“Nigeria Decides”

How time flies! It’s that time again when Nigerians go to the polls. It has been a long eight years. An eventful eight years since the present administration got elected. The present administration had been elected amidst a peaceful revolution. The Nigerian nation craved for change… anything else but the incumbent at the time. The people got their wish and a new government was enthroned.

Hopes were high! It was a case of “fasten your seatbelts the cruise is about to commence”. Seatbelts fastened and the people were ready! The people ready and eager waited, while the clocked ticked. However to their dismay, a couple days passed, days turned weeks and week to months and it was as though the engines wouldn’t come on. The people began to grumble and murmur. Despair began to set in. But finally by the sixth month, the cabinet members were selected. Hopes rose again, for some sense of direction. But again, this wasn’t going to be long lived as things moved more slowly than ever. There were many calls for justice against past atrocities, calls to make scape goats of misdemeanors of past political office holders and generally persons who were held in places of high accountability. But it wasn’t going to happen… Or perhaps better put, it was going to follow due process.

Interesting it is, that Nigerians desire a country that works. A nation where the law abides and consequences apply, but only to the extent that it benefits them. That is the very reason why my fellow compatriots, crave for a leader, who will, with the big stick met out quick judgment to the man who dips his fingers into public funds, but expect that the police officer understands and be considerate, when the driver on the road ignores and breaks traffic rules.

Anyway, in the last eight years, Nigerians have had a fair share of highs and lows. From rising through the low oil prices, the farmers/herders clashes, to defeating the COVID-19 pandemic, slipping into recession and rapidly coming out of it, the free fall of the naira against the dollar, the rapid brain drain, and most recently hassles from the naira redesign and other monetary policies. This is not mentioning the incessant security changes across the nation from boko haram bandits ravaging the North, to the IPOB miscreants in the South east, and the growing high cost of living which has almost become a normalcy in the country. Through it all Nigerians have remain resilient. They have patiently waited for this day to come.

Today, as Nigerians go to the polls to choose who their law makers would be, and who will take the mantle of the overall boss; the president of this great nation, the people have again trooped out in high hopes. Hopes that their voices will be heard through their votes. That their choice, will be God’s own choice and that their preferred candidate wins the election. I do hope that my fellow compatriots understands that today’s decision goes beyond the selection of candidates, but that their vote is a renewed commitment of their loyalty to this nation; that it is a commitment for each and every voter to build and serve our fatherland in love, strength and faith. So let the high expectations, be in each of ourselves to be better citizens than we were yesterday. In a couple of hours that shall be known and then the Compatriots’ faith shall be put to test. In the end, may ours be truly a case of one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.