Editorial

Keeping election as a political service 

The 2019 midterm local government election is over. We welcome new political comers, those who have won their first election. For those re-elected, we expect these people to keep going with their mandated business and thrive more in service of the people. Whoever got elected, the people’e trust has been bestowed upon these breed of leaders… may these elected officials not faulter the people. 

Indeed, the voice of the people has sounded through the exercise of democratic suffrage. Political participation, however, does not end in an election. People have to monitor the performance of the elective officials for the latter are answerable to the public. Ours is a participatory government and there are mechanisms by which the elected officials can be subjected to recall if they commit a disservice to the people, though this process comes nil in actual event, but certainly this could be asserted if need be under circumstances. People cast their votes and the same people can cast out the unfits through the legal process.

Voicing constructive criticism is one effective means by which the people can put a check on abusive or non-performing government official. Reportage of abuses or graft and corrupt practices is another way of exposing these anomalies committed by government officials. If out of fear in exposing these irregularities, questionable government transactions can be coursed through certain organizations involved in anti-graft/corruption movement.

Failure to report anomalies or government irregularities committed by elected officials would only diminish the core values of public service to the loss of the public. Voters give the political candidates the needed win and the plurality of votes should be reciprocated by genuine delivery of mandated services and exemplary performance worthy of a public servant.

When political candidates woo the people, they better perform well if they get the votes… otherwise the wrath of the people will come their way (not literally but in legal ways). There are eyes and ears watching unless these are plucked away to silence the lambs.

What we are inducing is the point of wider political participation in governance… that people’s participation goes beyond election. Participation is monitoring the performance of elected officials as well as career government personnel to ascertain that they exercise the mandates. Participation includes supporting the programs and projects that would uplift the general public, otherwise the development blueprints laid down by our representatives would only be put to waste in rot. 

Politics is a partnership between those who occupy public positions and the general public. If one decays, then the part has to be plucked out. Winning in an election is a public trust and such should be reciprocated by unselfish public service. Good leadership is people’s win in an election so long the exercise of suffrage is utmost credible and the intent of rendering public service is a matter of unblemished motivation and credence.

For those who will be taking their oath of office as elected officials, do not fail the people. Let not public performance be translated into a disaster. People don’t deserve a tragic disaster out of their votes. The people is the government… the government is of the people, by the people, and for the people --- let us keep it this way.