Bronwen Manby says this humorous book gives a unique insight into Nigerian politics

Manby, Bronwen

LSE Research Online

Book	Review	–	Love	Does	Not	Win	Elections	byAyisha	OsoriBronwen	Manby	says	this	humorous	book	gives	a	unique	insight	into	Nigerian	politics.This	unique	book	should	be	required	reading	for	those	interested	in	thepromotion	and	consolidation	of	democracy,	whether	as	scholar	or	activist.	Itoffers	a	candidate’s-eye	view	of	what	it	takes	to	contest	a	primary	election	torun	for	office	as	a	member	of	Nigeria’s	House	of	Representatives.Focused	on	just	one	constituency	in	Abuja,	the	Federal	Capital	Territory,	AyishaOsori	narrates	in	occasionally	hilarious	detail	exactly	what	it	takes	to	get	theendorsement	of	all	those	who	need	to	back	her	(extreme	grovelling),	to	“settle”those	who	need	to	receive	some	compensation	for	their	endorsement	(almosteveryone),	and	to	ensure	that	the	final	vote	is	at	least	vaguely	clean(impossible,	it	seems).	You	can’t	help	thinking	that,	genuine	as	the	effort	was,	inthe	end	the	author	is	secretly	glad	that	the	attempt	was	unsuccessful.	Ifselected	as	a	candidate,	after	all,	the	same	rigmarole	would	have	begun	all	overagain	for	the	public	vote.The	first	challenge	is	deciding	which	party	to	stand	for.	In	Nigeria,	this	choice	is	somewhat	random,	given	that	“thereis	not	much	to	distinguish	Nigeria’s	two	main	political	parties”.	In	the	end,	Osori	chooses	the	People’s	DemocraticParty	largely	on	the	basis	of	a	chance	meeting	that	secured	her	the	necessary	membership	card	(albeit	still	needingvarious	signatures	to	backdate	it	and	show	the	two	years’	membership	to	be	eligible	to	run).	Submitting	the	forms	tobecome	a	candidate	is	another	torturous	task,	as	officials	show	an	obsession	for	primary	and	secondary	schoolcertificates	and	other	documents	required	by	the	rules,	rather	than	more	substantive	matters	(including	laterdegrees).	Other	demands	leave	the	rules	behind,	as	the	author	has	to	fend	off	people	offering	different	services,including	to	secure	prayers	for	her	candidacy.	Most	importantly,	Osori	has	to	navigate	Nigeria’s	ethnic	politics,wooing	the	“indigenes”	of	her	constituency	and	constantly	justifying	her	choice	to	run	in	the	FCT,	where	she	has	livedsince	1996,	rather	than	Kogi	State,	where	she	is	“from”.Some	of	these	difficulties	would	be	the	same	for	any	candidate,	others	powerfully	illustrate	the	additional	challengesfor	women.	From	the	outset	Osori	feels	the	need	to	include	trading	sex	for	access	on	her	“will	not	do”	list.		The	holderof	three	degrees	(two	of	them	from	Harvard),	a	legal	practitioner,	well-known	media	commentator,	and	head	of	anorganisation	promoting	women’s	political	participation,	she	nonetheless	repeatedly	finds	herself	kneeling	on	the	floor,seeking	the	blessing	of	those	with	different	types	of	power.		She	is	constantly	told	to	seek	the	blessing	of	“first	ladies”at	different	levels	from	the	president’s	wife	down.	She	has	to	laugh	at	heavy-handed	male	jokes	about	loving	women.Late	night	meetings	make	both	security	and	child	care	a	concern.	Yet,	occasionally,	she	also	finds	real	solidarity	fromestablished	female	politicians	who	understand	what	she	faces	and	give	her	their	advice	and	support	—	including	theintroductions	that	are	needed	for	any	chance	of	party	backing.Africa at LSE: Book Review – Love Does Not Win Elections by Ayisha Osori Page 1 of 2		Date originally posted: 2018-05-04Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/05/04/book-review-love-does-not-win-elections-by-ayisha-osori/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/Photo	credit:	U.S.	Embassy	/	Idika	OnyukwuAbove	all,	there	is	the	question	of	money.	This	being	Nigeria,	it	is	front	and	central;	though	perhaps	just	more	visiblerather	than	more	dominant	than	in	other	jurisdictions.	Among	Osori’s	recommendations	for	future	candidates	are	that“mint	banknotes	are	a	must”;	colour-coded	envelopes	with	different	amounts	will	help	the	aspirant	to	“dole	out	moneyelegantly	and	efficiently	–	rather	than	prying	notes	out	of	rubber	band	restraints	while	navigating	a	crowd	andpretending	to	hold	a	conversation”.		She	is	touched	by	the	donations	of	friends,	humiliated	by	the	need	to	beg,	andyet	understanding	of	the	ordinary	party	delegates	whose	own	economic	circumstances	are	so	poor	that	who	canblame	them	for	seeking	some	payment	for	turning	up	and	(possibly)	supporting	her	in	the	ballot.The	style	is	brisk	and	engaging,	and	the	author	coins	some	excellent	metaphors	along	the	way,	some	of	themuniversal	(“humble	pie	tasted	like	wet	newspaper”);	others	familiar	to	all	women	(as	niggling	as	a	twisted	bra	strap);and	some	unique	to	Nigeria	(the	narrative	that	only	women	of	easy	virtue	contest	politics	“is	as	pervasive	as	emptywater	sachets	at	a	motor	park”).	The	book	is	written	for	a	Nigerian	audience,	as	it	should	be.	It	treats	questions	anduses	turns	of	phrase	that	will	likely	not	be	immediately	understood	by	a	person	without	at	least	some	familiarity	withNigeria.	Yet	even	with	these	occasional	possible	hurdles,	it	gives	an	insight	into	Nigerian	politics	that	will	haveimmediate	resonance	across	the	African	continent	and	likely	far	beyond.		Love	Does	Not	Win	Elections,	by	Ayisha	Osori		published	by	Narrative	Landscape	Press,	Nigeria,	2017Bronwen	Manby	(@BronwenManby)		is	a	Visiting	Senior	Fellow	with	LSE	Human	Rights	and	research	fellow	at	theMiddle	East	Centre.	The	views	expressed	in	this	post	are	those	of	the	authors	and	in	no	way	reflect	those	of	the	Africa	at	LSEblog	or	the	London	School	of	Economics	and	Political	Science.	Africa at LSE: Book Review – Love Does Not Win Elections by Ayisha Osori Page 2 of 2		Date originally posted: 2018-05-04Permalink: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/2018/05/04/book-review-love-does-not-win-elections-by-ayisha-osori/Blog homepage: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/

Book review - love does not win elections by Ayisha Osori

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Book review - love does not win elections by Ayisha Osori

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