Today, I came across a trending video which allegedly happened in Oyo, showing members of a community celebrating and expressing gratitude after reportedly receiving one kilogram of Semovita during a political empowerment initiative linked to a political movement.
The reaction in the video sparked widespread conversation online.
Personally, I felt concerned while watching it. Not because support or empowerment is wrong, but because it raises a deeper question about the nature and sustainability of such gestures or poverty as a tool during the time of elections.
A one-kilogram bag of semovita, for example, cannot sustain a household for three days, dependingon the family size though. Yet in some cases, such items are presented and received as major empowerment initiatives.
This reflects a broader issue in how empowerment is sometimes understood and implemented.
Over time, we have also seen similar instances where household items such as refrigerators or other goods are distributed as forms of empowerment. However, in some of these communities, there is no electricity, raising questions about long-term usefulness or continued suffering.
This creates an important concern, are these gestures truly empowering people, or are they temporary relief measures that do not address deeper structural challenges?
It often feels like a cycle where short-term support is used during political seasons, while long-term development remains insufficient. This raises questions about sustainability and intent.
Have people ever wondered why it is always food, money, or cash gifts that are given to people during elections, and not support in areas such as healthcare? No one is flown abroad for treatment or given access to the best care within the country. There is nothing related to health—only food or money.
Empowerment, in its true sense, should not be seasonal. It should not be limited to election periods or political campaigns. Real empowerment should be continuous, structured, and focused on long-term development.
The funniest part is the availability of free rides during election season, which are nowhere to be found after the elections. It is quite amusing. After the elections, everything goes back to normal.
If genuine progress is the goal, then support should extend beyond symbolic or short-term gestures. It should focus on education, infrastructure, economic opportunities, and systems that improve lives sustainably.
There is also a need for stronger civic and voter education. INEC have a critical role to play in ensuring that citizens are better informed about electoral processes and democratic responsibility. When people are better educated, they are more likely to make informed decisions.
At the same time, citizens also have a responsibility to demand accountability, transparency, and consistency from those who seek leadership positions. Governance should not only be questioned during crises but consistently evaluated over time.
This is not a criticism of any politcal group, but an observation of a recurring pattern in our political landscape.
Empowerment should not be reduced to temporary relief. It should be about long-term development and sustainable progress.
The real question we must continue to ask is this, should leadership focus on short-term gestures that create temporary satisfaction, or on long-term solutions that truly transform lives?
Because ultimately, meaningful development is not measured by what is given during political seasons, but by what remains long after them.
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