Politics and activism are not too different path: Natasha can vie for Kogi Central Senate and alter the status quo | Isah Bala
History has demonstrated that
some of those that make the best representatives are those who have sincerely put their lives on the redline fighting for the good of the masses without thinking of what they stand to gain in return.
You may argue that there is a line of dichotomy between politics and activism, history has however shown that activism and politics overlap and activists sometimes have no choice than to take the bull by the horn and be the ideal change they want. "I am willing to concede that the two roles sometimes overlap and that community organizers will often alternate back and forth between activism and more conventional electoral politics", as New York Times writes in one of its editorial in 2016.
Many activists who delved into politics and made landmark change in human history at first started without having anything to do with politics. They drew a very broad line between activism and politics, many tried for years before realizing the need to have power and alter the change they so much craved for.
Ordinarily, one would imagined the reason why many activists put their lives and that of their families at risk for the happiness of others. It is however a thing of divine arrangement, human beings are not created to be on the same pedestal, some without voice, and some too lame to stand for their rights and a special kind of people are created to be the voice of the voiceless and shout for those whose voice cannot be heard.
History has shown that activists and good representation are like siamese twins. Many activists who delved into politics make good epresentation and they were able to right many wrongs with the power they have (I haven't read of any that become a shadow of his/her former self except those that were not sincere from the starting.)
In America for example, there have a been a lot of movement front by great activists like Kevin de León, president pro tempore of the California State Senate who fought for years on behalf of the Latino community, advocating for the rights of immigrants, the working poor and the environmental quality of their neighborhoods without success.
It was however a change of baton when Kevin de León delved into politics and grabbed power. The California great activist has become fierce fighter for his communities in elected office today, he is one of the key elected officials who has made California one of the most welcoming states for immigrants and was instrumental in passage of the bill allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses.
Same thing can be said of DeRay Mckesson, one of the leading activists in Baltimore known for helping propel the “Black Lives Matter” ethos into the mainstream consciousness. After years of unsuccessful struggle, he realised the need to be part of the decision makers, hence delved into politics. He is popularly known for his landmark declaration speech when he was running for the Mayor of Baltimore, “I have come to realize that the traditional pathway to politics, and the traditional politicians who follow these well-worn paths, will not lead us to the transformational change our city needs." DeRay Mckesson altered the status quo.
He is not the first activist to come to this realization. In fact, Mckesson’s bid springs from a solid history
In the 1970s, after years of civil rights organizing, Marion Barry a foremost activist politicked his way into the city council and then to becoming mayor of Washington, D.C. Black Panther Party for Self Defense co-founder Bobby Seale also ran for mayor of Oakland in 1973 after a career of agitating police departments.
In India prominent activists like Kabir Suman, and Medha Patekar delved into politics and they were able to right many wrongs which forced professor Trilochan Sastry of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, to contends that, "a functioning democracy needs both: people from all walks of life joining politics and a set of vibrant pressure groups continuing to attract talent. Activists know their community’s needs and demands. If they are elected to office, their knowledge and background should inform their positions on issues."
In Africa, we can always reckon with the Madiba of Africa; Nelson Mandela who out of his risen quest for egalitarian society used himself as a sacrificial lamb spending 27 years in prison and later became the first black president of South Africa and fulfil his desire for egalitarian society. This is just to mention a few.
From the foregoing, politics and activism and not too different path. There is nothing stopping activists from delving into politics and be part of the decision makers and influence the implementation of the people's need they so much craved for.
In our contemporary society, activist like Barrister Natasha Hadiza Akpoti who has carved a niche for herself shouldn't be doubted if she would make a good representation and influence the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and ride Nigeria to industrialisation.
Natasha is no doubt an astute activist with unblemished record, a paragon of hope with an impeccable character and pedigree. She should be motivated to put her unquantifiable wealth of knowledge in governance rather than discouraging her from being part of the decision makers.
We must however not see her as too clean to rub with the mud of politics if only we want an ideal representation that will change the baton.
The age-long misrepresentation in Kogi Central Senatorial District will be altered if we stop viewing politics from the side of the prism that holds politics is not suit for the righteous while the righteous is suit to be governed by the worst and place our affairs in the hands of mediocrities.
No! The best shouldn't be cowed into their shell, those who have chosen the path of activism and become restless with the abject poverty caused by bad governance shouldn't be prevented from joining politics and right the wrongs.
Natasha can vie for 2019 Kogi Central Senate and alter the status quo.
