Two weeks ago, local government elections were held. But trust me, I have no interest in voting. Not now, maybe not ever.
I’m tired.
Like many Nigerians, I’m exhausted and disillusioned with grassroots politics. We’ve been here before. Over and over. And what exactly has changed?
Elections come and go, yet the faces of those who emerge victorious at the local government level remain largely unknown to the very communities they claim to serve.
Shouldn’t grassroots governance begin with actual presence?
With people who have already made visible impact in their immediate communities and are seeking governance as a tool to do more?
I’ve said it before: growing up, I remember what local governance used to look like.
The local councillor especially wasn’t a ghost. He was part of the community. He knew the children that were out of school, the families who had nothing to eat, and the public primary school whose roof had caved in and needs to be fixed immediately.
He was everywhere, genuinely interested in what was going on or what had gone wrong in the community. That was leadership we could see and feel.
Yes, I acknowledge that times have changed. The population has grown, technology has evolved, but shouldn’t these advancements be used to improve lives, not distance leaders from the people?
I long for the day when those in power are not locked behind tinted SUVs or unreachable compounds. I want to see a time when our local leaders ride motorcycles through the streets, walk through markets, or sit among the people as we hear is done in developed nations.
The elections have come and gone. Winners have been announced.
But now what?
Will we see a shift from ghost governance to visible impact?
Will these leaders be present, not just on paper or in periodic ceremonies, but in the actual lives of the people they represent?
Or will they, like many before them, remain unseen while monthly allocations continue to flow from Abuja?
Growing up, I admired governance.
Not because of the power, but because of its potential to effect real change. Sadly, with the crop of politicians we have today, I no longer hold that same admiration.
It has faded. And I know I’m not alone.
Still, I hope, even if just a little, that someday our local governments will begin to truly serve.
That grassroots governance will return to the people. Not as a slogan, but as a lived experience.
Until then, I remain tired. But watching. Still hoping.
Born as Titilayo Oladimeji, I have been known by the nickname Titipetral for nearly two decades. I am a Financial Advisor at a reputable financial institution in Lagos, Nigeria, with over 10 years of experience in Financial Advisory and Credit Analysis. I am also an author and the founder of Titipetral Publishers, a duly registered publishing company.
In addition, I lead the Titipetral Empowerment and Development Network (TEDN), a duly registered philanthropic initiative dedicated to supporting underprivileged girls, boys, women, and men in the Alimosho area, Nigeria’s most populated local government, focusing on serving the underserved.
For inquiries or collaboration, you can reach me at Titilayooladimeji@titipetral.com or titipetral@gmail.com.