By M.O Ene

Politics is not about personalities; it is about pursuing popular policies that promote the wellbeing of humanity within one’s constituency and nation. Together, both the elected and the electorate make our world better.

Everyone will eventually give up the encased energy _(chi)_ and surrender the body to _Anị_ , Mother Earth. Therefore, if not for common good, the pursuit of power in this paradise is pointless.

The midterm elections in these United States reminded me of a sacred saying: _Ebe onye bi ka ọ na-awachi._ (Where one lives, there s/he thrives.) We wasted time psycho-living in Nigeria hopefully and thriving abroad halfheartedly. No regrets though: diasporans are the biblical Josephs, and it shows in the lower multidimensional poverty indices of southern Nigeria. Our governments fail in channeling the remittances more to profitable production and less to covetous consumption.

The focus is changing. About 20 Nigerians ran for offices in the last midterm elections. This does not include the likes of Attorney Chigozie Onyema, an NJ-born and state legislator being considered for the deputy governor position.

Of interest is the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, who ran as a Republican for Georgia state senate. Orabueze is the deputy prime minister of Ekpa-led Biafra Government in Exile. She lost to a Democrat and conceded. We can make it what we want, but the fact is that free and fair elections bring out the best in people.

Joy is ringing in many communities. Twelve Muslims won nationwide, including the contentious senate election of Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, whose parents came from Egypt. Somali-born Ilhan Omar, whom Trump loves to loathe, returned to her Congress seat with 76.5% of the votes!

Minorities and women recorded many firsts: first Black woman elected governor; new New Mexico’s governor is first Native American; first Latina governor in Texas; first Black male governors in Florida and Wisconsin, etc. The LGBTQ+ community scored first openly gay male U.S. senator. The Democrats’ blue wave was so awesome a candidate who withdrew was elected anyway!

People just want a change of course, basically to stop the Trumpian disruptions and divisiveness. The results will produce another first: Hakeem Jeffries as the first Black Speaker—the powerful number three position without whose cooperation Trump might as well retire to the other room until January 2029! After Obama and Kamala Harris, this is huge. Note: The President, Senate leader, and Speaker are all New Yorkers.

Elections are a referendum, a contract renegotiation, or a mandate revalidation. There is nothing like “no vacancy” or “nonnegotiable” in democracy. Nigerians must review their situations and either stick with the status quo or seek a new path preached by other political players. This is the essence of democracy: a negotiated and tenured power contract.

Ignorance is the bane of democracy, and the greed of politicians is the driver of poor performances. The resultant debilitating disease called “poverty” makes otherwise credible characters susceptible to Stalin Syndrome—the use of hunger as a weapon of coerced followership.

All politics is local; Nigerians should give democracy a good chance with real elections. Else, Nigeria could sail into more crises on rivers of blood. Everyone should participate. Lose or win, it is about projecting productive policies for peaceful changes and preventing violent crises.