now, but the unanswered question remains; can a political candidate in today’s Nigeria make it on their own steam, through visionary ideas, and without the “Greek gift” that is “financial assistance” from godfathers who dominate the scene?
Meet Barrister Natasha H Akpoti, the Social Democratic Party Senatorial Candidate for Kogi Central. Over the years, she has invested her time developing human capital, a calling she answered after her sojourn as a rising corporate lawyer with Brass LNG. As a social entrepreneur and an activist, she touches the lives of many through her Builders Hub Foundation which focuses on job creation through the revival of local enterprise. Many a student benefits from her schooling program as she sponsors their education.
Her impact on the welfare of the less privileged came to the fore when she stood before House of Representatives early last year to call for positive action as she revealed unjust dealings at Ajaokuta Steel Complex. Her submission led the National Assembly to take action by drafting laws to protect the steel industry. Work is still ongoing on the revival of Ajaokuta.
Barrister Akpoti is changing the political narrative by inviting her numerous supporters to take ownership of her Senatorial campaign by funding it themselves. In her own words;
“Either we crowd fund our campaign or we get a godfather who would own my voice. I believe we deserve an honest representation.”
One of her supporters, responding to the call for donations, writes;
“She can't do it alone but with our support we shall redeem our land together.”
There are, of course, some skeptical responses to her call, but Barrister Akpoti has managed to do the hitherto undone; she has put the good people of Kogi Central Senatorial District in the political driving seat! She is inviting them to be stakeholders with her in building the future.
This presents an opportunity for Nigerians to actively engage the system of governance by taking ownership of the process. Nigerians in Kogi Central Senatorial District can do this by investing in the woman they call “Woman of Steel”.
Far too often, Nigerians have bemoaned the inaccessibility of elected officials. Some analysts have argued that there are no moral constraints on elected officials to account to the people because they “paid” the very same people for the elected positions they hold. The very same electorate they are meant to serve.
By inviting her supporters to take ownership of her campaign by making donations, Barrister Akpoti presents her people an opportunity to embrace a different way of politicking. Her trend-setting methodology has not been without its challenges.
To change the status quo would amount to affecting the lives of those who benefit from an opaque and inaccessible system of governance. In the words of Dylan Thomas, they will “not go gentle into that good night.” One of her volunteers was killed some days ago, as others have faced intimidation and threat from certain quarters.
In spite of these unfortunate setbacks, she is able to rally round her team and inspire them to greater efforts!
Barrister Natasha Hadiza Akpoti’s campaign for Kogi Central’s Senatorial seat certainly bears watching. I believe lessons learnt from her endeavours can only deepen the democratic process in the land.
#GodBlessNigeria
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