Another general election is approaching and politicians are out in numbers to lead us... Either astray or to the promised land.
Their lips roll out those words we want to hear.
We want to see fuel sell at a lower price, we want naira to be equal to dollar, we want this, we want that and they tell us what we want.
Same thing happens at the state level.
Using Osun state as a case study, the aspirants are out with their campaign promises and the focal point of this is the lapses of the current administration which is "owing workers salaries".
Everyone knows that owing salaries is bad, everyone knows you'll sell yourself better to the people if you promise to pay the outstanding salaries.
Making promises is easy, anyone can do that...
The question is "what will you put in place to address it? "
I'm sure gov Aregbesola wouldn't be happy that he's owing(knowing fully well that it'll affect his stand in the state), I remember how gov Mimiko lamented about owing his workers salary and called it the "biggest regret" of his administration.
The point I'm driving at is that, sometimes, politicians find themselves in a situation bigger than themselves.
When an aspirant promises to pay salary, don't be over joyous, put the question to him...
How do you intend to pay it?
What are the policies you'll put in place?
How will you address the issue?
I listened to one of the aspirants, he promised to generate income by making sure all tax defaulters pay(I'm not attacking any personality, just want us to be realistic to ourselves)...
Do you think this will have much effect?
Everyday on OSBC(Osun state broadcasting station), the present government make campaigns about payment of tax, also, some people go out to make sure defaulters pay...
Moreover, the state has a high percentage of civil servants where their taxes are deducted even before receiving the salary .
In other words, this policy will have little or no effect.
Can you see how easy it is to make promises?
If the FG brings the nation into another recession(which will lead to drop in allocation, note that I've not included the state's debt in this analysis), how will the state cushion this effect and reduce its impact on the people?
Are the policies realistic?
Can this successfully bring about the desired effects?
We shouldn't fall for their promises but to question the reality of their proposed policies...
Politics is about policies, not promises