The man has a surfeit of commendable believability borne out of an acknowledgement of his ability to perform and rock-solid integrity. At a time when trust and respect are rare attributes that politicians can only be wistful about, most commentators readily affirm that Pedro, as a non-professional politician, has these in abundance. They also grant that his campaign has a breath of fresh air about it — and that it is liberally laced with integrity and passion. What it doesn’t have, they say, is the politician’s desperation about victory. In other words, they say since Pedro is such a gentleman politician and a technocrat, he might not be able to play the dirty politics needed to ensure his victory at the polls.

This ironically put politics in a two-way categorisation: the do-gooders as also-rans and the devil-may-care winners, whose sole purpose in politics is to win elections — and to blazes with what happens afterwards. A cursory analysis of our recent political history might support this categorisation. But, like an average cliché, this cynical delineation is contestable. Though our politics has witnessed the ascendancy of ‘garrison’ politicians, overbearing godfathers and their acolytes, it is but not true that they must have their way all of the time. It is true that these uncouth politicians deploy all manner of ‘weaponry’ to effect their victory — and that thuggery, rigging and violence sit well with them.

But, as research on voting across the world has shown, a politician could only rig with the (often) tacit encouragement of the electorate. An electorate that is uncaring about the political process and who emerges as leader would hardly be bothered about how such a representative is elected. It is known to have been difficult, if not downright impossible for a representative to emerge through unfair means in areas where voters are determined that their votes matter and that their choice should be respected. This, in other words, means that a nation gets the kind of (elected) leaders it deserves. We would therefore be best served by participating fully in the ongoing political process and ensuring that not only the best candidates emerge, but that these are our choices. We should no longer leave our destiny in the hands of ‘garrison commanders’ masquerading as politicians for, if the recent past is anything to go by, they do not care a hoot for our hopes or sensibilities.

If we truly believe, as media reports have it, that candidates like Otunba Pedro have the best credentials and capacity for serving our interest, then we should work to ensure they emerge victorious because their candidacy represents our best aspirations as well. Rather than push these ‘smart, brilliant, sincere but too gentle’ politicians into the suffocating embrace of godfathers and interests, the time is ripe to reach out to them and support them. If we don’t, we are defeatist and underestimate our own power to effect positive social change and enthrone an enduring political culture.

We should let candidates like Pedro know that we appreciate, and prefer their kind of politics to the other kind. It does not have to be financial. Letters and other gestures of support would help during the campaign period. Much later, our massive outing and vote would serve during the election proper. These, and vigilance to make sure that the votes are not tampered with, would ensure that we have a government that is truly responsible to us.

It would be a sad portent for the future of our democracy if we condemn a candidate like Pedro for possessing the same good qualities which we moan that our politicians lack, and should have. If Pedro represents idea-driven politics and performance-based campaign, and feedback in the media repeatedly shows that he does, then it is imperative that this is rewarded by the massive support of a discerning electorate.

Luckily enough for Pedro, he is running in a state that is known for the sagacity and maturity of its voters – although in the past the stakes had not been this high. It is therefore the best platform for enthroning the new kind of politics that we all yearn for and it would be a shame if we let this opportunity elude us.

But as the Pedro campaign intensifies its efforts and professionalism, it is to be hoped that quality will eventually shine through – and the best candidate will pull through to victory.