OPINION: Political competitiors should not be allowed to choose their referees

Competitions the world over attract competitors who believe in their own capacity to fight it out on a fair and level playing field. No one wants to jump into a contest where they know all rules are against their possible victory. Even in gambling, where we are told the house always wins, there is always some assurance that the competitors- the gamblers stand a fair chance to win, though in all practicality, they hardly win against the house. Gamblers, including our compatriots who have recently gone crazy with sports betting, must, however, understand the rules, the rulers and the house in which they are competing.

And it is also the case in competitive politics, the so called democracy. Every politician intending play in a democracy must understand, as a matter of primacy, that they are in a competition and the competition has rules, rulers (those in charge of enforcing the rules) and the house (the country) which they are expected to acknowledge and follow at all times.