“The wave of change has finally come, the APC led President Buhari will bring about a complete change in every facets of our economy”, were the words of one of the passengers in a public bus I boarded. Of course, he had an opponent, as every debate must have a proponent/ supporter and an opponent.
“What has President Buahri done? He is just going to be like his predecessors who will be there to siphon our country’s resources”, the opponent replied. Another person then picked up the arguments; “the price of petrol has come down to 87naira and President Buhari has promised to bring it down to 50naira. Our refineries are now working, this is a huge change that former president Goodluck Jonathan and his fellow PDP crew refused to do, and you are there asking what the president has done for the country”, obviously replying his opponent.
Here and there, at one point or the other we hear conversations of politics in public buses. You may have also at one time gotten involved in political arguments in the bus, or being an instigator of such. It is a phenomenon we get to experience often times.
It’s indeed a known fact that some persons love to argue, hence, they utilize the slightest opportunity to bring up an argument even in a public bus; whereas, some others are provoked to engage in various arguments. In several public buses, we find people involved in all forms of political arguments and many have turned political analysts indirectly.
If you missed the news and you have a political analyst riding the same public bus with you, then you are indeed very lucky as this political analyst will fill you in on the latest gist in town. All is cool until he gets another politically conscious passenger(s) to engage in the discourse. Atimes, the topic brought up by the ‘political analyst’ is an interesting one, and other times, it could be boring and depressing. It could as well be really annoying when you have an elderly analyst who is the initiator of the argument, then he begins to compare the present administration to those who were in power when he was a youth. The elderly analyst tells the younger folks in the bus about the good old days and the dangers of having a ‘young’, inexperienced president rule the country.
Lyndon B. Johnson wrote; “what convinces is conviction. Believe in the argument you’re advancing. The other person will sense that something isn’t there and no chain of reasoning, no matter how logical or elegant or brilliant, will win in your case for you”.
Political arguments no doubt passes knowledge to the listeners as many public bus passengers have benefited from political arguments in public buses. For those who have faulty television sets, these political argumentators are a sure bet for filling them in on the latest news from around the world. Ranging from a particular government’s ill performance, to praising the other, to comparing one government to the other, these political analysts in public buses never run short of ideas as they always come up with various trending and juicy gossips in politics.
Many have indirectly turned ‘media personnels / journalists’ in our public buses, bringing vital issues in politics to the front burner. Although some are quiet analysts, who make their point known and keep quiet, others are lousy argumentators who go to the extent of shouting at the top of their voices just to drive home their points. There are even cases where these political arguments results in a fight.
Furthermore, these political analysts are easily identified in our public buses. They get started with words like “look at the state of our roads; it is all the government’s fault”. I bet that that bus will be a den of political arguments till everyone alights from the bus, as other political argumentators will pick up that arguments and build on it.
However, despite these numerous political arguments in our public buses, it has not been backed up with positive results. In the same light, Booker T. Washington noted; “we must reinforce arguments with results”. Therefore, it’s not enough to come up with various political arguments in public buses, praising or criticizing those in position of authority, those various arguments should be organized and hence, channeled to the right and appropriate bodies so that those in power who are not working as they ought to or performing their duties utmostly, will begin to do so, and for those in government who are doing enough as they should, will be encouraged to do even do more.
In addition, in any political argument, be it in a public bus, at the office, in a shopping mall, and in several other places, there are always the defenders and the opposers and they never agree on anything.
James E. Fraust once said; “let us not become so intense in our zeal to do good by winning arguments or by our pure intention in disputing doctrine that we go beyond good sense and manners, thereby promoting contention, or say and do imprudent things, invoke cynicism, or ridicule with flippancy”.
Political arguments no doubt is a way of keeping many in the know on recent events in politics, however, it indirectly promotes rivalry as many have become contenders through this.
Therefore, let us all remember the words of Alain de Boton; “I passionately believe that it’s not just what you say that counts, it’s also how you say it- that the success of your argument critically depends on your manner of presenting it”. Hence, the way some persons present arguments determines if it will result in a fight, more heated arguments or not.
The old saying; “there are two sides to a coin” still holds sway in political arguments as there certainly is the proponent and the opponent in every political argument. Also, there is the pros and cons of engaging in political arguments. The advantages accrued to involvement in political arguments in public buses are numerous, so also the disadvantages as well.
A VITAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION: – For those who are not up-to-date with events around the country, and in the world at large, political argumentators will certainly fill you in, they provide credible information on political developments in and around the country.
THEY KEEP THE BUS LIVELY AND AGLOW: – Political analysts in public buses help to keep buses aglow and alive. Have you ever been in a bus surrounded by political analysts? You are sure going to have a swell time with several rib-cracking jokes, and political up-dates from political argumentators.
A SUREFIRE WAY TO ASSESS THOSE IN GOVERNMENT: – Through political arguments in public buses, you can easily assess those in position of authority as you will certainly be provided with diverse views and opinions on which governments is doing enough for the people, and which is not.
AN AVENUE TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS: – Political arguments paves a way for new friends, particularly when there is someone who supports you in the argument.
INDIRECT CAMPAIGN FOR A PARTICULAR POLITICAL Party/ ASPIRANT: The trend of political arguments in public buses escalated prior to the 2015 general elections in the country as many used it as a tool to campaigning for the political party they felt should win the election, and as well for the person suitable for the political position. During this period, there were heated arguments between the supporters of President Buhari of the APC and former president Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.
Also, it’s a way of identifying the political party with the major supporters.
There are also disadvantages of involving in political arguments in public buses.
UNNECESSARY QUARRELS AND FIGHTS: – Political arguments in public buses have resulted in several unwarranted quarrels and even fights. This in part can be due to the unruly manner in which the initiator(s) brings up the argument, or as a result of an opposer trying to argue his/her point fiercely, hence, resulting in a quarrel or/ and fight.
UNHEALTHY RIVALRY: – This is another ill brought about by political arguments. The way political arguments creates an avenue to make new friends is as well the same way to keep enemies, as some people have become arch rivals through political arguments in public buses particularly when they have opposing views and ideas.
CAUSES DISTURBANCE TO OTHER PASSENGERS: – Political arguments could become heated, hence, resulting in disturbance to other passengers in the public bus. Also, not all passengers enjoy arguments in public buses. So, indulging in such could cause outright disturbance to these sets of people.
Political arguments in public buses in Nigeria still remains an issue of national concern. Dale Carnegie noted; “the only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it”. Political arguments as stated has its merits and demerits. However, whatever political argument brought up should be laid out with caution and reasoning.