Natasha H Akpoti can rewrite the history
#Resuscitation of Ajoakuta is our focus
some of those that make the best representatives are those who have sincerely put their lives on the redline fighting for the good of the masses without thinking of what they stand to gain in return.
Barrister Natasha Hadiza Akpoti
You may argue that there is a line of dichotomy between politics and activism, history has however shown that activism and politics overlap and activists sometimes have no choice than to take the bull by the horn and be the ideal change they want. "I am willing to concede that the two roles sometimes overlap and that community organizers will often alternate back and forth between activism and more conventional electoral politics", as New York Times writes in one of its editorial in 2016.
Many activists who delved into politics and made landmark change in human history at first started without having anything to do with politics. They drew a very broad line between activism and politics, many tried for years before realizing the need to have power and alter the change they so much craved for.
Ordinarily, one would imagined the reason why many activists put their lives and that of their families at risk for the happiness of others. It is however a thing of divine arrangement, human beings are not created to be on the same pedestal, some without voice, and some too lame to stand for their rights and a special kind of people are created to be the voice of the voiceless and shout for those whose voice cannot be heard.
History has shown that activists and good representation are like siamese twins. Many activists who delved into politics make good epresentation and they were able to right many wrongs with the power they have (I haven't read of any that become a shadow of his/her former self except those that were not sincere from the starting.)
In America for example, there have a been a lot of movement front by great activists like Kevin de León, president pro tempore of the California State Senate who fought for years on behalf of the Latino community, advocating for the rights of immigrants, the working poor and the environmental quality of their neighborhoods without success.
It was however a change of baton when Kevin de León delved into politics and grabbed power. The California great activist has become fierce fighter for his communities in elected office today, he is one of the key elected officials who has made California one of the most welcoming states for immigrants and was instrumental in passage of the bill allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses.
Same thing can be said of DeRay Mckesson, one of the leading activists in Baltimore known for helping propel the “Black Lives Matter” ethos into the mainstream consciousness. After years of unsuccessful struggle, he realised the need to be part of the decision makers, hence delved into politics. He is popularly known for his landmark declaration speech when he was running for the Mayor of Baltimore, “I have come to realize that the traditional pathway to politics, and the traditional politicians who follow these well-worn paths, will not lead us to the transformational change our city needs." DeRay Mckesson altered the status quo.
He is not the first activist to come to this realization. In fact, Mckesson’s bid springs from a solid history
In the 1970s, after years of civil rights organizing, Marion Barry a foremost activist politicked his way into the city council and then to becoming mayor of Washington, D.C. Black Panther Party for Self Defense co-founder Bobby Seale also ran for mayor of Oakland in 1973 after a career of agitating police departments.
In India prominent activists like Kabir Suman, and Medha Patekar delved into politics and they were able to right many wrongs which forced professor Trilochan Sastry of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, to contends that, "a functioning democracy needs both: people from all walks of life joining politics and a set of vibrant pressure groups continuing to attract talent. Activists know their community’s needs and demands. If they are elected to office, their knowledge and background should inform their positions on issues."
In Africa, we can always reckon with the Madiba of Africa; Nelson Mandela who out of his risen quest for egalitarian society used himself as a sacrificial lamb spending 27 years in prison and later became the first black president of South Africa and fulfil his desire for egalitarian society. This is just to mention a few.
From the foregoing, politics and activism and not too different path. There is nothing stopping activists from delving into politics and be part of the decision makers and influence the implementation of the people's need they so much craved for.
In our contemporary society, activist like Barrister Natasha Hadiza Akpoti who has carved a niche for herself shouldn't be doubted if she would make a good representation and influence the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) and ride Nigeria to industrialisation.
Natasha is no doubt an astute activist with unblemished record, a paragon of hope with an impeccable character and pedigree. She should be motivated to put her unquantifiable wealth of knowledge in governance rather than discouraging her from being part of the decision makers.
We must however not see her as too clean to rub with the mud of politics if only we want an ideal representation that will change the baton.
The age-long misrepresentation in Kogi Central Senatorial District will be altered if we stop viewing politics from the side of the prism that holds politics is not suit for the righteous while the righteous is suit to be governed by the worst and place our affairs in the hands of mediocrities.
No! The best shouldn't be cowed into their shell, those who have chosen the path of activism and become restless with the abject poverty caused by bad governance shouldn't be prevented from joining politics and right the wrongs.
Natasha can vie for 2019 Kogi Central Senate and alter the status quo.
Natasha H Akpoti can rewrite the history
#Resuscitation of Ajoakuta is our focus
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