Can you imagine walking to the same place every day, to meet your loved one. And waiting, and waiting, and waiting for ten years without seeing him or her? This is the story of Hachiko. He was a dog who lived in Tokyo, a dog who faithfully waited for his owner at the Shibuya train station long after his owner could not come to meet him. He became famous for his loyalty and was adored by scores of people who passed through the station every day.
In 1924, Hidesaburo Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo, took Hachiko, a golden brown Akita dog as a pet. During his owner’s life, Hachiko greeted him at the end of each day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and died, never returning to the train station where Hachiko was waiting. Each day for the next nine years, nine months and fifteen days, Hachiko awaited Ueno’s return, appearing precisely when the train was due at the station, and anxiously scanned through the disembarking passengers for his master!
Isn’t this amazing? I think what can trigger such loyalty is the trust and mutual respect that exist in a relationship; and I want to link this to what goes into the way people vote during elections. But before I continue, let’s enjoy Dido’s “Life is for rent” which motivated me to choose the title for this article.
I haven’t ever really found a place that I call home
I never stick around quite long enough to make it
I apologise that once again I’m not in love
But it’s not as if I mind that your heart ain’t exactly breaking
It’s just a thought, only a thought
And if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
I’ve always thought that I would love to live by the sea
To travel the world alone and live more simply
I have no idea what’s happened to that dream
‘Cause there’s really nothing left here to stop me
It’s just a thought, only a thought
And if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
And if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
While my heart is a shield and I won’t let it down
While I am so afraid to fail so I won’t even try
Well how can I say I’m alive
And if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
And if my life is for rent and I don’t learn to buy
Well I deserve nothing more than I get
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
‘Cause nothing I have is truly mine
Coming back to my subject, it is believed that the electorate could be unreasonably ungrateful when it comes to voting, and according to Sir John, they must be feared alongside ghosts. But I don’t think this is wholly true. I believe there are very loyal voters out there whose loyalty is based on the respect accorded them by the people or party they vote for, and the trust the voters have in a candidate or a political party based on fulfilled campaign promises.
And I think this is what happened at Talensi in the recent by-election. The strength of the NDC is that it embraces all manner of people irrespective of their ethnic background, social status etc., there is, therefore, a strong bonding between the party and majority of the ordinary people, especially rural folks. The NPP went to Talensi to remind the people of dumsor and hardship in Ghana, and thought these were enough to win them votes. Forgetting that some of their leading members have disrespected the same people through their pronouncements.
Besides, dumsor does not mean anything to the people of a village who have lived many decades without electricity; they will be forever grateful to a government who has connected them to the national grid even if they get electricity once in a week.
Complaints about hardship is no news to the people of Talensi, they have been hearing it since time immemorial; and even heard it during the reign of the great Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. What they know and are grateful for is that under the leadership of President Mahama they are enjoying potable drinking water which was non-existent for aeons. What they know and are grateful for is that under the leadership of President Mahama they have seen unprecedented massive development projects in their communities.
The NPP capturing the Talensi parliamentary seat in 2012, could be by accident; perhaps it was rented to them till the time the owner is ready to take back his property. And the owner has taken it back! It is vitally significant to believe, however, that the NPP fared fairly well at the by-election. It could have been a disaster for them. The immediate former NPP MP who relinquished his seat to become a paramount chief in Talensi, must have saved them from an awful disgrace. I believe most of the people who voted for the NPP parliamentary candidate did so in honour of their new paramount chief. I won’t be surprised if they were told to do so.
Anyway, life could be interesting, isn’t it? It is indeed for rent, and we cannot deserve more than we get because nothing we have is truly ours. God is the owner, and can take them back anytime He wants. That’s is why we shouldn’t be conceited, and throw our weights about as if tomorrow belongs to us. Let’s learn to be humble, let’s learn to love one another, and appreciate the good things people do.
Let’s give honour to those whom honour is due, and let’s give the needed support to those who need it. Against this background, there is the need to love and support our President. He is what God has given us as a nation. God must have a reason for His choice. Ghana’s interest of course. If this is not true, how do you explain this? The dollar is falling against the cedi at a breakneck speed! And based on the petroleum deregulation policy fuel price must be reduced drastically this week. The arm of God has been stretched forth, and who can turn it back? JM will not fail! He will succeed!
You may love or loathe President John Dramani Mahama. Yes, he is not perfect, and no one is. But there is one thing I know for sure: he is hungry for a better Ghana. And what he needs is our unrequited love and unflinching support. As a citizen it is my fervent desire to see a better Ghana; my spine is tinkling with expectation; the patriotism in me is crying to be unleashed. The loyalty in me wants to break loose. I want to, therefore, emulate and copy Hachiko the loyal and faithful dog; I pledge my unstinting allegiance to the young man from Bole. What about you?
