The Rise of Political Wage Earners in Nigeria
There was a time when politics in Nigeria was about ideas, conviction, and service. Now, it’s about survival. Poverty has turned many ordinary Nigerians into full-time or part-time political employees; professional loyalists who defend failure, sell lies, and trade conscience for crumbs. This article is not about party politics, nor is it aimed at any political group. It is about a societal decay, one where truth and livelihood now depend on political loyalty. A nation where the poor, instead of holding leaders accountable, now serve as their unpaid public relations officers. The System Behind the Dependence This culture of dependency didn’t happen by accident; the ruling class designed it. By deliberately blurring the line between governance and party politics, they converted national resources into party assets. Allocations meant for the general populace are often diverted into the pockets of loyalists and “mobilisers.” Civil servants and local government employees now know that...