POLITICAL PARTY LOYALTY, ITS COST ON PATRIOTISM AND GOOD GOVERNANCE.
BY EZOMON AK.
My FOUR KEY AREAS
1. Political Party
2. Party Loyalty
3. Patriotism
4. How being loyal to a Political party can kill the spirit of patriotism and Good Governance.
1. POLITICAL PARTY: A Political Party is an organized group of people with a particular purpose or similar ideas and are in the position to coordinates candidates to compete in a particular elections so as to promote their ideology and policy goals.
2. POLITICAL PARTY LOYALTY: This is when one is faithful to a particular and ready to go the direction of the Party.
I will like to classify this into 2 categories.
Party Loyalty as Brand: This means that the loyalist is faithful to the party because it stands as a brand and in most cases is ready to abandon the brand when it's not meeting the needs it was created to meet.
In this case, one can change their mind when the party is going out of track or representing a Candidate with questionable character.
The other one would be what I call
Blind Loyalty: In this case, the party member is blind to the reality on ground and ready to defend the party even when his or her instinct is against the happenings.
Generally, Political Party Loyalty Is Not Patriotic or wise in any Way because it makes one lazy and makes the loyalist give up their most valued ability to think.
Political blind loyalty today in our politics at both the national and state levels is birthed with a high level of greed. Party members are more concerned with what they will gain than what the Nation will benefit. They are partisan.
* Partisan is a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person; especially: one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance*
3. Patriotism means " the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.
Patriotism comes with a high level of unquestionable integrity, an in-depth beliefs in one country and the ability to defend one's country over personal needs.
This means that Citizens will always put the country first before themselves.
For example, the "America First" slogan is what brought America to her present state and not Political Party Loyalty.
4. How being loyal to a Political party can kill the spirit of patriotism and Good Governance:
"Party loyalty is dangerous and it assassinates Good Governance, kills patriotism and buries Democracy"
Party loyalty makes members bypass the use of the brain by suspending their judgment in favor of the party's judgment thereby ceding their intellectual autonomy to the party.
Blind political Party loyalty is not a virtue but foolishness.
When you see yourself praising a failure just because he belongs to your party, then your loyalty is blind.
The Political Party leadership was formed by Democracy and when you can no longer talk or suggest what should be done but rather follow what has been said, then you have become unpatriotic and ready to follow same party to destroy your own country.
When it is all about "My Party" it will be difficult for party members to question the leadership of the party or elected Candidate even when they know that they have done wrong. But in the real sense, there is nothing wrong with questioning what a politician does even if it was someone we voted for. No elected official should be given a free pass once he or she is in office.
People know this of course. But the blind loyalty shown in our politics today is insane and has become very frightening.
But we must know that, in times of crisis, patriotism unites us. We put our political differences aside to help our country. This should also be seen in case of underdevelopment or bad governance. we must put our party aside and unite to speak truth to power as patriotic citizens.
I do not believe that good citizenship involves party loyalty. Good citizens are expected to think for themselves.
I will like to close this lecture with a message from HOWARD LAVINE called.
Democratic inversion Theory
This theory state that, instead of having values and beliefs and policy instincts that determine which party or candidate one will support, the theory of “democratic inversion” suggests that more and more voters have turned over what you might call their values and priorities calculator to their party.
The idea of self-esteem is related to the idea that my group is right. Social psychologists call this ‘positive distinctiveness.’ My group is different and better than other groups. So what’s good for my group benefits me, even if doesn’t benefit me personally.”
For me, this is blindness, or call it foolishness and not loyalty.
*Food for thought*
1.If my party is supporting it, then it's right can only be a statement of laziness and Politically Blind Loyalist.
--+Comr Ezomkn Ak
2. Party Loyalty is an old concept that can bankrupt Development
---Comr Ezomon Ak
3. Party loyalty is dangerous and it assassinates Good Governance, kills patriotism and buries Democracy"
--- Comr Ezomon Ak
4. When your values, beliefs and policy instincts cannot determine what you say to your elective officers, you become intellectually foolish.
--- Comr Ezomon Ak
5. When your self-esteem is
Determined by your party loyalty and party direction, then, you don't have direction
--- Comr Ezomon Ak
6. Being at peace with yourself is the best freedom. Comr Ehinomen Uagbor
7. Let’s think about us, our community, our economy, our future and speak truth to power. It is to our advantage and growth generally!
--- Princess Ehima Elema
8. Politics It shouldn’t be business as usual else we become like the career politicians with no empathy.
--- Princess Ehima Elema
9. I actually think not being blindly loyal to a political party is quiet difficult for an average Nigerian.It takes great maturity of the mind to know that placing *Nigeria or Edo state first* should be the best thing to do.
---Joanna Ede Oshiokomoh
10. Truth is what it is. Even if you are not going to gain something physical, you will always be at peace with yourself.---Comr Ezomon Ak
11. Patriotism can only strive when we place our national interest over our personal gains and benefits. Comr Iyobosa ... See MoreSee Less
