Dr Villo Naleo
We all play important roles in the election, not just mere voters and agents, but as mere observers, gossips, critics and people who are emphatically enthusiastic about politics. In all these we indirectly play the role of a kingmaker in ushering the MLA in our own constituencies. The only thing that concerns is how we play our part while the king assumes his place. Naga politics is less of party manifestoes and more of village politics. No matter how appealing and relevant the manifestoes and ideologies be, it vanishes at the whim of money, muscle power and majority show ups. Sometimes I feel apprehensive that God pleasing changes could come through the kind of politics we play. If the process of election is not fair and clean, how can we expect a clean outcome? We make democracy a mockery by allowing proxy votes, declaring support for consensus candidates and bidding money on the electorates. In all these, we are giving ways for bad politics to thrive. Well, election is just one side of the note that is stained. So many things are going wrong in Nagaland.
Our Civil societies are in fragments, so is the Naga solution. Our Economy is falling, likewise the decline of our Spirituality. Our government is opposition less, so is our will to oppose what is wrong. Our budget is a deficit, our morals are bankrupt. Our Check gates have burrows, so is the flow of liquor for our fellows. Our roads are dusty, our Christianity also rusty. Public toilets are dirty, because we have no duty, the fund and water well is also empty. Our politicians are naughty, voters are bounty, and upright bureaucrats are scanty. Our love for money is crazy, love for God is hazy and our love for neighbor is lazy.
Nagaland, need more Rupin Sharmas in police department. We need more statesmen like Kejriwal. We need more Gandhis in our country. We need more Prime Ministers like Lee Kaun Yew (Singapore PM). We need more theologians like Bonhoeffer. We need more Teresas in our NGOs. We need more Luther King in our streets. We need more Mandelas in our civil societies. Who will stand and defy the odds?
In the Bible, the ministry of the Prophet Samuel was crucial for ushering Monarchy in Israel.Samuel led Israel from tribal disunity to national solidarity and established monarchy.Samuel triumphantly made a difference in defying the odds with his King and people. We all are Kingmakers in a big way, because we all have the power to influence and the ability to choose right leaders. It appears that we are subscribing to majoritarianism which is the biggest threat to democracy. If we love and subscribe to ideologies that discriminate minorities and parties that advocate religious coercion then we are bad kingmakers.
Election is a democratic exercise of electing one’s leader. It is not the time to show how much supporters a candidate has. For that matter, Clean Election Movement is not a movement of self-righteousness; rather it is a self-consciousness movement wanting to come out clean from corrupt ways, wanting to change the societal structures and vote for God-fearing and responsible leaders to govern our people. Nagas are not short of good and honest people. It’s just that we are allowing evil to permeate and this is done by good people who don’t say and do anything to stop evil.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” – Marianne Williamson (American author and political activist).
The ability to make rational choice is God’s gift to either dominate or rule us. Election comes after every five years, let us be diligent and sincere in fulfilling our political assignment and make a difference in this time of political despair.
This is a guest editorial by Dr Villo Naleo who is Convenor of the Clean Election Movement (NBCC).
Comments can be sent to villonaleo@gmail.com
