2024 Elections And the Rise POPULISM.
In Europe and America, the rise of POPULISM is spreading like wildfire.
President Trump rode on this wave to get him elected in 2016, constantly attacking the establishment and feeding off widespread discontent of the people, the high level of unemployment, high immigration rates, and the dislike of the ruling establishment.
These issues formed the central theme and the policies on which he ran his campaign in 2016, promising his base big changes in these areas, some of which were his obsession with erecting a wall over the Mexican border, his constant attack on Obamacare, the Paris climate accord, and the Iran deal....
And he didn't renege on those promises. In his first week in the Oval Office, he pulled the U.S. out of the Iran deal, successfully dismantled key parts of Obamacare, and withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord with 150 signatory countries.
Just like President Trump, in 2015 President Buhari rode on the same wave of POPULISM to get him elected into power. Nigerians were disillusioned for long, owing to massive corruption, ineptitude, and lack of vision of the ruling elites.
Buhari despite his questionable character and utterances at that time was seen as a "Messianic figure" sent to save us from the wildernesses of corruption...
But why history, sometimes repeat itself, the tendency to learn from history and the mistakes of the past isn't guaranteed.
Africa, for instance, has had a fair share of populist leaders since the 1960s who came to power by promising an El Dorado - A magical wand that once in power will transform the country into Paradise.
Yet rather than uplifting the people from poverty, they plunged the masses into more misery.
President Paul Biya of Cameroon once promised his people to transform the country, overnight into an Oil-producing rich country,
He got elected in 1982 and is currently, the longest-serving ruler in Africa after his counterpart President
Mugabe decided to step down in 2017.. Cameroon is still a poor country today.
Britons also in 2016 voted to leave the European Union after more than three decades.
The far right movement in England sold the agenda that the enemy of the people is immigrants and free trade.. A survey conducted shows that Britons voted for "leave" for the fear of immigration rather that home politics. there is a wave of intolerance and discontent for immigrants growing among the current generation of Europeans . In France during the elections of 2017, Far right leader Marine Le Pen. Constantly cheered Britons decision to leave the EU....She eventually lost left wing candidate Emmanuel macron.
The far right movement in England sold the agenda that the enemy of the people is immigrants and free trade.. A survey conducted shows that Britons voted for "leave" for the fear of immigration rather that home politics. there is a wave of intolerance and discontent for immigrants growing among the current generation of Europeans . In France during the elections of 2017, Far right leader Marine Le Pen. Constantly cheered Britons decision to leave the EU....She eventually lost left wing candidate Emmanuel macron.
One common traits of Populist leaders is that they tend to be authoritarian in leadership style. They are quick to frown on the institution of government, because they erroneously deem it the enemy of the people and they sell their agenda on the struggle of the masses against faceless corrupt elites and establishment which they cloak to satisfy their selfish interest.. Like Germany in the early part of 1930s the people wanted a "saviour" and Adolf Hiller rose to power promising Germans with a sense of direction restoration and identity to which he used to create a monster for himself and his people... Today we see similarities with what Donald trump is canvassing in U.S....despite his constant and incessant twitter outburst and all sorts of degrading sentiments, be it to Blacks or Hispanic is support base is still very strong and unwavering... The discontent of the middle class in Europe is fueling the rise of populism and anti immigration hostility... This in turn posses a threat to Globalization and liberal trade, Trump have vowed to imposed high tariff on U.S goods coming from China Canada and even it's European Allies.. China in turn has warned of retaliatory tariff on U.S goods....this inevitably will plunged world economy into a trade war, which will have a ripple effect on the Africa market, which sadly is it very much dependent on imports from the west...
With what is going on in Europe and America, it time African states, starts looking inwardly towards increasing and strengthening trade relations within her continent and with her neighbours. Increase in agricultural produce should be strengthen and investment in capital and infrastructure should be prioritize. And as China continues to open her doors to the continent, new economic ties should be forged, one that is backed upon on fairness and balance of trade. While Nigeria gear up for a momentous election in about a year time, voters should be mindful of politicians who at best will use the suffering of the people to gain cheap political votes. The focus should be about detailed economy plan to get us out of extreme poverty, rather than mere rhetoric.... Words as they say is cheap, Action speaks louder than words.....The success of Nigeria cannot be built on mere oratorical mastermind but by polices and governmental actions geared towards uplifting the poor out of the doldrum of unemployment insecurity and hardship....one lesson Europe and America is passing to Africa is that, they are becoming sick of her issues and problems. We can see that in the reduction of Aids, which have been slashed by the US to the less developed countries. Significant amount of citizens who back these government no longer see the rational behind sending tax payers money as form of aids to these countries. (Less developed countries). it's time Africa and Nigeria in large looked inwards and solve her political milieu..... As a great poet once said and I quote........ "No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of shark"......
With what is going on in Europe and America, it time African states, starts looking inwardly towards increasing and strengthening trade relations within her continent and with her neighbours. Increase in agricultural produce should be strengthen and investment in capital and infrastructure should be prioritize. And as China continues to open her doors to the continent, new economic ties should be forged, one that is backed upon on fairness and balance of trade. While Nigeria gear up for a momentous election in about a year time, voters should be mindful of politicians who at best will use the suffering of the people to gain cheap political votes. The focus should be about detailed economy plan to get us out of extreme poverty, rather than mere rhetoric.... Words as they say is cheap, Action speaks louder than words.....The success of Nigeria cannot be built on mere oratorical mastermind but by polices and governmental actions geared towards uplifting the poor out of the doldrum of unemployment insecurity and hardship....one lesson Europe and America is passing to Africa is that, they are becoming sick of her issues and problems. We can see that in the reduction of Aids, which have been slashed by the US to the less developed countries. Significant amount of citizens who back these government no longer see the rational behind sending tax payers money as form of aids to these countries. (Less developed countries). it's time Africa and Nigeria in large looked inwards and solve her political milieu..... As a great poet once said and I quote........ "No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of shark"......
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