BEYOND POLITICS: Taraba State and the Market of Opinions.


 

Ahmed in Jalingo has witnessed the construction of roads near his neighbourhood and believes the government has done well. That's his fact, and nothing can challenge it because that is his reality as seen with his eyes.


Usman in Gassol has never visited Jalingo before and doesn't know what Ahmed knows, so he believes that the government has failed because in his community there's no hospital, motorable roads, no good schools, no electricity and there's no pipe-borne water. So he gets infuriated when anybody tells him the government is working because his facts and reality speak otherwise.


Mary who lives in a village near Donga has not enjoyed any project completed by the State government and believes that every good thing her village is enjoying was attracted and completed by a certain federal legislator. Her reality is this, the state government has failed and the legislator is the only performing politician in the whole country. That's her fact and cannot be challenged too.


Musa's village in Karim Lamido has never seen any project by the state or federal government, so he believes that both the Taraba state governor and Nigerian president have failed woefully. That's his fact and reality that cannot be contested.


The one who witnesses road construction does not care about the standard of the job done or the inflated nature of the contract, they have not gone to other parts of the world so they can't compare the standard or quality of the construction with another elsewhere. This project they're witnessing is the best in the world and the governor/legislator is the best in the country. They didn't lie, that's all they know and nobody should condemn them because they speak their truth.


Someone who lives outside Taraba state may only read newsfeeds from what others post on social media about their reality. They now use the information to form an opinion about the government and also call it their fact.


Sometimes, we don't need to engage or challenge anybody who speaks their truth as witnessed by them daily. What I see from my standpoint can not be the same as yours, and if I can't see what you see; how then can I have a fair debate with you? I see roads, hospitals, schools and clean water, you see hell and I still want you to agree with me that the government has done well. 


As we enter another election cycle, many people would want to sell their candidates on social media using seductive words to attract patronage. You may not see any good in their candidate because you've not felt their impact in any way, others have and reserve the right to support and campaign for them.


I just feel it is stupid to assume that because you've gotten some crumbs from a certain politician's table, all of us must love and support them also. Or if we don't support them, we automatically become haters of God and must be "flogged" at the market square.


Let us learn to respect opinions and choices others make because we have not been where they've been, seen what they've seen, eaten the crumbs they've eaten, or politically blessed like they've been blessed. Let us learn to "sell our market" and allow others sell theirs the way they see it.


©JBZ_2022

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