POLITICS IS ALL ABOUT INTEREST!

When I read or hear people say this as they have made it a commonsense cliché in everyday interactions, I have more reason to think in fears.

Yes! Politics is a game of interest but sadly our people who say this are usually on the side of the negative import of this statement.

This brings us to the challenge of solipsism in philosophical discourse where social realities are objects of discussion. Imagine a space where everyone plays by his or her own set rules. I am sure you will never disagree with me that it is simply the absolute definition of anarchy.

The society is a child of conscious growth from individualism/Solipsism to subjectivism and relativism and from here to intersubjectivism and then to the destination of objectivism where all selves and inter-selves aggregate into a whole with rules for coexistence codified.

When will our people think of politics as a game of public interest. The best way to define personal interest should and ought be that we individually live for all. It should be Demos as against Ego; the people and not someone.

The reigning concept of politics is an aberration and violation of the essence and substance of the society and government itself which is the fulcrum of politics. This abandons the individuals in the society to the fate of the traversed "State of Nature" where, as we read, life was brutish, solitary, nasty and short. In the State of Nature, it was the feast of naked power and war of all against all.

Where are we headed if we do not take knowledge as the leading light and guiding principle in our leadership? The need therefore for civic education mounts immeasurably and till the horse of leadership is saddled by the thoughtful minds, we will remain in the dark with the derogatory epithet of dark nations hanging briskly on our frail backs.

To this end therefore I call on all of us to reformat our understanding to align with the reality of the meaning of interest in the cliché that politics is a game of interest. That interest is nothing but the "Collective Interest".

What is our interest as a people should be our question of concern and not otherwise.

I think, first of all, security of lives and property, then our welfare comes and not our selfish welfare which further keeps and renders us all more and gravely unsafe and insecure.

Like in the victory of all against the state of nature, let us all in one accord submit our wishes, ambitions, desires, cravings and especially our interests to the collective pot for the administration of the leviathan, the sovereign and in our current situation - the government.

We pray and work that our nation and Africa will stand in pride one good day.

God bless the Black Race...