“Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choices are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy therefore is education.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Agreed, it takes twenty two players to play a game of football. Eleven players to make a team but one football is pursued by the twenty two players in order to kick it into the goal post to score one goal for the team, the football club and the football fans in general. Whether you head it, kick it or chest it, all you want is the ball successfully getting through the goal post according to the rules of football. One goal must start the count that would eventually aggregate to the highest goal scored by a team to be declared the winning team in the field.
The politics of electing a representative in an election is like the game of football. And like the coach who must pick out the best players for the game, the onus lies with every eligible citizen of Nigeria to vote the best candidate to represent the interest of the people and the nation. The right to vote is one of the important fundamental rights that the citizenry of any nation should never take for granted. Take for instance the youth, which forms an estimated 70% of the over 170 million population of Nigeria, they can no longer be ignored. I have happened upon several advocacy groups on social media platforms, groups determined to orientate Nigerian youths about the importance of political engagement and ultimately, the power of one vote from a Nigerian youth. This is a good thing. Groups like YBE and other civil society groups are using its platform to mobilise, educate and advance the progress and development of Nigerian youths and engage not just the youths but Nigerians of every ethnicity and tongue in participatory ideals of good governance. We need more of such groups using their platforms for the effective political education of disenfranchised Nigerians who do not understand the true value of a single vote.
Youths (18-35) and all Nigerian citizenry must awake from political slumbering and become an active part of the process of politicking from organising issue-based debates to mobilizing the youths on social media platforms to becoming politically aware of the ongoing developments in Nigeria. The youth must demand good governance and accountability from its leaders. Using all forms of available communication technology, from radio to television to social media interactive platforms like their blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the youths should keep on sharing appropriate information and promoting open discussions of all issues pertinent to youth and national development in Nigeria.
As February the 14th draws near, let our votes be driven by issue based politics and not just mere propaganda and worthless sentiments. In a country where poverty is still extremely high at over 43.3% and oil prices are crashing almost daily, we need to vote in a leader who must be prepared to diversify our economy from the main stay of oil to other more productive sectors. Nigeria MUST move from being a consuming nation to a producing, manufacturing, and an efficiently run economy. Any government therefore that does not have a huge dose of vision, resourcefulness, transparency and entrepreneurialism, etc will only lead to more disappointments for Nigerians.
If there will be a ballot evolution that evolution must start with you as a youth. The evolution begins with youth rising up to say: “NO, my vote is not for sale.” Youths must decide by saying: “I have ONE vote to give and I must PROTECT my vote at all cost.” To vote is your opportunity to have a say. To vote is your opportunity to make your choice about who becomes senator, governor or president. That opportunity comes with the responsibility of knowing who you are voting for, know what you are voting for, and know why you are voting for that person. It is your responsibility as a youth to know your candidate beyond and above their biographies and campaign slogans. Know who has demonstrated questionable decisions when they needed to make a decisive judgement call and ask them about it for more clarity. Know who has integrity and character amongst your senatorial, house of reps, gubernatorial and presidential aspirants. Understand that the finer the advertisement, T-shirt, slogans, stickers, posters and all other forms of political propaganda and jamboree does not necessarily equate to the better candidate. In truth, the better candidate may be disadvantaged in acquiring fine campaign materials.
These and much more are important points and questions that youths must begin to ask without fear of recrimination. Our leaders are not gods. They are people being given the privilege by you, yes you reading this, to serve on a public and wider platform. Your leaders are not doing you any favours by serving you rather they are fulfilling the terms of reference of the job they were elected to do by you – remember that.
“Person wey dey use him head break coconut no dey follow chop that coconut.”
Softly, softly, I beg us all, it pays to live and fight another day. Do not shed blood over our politicians. Mbanunu. What your sword can do, you will do better with a gentle but more persuasive tongue or pen. Use it wisely. Still, make una gather strength and while gathering strength for durability, please gather even more patience and tolerance because, believe me, electing your candidate is just the warm-up stage. Please reserve some of the same passion you are using to get your candidate elected because after the winner has been safely inaugurated in Aso Rock, we must still have stamina to hold them accountable over issues of national importance. We should all be in it for the long haul.
So please, let us all come out to VOTE! By voting, you are sending a strong signal that you know you hold the power and choice to decide who your leader becomes. Voting is your sacred responsibility that only comes to you about once in four years. It is your civic incontrovertible duty to vote. Your vote can change your world by giving you a candidate who will do the job of making your world better by making the right policies and approving the right plans to make your living conditions better. To stand up for a better Nigeria, use your vote well. It is your single most effective tool for creating the change you want to see in Nigeria.
You have one day
As one Nigerian
With one voice
Having one opportunity
To cast one vote
For one person.
In an instance, your one vote multiplied by an estimated 50 million Nigerian youths translates to 50 million votes. See how powerful that one vote has become.
1vote x 50,000,000 Nigerian youths = 50,000,000 votes. BE THAT ONE!
~ Chalya Princess Miri-Gazhi.
@signetseal
Image credits: sierraexpressmedia.com, naijaloaded.com.ng, shetall.wordpress.com
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