In a two-party democratic system, there are two political parties seeking to dominate and secure power in the state for a particular tenure, which more often than not is for a period of four years. Whichever party becomes victorious after the electioneering process forms the government, while the other becomes the opposition. In this type of party system, the two political parties consistently dominate the political landscape while the citizens are mostly divided into two factions, mostly sticking staunchly to their favoured side. The United States of America has always had a dominant two-party system, just as it can be found in Great Britain.

On July 13th, former US president and the candidate running under the Republican Party for the upcoming 2024 US elections on November 5, Donald Trump was shot at a Pennsylvania campaign rally. Surviving an assassination attempt, the eccentric businessman turned politician said in one of his first interviews after the incident that he is “supposed to be dead”. “The most incredible thing was that I happened to not only turn but to turn at the exact right time and in just the right amount.” As a lot of videos have circulated the media since then, it can be seen how he moved while making his speech, leading to the bullet grazing his ear. Unfortunately, a spectator was killed on the day. A firefighter identified as Corey Campatore, while two other people were injured.

The shooter, a 20-year-old identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead at the scene by a sniper. Investigations have since been on to determine the motive of the shooter as the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) seeks to find clues in whatever the shooter left behind. Simultaneously, the Secret Service and other security details at the campaign rally are being probed and questioned so as to fathom how such gory occurrence could happen in the first instance. On the social media however, there have been random discussions as to whether this was an assassination attempt by the opposing party, a random act by a seemingly madman or even a staged event.

In all this, there have been subtle jabs thrown around by different people who show alliance to either political party. In an already bitterly divided polity, the assassination attempt did nothing more than to aggravate the political violence that has been brewing in the American air since preparations for this election began. Current president, Mr. Joe Biden, who was the opposing candidate of the Democratic Party when the incident happened, addressed the nation saying that “There is no place for violence in America for this kind of violence ever. We can’t allow this violence to be normalised. The political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated. It’s time to cool it down.” In an interview with the Washington Examiner, Trump said “This is a chance to bring the whole country, even the whole world together.”

While we leave the relevant authorities to continue their investigation, the shooting incident and the random discussions on the internet pushes a certain curiosity. Be it in the United States of America or in Great Britain, the sitting government in any given state is always at war whenever it assumes power. Even in Nigeria, where a multi-party system is practiced, a sitting government is always at loggerheads with the opposition(s) and the masses. Trying to steady a ship in troubled waters is more than a daring job for even the most skilled of captains. However, in a nation where the government is at loggerheads with both the opposition and the masses, it is a difficult situation where only masterminds can triumph.

At the polls, the electorates have the choice to pick a captain to steer the ship. Which leader would be able to withstand the criticisms, whims and condemnations from the opposition whilst also attending to the needs of the insatiable masses? How do the electorates find the best leader for their nation amidst the various rigmarole of the political bubble? This is a dilemma that troubles every nation, both developed and developing.

In Nigeria, the political battles have always been one intense scene. Upon the return to a democratic system of government in 1999, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ruled the country and was at the helm of affairs for 16 consecutive years. However, when a coalition took place in 2013 which was the merger of Nigeria’s largest opposition political parties, the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC) dethroned the PDP in 2015. Since then the PDP has been relegated to the status of ‘opposition’. In all these change in flags at the Aso Rock villa, the socio-economic situation of the country keeps falling in further dilapidation. The political scene of the ‘new democratic Nigeria’ has never seen a situation as ugly as an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate, but it would be a fallacy to imagine that it has not been bloody.

Yet, if we have honourable candidates vying for the post of office at the helm of affairs in any given state, i.e. at the federal level, such should not be the case. The job of the Number One citizen of a state is tasking enough, and if the candidates are as honourable, transparent and accountable as they present themselves to be, they should have no business climbing a podium canvassing for votes. However, such is not the case, as we have various candidates seeking to attain the highest honour just for the sake of the title, rather than seeking to steer the nation in the right direction.