Letter To The United States’ Electorates

By Raymond Oise-Oghaede

Now that the US election is here, there is no much that those of us who are not eligible to vote can do than to either keep our fingers crossed, observe, and wait for the outcome; or, to try as much as we could to support the process by appealing to the voters to consider some “very crucial factors” they might wish to put into consideration before casting their “all-important votes”. I know a lot of people will be wondering what sense will it make for someone from a country that is still struggling to getting things right in terms of conducting free, fair and credible democratic elections have to tell the more advanced and well informed “American electorates”; but, I want to crave the indulgence of all and sundry to be calm and let the “end to justifies the means”.

Foremostly, election matter is not just about the peacefulness, orderliness, fairness and credibleness that surround the conduct of the exercise whereupon the “American electorates” can be awarded “a distinction” in that aspect. It also goes beyond the political affiliations, slogans, ideologies, continuity, resourcefulness, objective manifestoes, and highly focused membership; because, the leading parties in the US are amongst the best in the world. The matter has a lot to do with the personality, character and capacity of the candidates. What is their perceptions about the US as a country; the US as a Super Power; the US as a defender of human rights; the US as a promoter of democracy and the rule of law; the US as one of the largest economies; the US as a fighter against terrorism; and, the US as a world police against proliferation of nuclear weapons of mass destruction et al?.

It also has to do with the candidate’s mindset about the challenges and obstacles ahead of him and how he intends to tackle them. At this point, the germane questions to ask ourselves are; is he the type that will take very weak and unreasonable decisions because of fear of the unknown; or, the type that will take fearless and rightful decisions without minding whose ox is gored?. Is he going to be a leader that will prefer to make more friends and allies in order to remain relevant and be hailed as a “good leader”; or, the type that will take and pursue the “very difficult and objective” internal and external policies (which will be beneficial to the US and generality of the world on the long run) which will draw condemnations and reduce the number of his “international friends and allies”?. Is he a leader that will call a spade a spade and be ready to face the consequences; or, a leader that will take irrational decisions in order to “avoid justifiable and necessary troubles”? Is he going to be a leader that will prefer to take “scraps” so that people will “love and praise” him as a “gentleman American President”; or a leader that will demand and pursue those things that America rightly deserves? Is he the leader that will shy away from doing the right things to uphold the integrity of the US in order to be applauded by the whole world; or, one that will stick his neck out for the pride of America and be hated and despised for being firm and smart?. You will agree with me that these criteria are very clear and open to guide the electorates in taking decisive and informed choice.

Be that as it may, it is also very important to state it in categorical terms; that, it takes excellent leadership skills and tactfulness for the US to withstand the sudden outbreak and spread of Covid-19; and, the unexpected and tumultuous surge of the “Black Lives Matters Protests” simultaneously and still remain “socio-political and economically viable and stable” shortly afterwards. Some interest had hoped for a “devastatingly broken America”; but, providence turned it around to prove that the country is under a leadership with great acumen and political sagacity. Presently, the internal and external enemies of the US are still shocked beyond comprehension and “massively disappointed” because the government was able to “swim out of the catastrophic waters” and the much envisaged “disadvantaged position”. The issue of whether the unfortunate incidents are tainted with conspiratorial tendencies will definitely be unraveled in due course. Let’s just continue to keep our fingers crossed and be waiting for the “right time”.

Another very important thing that I will want the electorates to “crosscheck” before going to vote is to peruse the plethora of criticisms against the candidates; do a very simple evaluation by outlining the key issues vis-à-vis the people’s expectations. If the expectations of the people are for short term gains against long term and enduring legacies; it is a confirmation that the “critics” are desirous of their own myopic, parochial and sentimentalized gains/interests; and, not for a better and grater America.

From the aforementioned, you will observe that I deliberately did not mention the names of the candidates and their respective political affiliations because the “aim of this review” is not to campaign for “anyone” but to outline “crucial variable qualities and criteria” that can be used to making an informed choice amongst the leading contenders.

In an opinion that I shared on Facebook after the U.S. Presidential Debate in October 2016 which is still very much relevant in the present circumstance; I said, “it is very normal that the electorates will have divergent opinions as to the performances of the candidates. As for me, it’s all about wooing the electorates for votes by ‘painting the pictures so beautifully’; and, or ‘hitting the nail on the head without fear or favour’. In my opinion, a much stronger US is ‘better’ for the world at large than a more friendly and porous America. So, the electorates should read in between the lines and make a choice. America and indeed the world are in your hands” (please note that this statement is with all due respect and adoration to the Almighty God; the Omnipotent, Omniscience and Omnipresent).

I wish the candidates and the electorates the very best of luck.

Thanks.

Raymond Oise-Oghaede writes from Suru-Lere, Lagos State, Nigeria.