By Haruna Salami
The book Poorlitics is the story of the little boy from Goniri and the progressives’ manifesto in politics that deemphasises money politics
and promotes politics of ideas and development. It adds a new dimension into the current Nigerian politics that puts premium on money, thugs and godfathers.
It is the story of Bukar Abba Ibrahim who first ran for governor with just N20,000 in 1991, against powerful opponents with godfathers, branded vehicles and thugs. He just had friends, with their cars and the people. The people fought attempts to rig him out and he won with a landslide.
Since then, Bukar has become one of the most successful Nigerian politicians. He has been elected governor 3 times. He has also been elected senator 3 times. He has a wife who has been a commissioner, House of Reps member 3 times and presently a minister.
Bukar campaigns with very little funds and no thugs and left a legacy of zero political thuggery in Yobe state. Many people have wondered about the secrets of his success. He wrote the book “Poorlitics” to explain how he did it. With the people fully behind you, you do not need much money, thugs or godfathers to succeed in politics.
Nigeria needs a new approach to politics, which is generally seen as a costly investment. To ensure success, many politicians put vast amounts of personal funds into publicity, bribes, thugs, rigging and other expensive practices. Failure could mean being ruined for life. On victory, politicians are often forced to make recoup their and make profit to reward supporters, rather than focus on services to the people.
Poorlitics – the politics of the poor – is about practical project-based progressive political leadership; delivering value to people as a basis to win in democratic elections, by building trust, love and support from your people, through honest contributions that benefit them. When done consistently, especially before seeking office and people are convinced of your sincerity, they will give financial support and vote for you repeatedly. It is based on a simple idea that the poor make up the majority. If they are behind you, you need little money and no thugs to defend yourself or your votes.
The book explains in detail how this can be done by any aspiring politician through studying and emulating the life and political experiences of Bukar, and other great progressive political icons recorded in the book such as Aminu Kano, Waziri Ibrahim and his “politics without bitterness”, etc.
If Poorlitics is embraced by more people, it could alter the nature of playing politics in Nigeria. It will help many people with little funds to win elections and deliver more dividends of democracy to many people.
The book launch is being put together by Bukar Abba Ibrahim Foundation and Bass Books (UK) Ltd on July23, 2018, at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotels, Abuja. Proceeds from the book launch will be used for IDPs, educating orphans and the poor, as well as training aspiring politicians in Poorlitics.