Most campaign rallies of Ankara & T-shirt-branded crowds of clapping mascots, mainly party supporters in Nigeria are always junk forums of sing-and-dance entertainment where one or two idiots on stage can turn the whole enchanted crowd into fellow idiots with lies, propaganda, banters, abuses, slips, unverified history and data. No question, no answer, everybody goes home without a "take home" of a significant message beyond obscene street slangs and monetary inducement.
Organised fora where candidates are invited to talk and be questioned are like job interviews which give an insight into candidates' mental capacity, thought process on vital issues and competence. More of such fora should be organised by varied interest groups, student and professional bodies. That's why I preferred to listen and assess student candidates at organised Press Night to "Lagbo Lagbo" noisy Speech Night at the university.
Most campaign rallies of Ankara & T-shirt-branded crowds of clapping mascots, mainly party supporters in Nigeria are always junk forums of sing-and-dance entertainment where one or two idiots on stage can turn the whole enchanted crowd into fellow idiots with lies, propaganda, banters, abuses, slips, unverified history and data. No question, no answer, everybody goes home without a "take home" of a significant message beyond obscene street slangs and monetary inducement.
In campaign rallies, candidates always escape scrutiny with no known thoughts on germane topical governance issues but in organised fora, candidates are pinned down to their thoughts or thoughtlessness at least for voters and the entire citizens to be well informed about those who are struggling for their votes.
My first attraction to Chief Obafemi Awolowo from my secondary school days was that the brilliant man had clear-cut thoughts and views, (written, spoken or published) on almost all governance issues, you agreed or disagreed with him. For me, that should be the benchmark of leadership by knowing what they stand for in principle and in thought beyond candidates' dancing tongues without a concrete message.