By Isaac Asabor
It may not be a misnomer to say that since “A value chain is a business model that describes the full range of activities needed to create a product or service”, that “Electoral value chain is a political model that describes the full range of activities needed to produce credible and capable political leaders.
Against the backdrop of the foregoing contextual definition of electoral value chain, particularly as applied to Nigeria’s political architecture, one may not be wrong to say that the functionality of every stage of the value chain has by each passing political dispensation being marred by “stomach infrastructure”.
For the sake of clarity, it is expedient to opine that Oxford Reference (an online subsidiary of Oxford dictionary) described Stomach infrastructure as “A term that refers to the use of gifts and promises of food to win support from voters in Nigeria. Although it has synergies with many other terms that make use of food- and eating-based analogies to describe political practices, such as the … …” In a similar vein, an insight provided by an opinion writer, Chioma Gabriel, in an article titled, “Stomach Infrastructure: The newest vocabulary in Nigeria’s political dictionary”, and published on March 27, 2015 of the Vanguard newspaper, thus: “Stomach infrastructure” was coined by a politician in the 2015 elections in Nigeria. He promised people rice and chicken over development and won that election”, is explanatory enough.
Permit me to add that the phrase “Stomach infrastructure” does not exclusively finds expression in the handouts that are doled out to the electorate ahead of an election, but also to the politicians, particularly aspirants among them, who see politics as a way of illicitly enriching themselves.
At this juncture, it is germane to ask, “What does stomach infrastructure tells us about Nigeria’s political context? To answer the foregoing question, it is apt to say that politics, which is commonly considered to be the pedestal on which good governance stands is now been seen as a way of putting food in the stomach. That reminds me of Jean-Francois Bayart, the French political scientist, who in 1989 propagated the expression, “politique du ventre.” The translation of the expression became the title of his book, “The Politics of the Belly”. The spat of this trailblazing literary work is that given the patrimonial, and hence corrupt, nature of power, Nigerian politics extends the metaphor of eating and the belly into Politics.
Analysed from the foregoing perspective, it is not an exaggeration to say that politics of the belly, as Bayarts puts it has literarily contaminated virtually all stages and activities that made up Nigeria’s electoral value chain so much that it has being flawed to be producing incompetent, unpatriotic and corrupt politicians who some gullible electorates supporters are wont to hail to high heaven as “Messiahs”.
Thus, before the general election, all persons qualified to vote are called upon to register themselves, and only those who are duly registered can vote. The age criteria to register as an eligible voter is 18 years and above. At this pre-stage, the Commission announces the date of the election for the process to begin. Being the beginning of the value chain, desperate and corrupt politicians are wont to focus on what they would gain, in the name of stomach infrastructure, register under-aged voters, particularly in the Northern part of the country, and dubiously guide them to the polls. A colleague of mine, jokingly said “even cows and goats are registered in that part of the country”. Why? The reason is to garner more votes than those in other parts of the country so that votes would be massively casted; at least, if not for anything for there to be enough foods for the stomach when elected into various political offices.
At the primaries stage where party members elect one aspirant among others contesting for the same position or office through the same political party, it is unarguably the rule of “the highest bidder has my vote” to the delegates, and after which the winners at this stage shall be nominated by the various political parties to compete for the general election. As you can see, stomach infrastructure has continued to shape every stage of the electoral value chain.
Also, at the stage that involves each electoral political party nominating a candidate who would be the forerunner of the election, Godfathers, who are nothing but political investors are always there for their political sons even when the candidate nominated fail to meet the basic qualification requirements as stipulated by the Constitution, Electoral Act, and INEC’s guidelines. This is possible because sworn affidavit to cover up any discrepancy is allowed.
At the campaigning stage of the electoral value chain which involves the political parties and their nominated candidate campaigning actively for the support and votes of the general public, the stomach infrastructure becomes more pronounced as targeted electorates are gifted with salts and pepper, rice, onions, and similar low-priced items. At times, monies, branded face-caps and T-shirts as well as branded wristbands, beer among other fripperies are given to party supporters. The INEC usually schedules the campaigning periods while political parties generally do it by promoting their various ideas and promises what they can and cannot keep using multiple media platforms such as television, radios, street outreach, pamphlets, and occasional visits to gain the support and followership of the voters. While carrying out the foregoing activities, monies usually exchange hands.
Finally at the voting stage which is usually segmented into voting days, and usually during the weekends, especially Saturdays, some gullible and poor members of the electorates are tricked to sell their voter cards, or rather PVCs for amount that is as little as N1,000.
In consideration of what goes on along the electoral value chain, it is little wonder that unpatriotic, inept and corrupt political leaders are by each passing political dispensation, elected into strategic political offices that have direct bearings on the collective destiny of the people.
As Chioma Gabriel rightly noted in her article that was written close to 7 years ago, “Nigerians, like the biblical Esau are selling their birth rights for a mesh of porridge. They are selling the destiny of their future generation to dare-devil politicians. Hard work has ceased to be the watchword as instant political gains have taken the centre stage. It is now ‘money for hand, vote for ground’ and the citizenry who benefit from these largesse are prepared to kill for it”.
Given the foregoing shenanigans that is unarguably deep-rooted on the landscape of Nigeria’s politics, and that preparations are been made for the 2023 general election, one is compelled to ask if it will be credible. Without any scintilla of exaggeration, voters are well aware that the elections will not be won solely by votes or popular consensus as all the shenanigans mentioned in this piece would shape the election.
