A CRITICAL LOOK AT THE USE OF THE PHRASE “RIVERS PEOPLE “ AS USED BY SOME POLITICIANS. WRITTEN BY MGBARA ZION BARISUKA

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  Political communication over the years has been quite manipulative and inundated with subtle innuendos. Politics itself, is a terrain that demands a lot of smart manoeuvring desterity to be a relevant player or actor since the major stock in trade is the people. In recognition of this fact, politicians are always keen on gaining goodwill from the people, as such they position themselves as messaiahs and friends in order to enjoy absolute support. Their romance with the people are not for genuine reasons but can be likened to the convivial and lovely ventilation by a prostitute on a new client. A purposeful knit that expires at the achievement of an objective. Like veteran actors they create the utopic impression that they stand for you and with you at all times and under all climes and whenever the opportunity presents itself they demonised their gladiator by ascribing all sort of monstrous colouration to his persona. 

 This desperation is translated into their communicative practices as it is evinced in Rivers State where some politicians assume the role of metapsychological prophets who are apt to assess the minds of Rivers people to know when they  are ecstatic, sad, moody, depressed, infuriated, protective, indecisive, rejective and poised to take action, and as ordained prophets with exclusive rights, they either warn people of the pending doom should Rivers people unleash their terror or ventilate how joyous they are about the achievement of a certain feat.   

Concerned by the use of the phrase, I tried in futility to ascertained why Rivers people should readily give access to a select few about their thought pattern and in my moments of regurgitation, it dawned on me that I am a Rivers person and most times this self acclaimed political prophets run contrary view from my dominant thought and mood, however, in probing further I discover that I am not alone on this, as this has been the unfortunate lot of Rivers people whose self agrandising leaders pose as metapsychological communicators.  

Through this piece, I am calling on all political actors whose linguistic /communicational mannerism typifies this pattern, to desist as their views most times do not encapsulate the interest of Rivers People but rather an advancement of the usual self motive coated as people oriented.

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