If democracy in Nigeria were the way it is meant to be, spokesperson for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 elections, Daniel Bwala’s recent conduct would be nothing to worry about.

By the ideals of democracy, elections are just events in the sequential growth of this system of government. During electioneering, partisans exert themselves to all ends possible to sell themselves and de-market the opponent. It is the game of the trade, and that should ordinarily not worry anyone.

Take campaigns towards this year’s election in the United States of America, for example. The cantankerous former President and aspirant of the Republican Party, Donald Trump, deploys all arsenals, including personal deficiencies and ailments, against his opponent and sitting President, Joe Biden. Biden himself does not take things lying low. As often as he has the opportunity, “sleeping Joe”, as Trump derisively refers to the American President, hits back at his opponent. So, the tensions and antagonism of electioneering are understandable and accepted, even in the most advanced democracies. Things, however, change the moment elections are won.

When mature politicians reach that juncture, good governance and the well-being of the country and its people take the edge. Partisan and personal interests take the back seat, and governance comes to the front burner. Collaborations and compromises are in the right place at this point, and even in situations where the philosophies of parties’ clash or where the parliamentary system allows stiff opposition structures, contestations are mostly hinged on divergent views about what is best for the people and their country. Every stakeholder sees to it that this happens.

Former President Barack Obama told an unforgettable story in The Audacity of Hope. Upon his 2004 election to the United States Senate, he joined other senators at a breakfast meeting with President George Walker Bush.

After eating their fill and the meeting ended, Obama heard the President yell his name, “Obama!” Then Bush beckoned the Illinois Senator to come over for a brief chat.

The book accounts as follows: “Come here and meet Laura. Laura, you remember Obama. We saw him on TV during election night. He has a beautiful family. And that wife of yours – that’s one impressive lady.”

“We both got better than we deserve, Mr President,” I said, shaking the First Lady’s hand and hoping I’d wiped any crumbs off my face. “
“Come over here for a second,” he said, leading me to one side of the room.
“You know,” he said quietly, “I hope you don’t mind me giving you a piece of advice.”
“Not at all, Mr President.”
He nodded. “You’ve got a bright future,” he said.

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Hehehe.

😘