I saw a Facebook photo of people trying to escape the country because of their fears of the aftermath of the general elections, while I cannot ascertain the authenticity of the photo because of the power of Photoshop, I realise that quite a number of Nigerians are scared. Why won’t they be?
This electioneering process has been the dirtiest and most provocative I have witnessed in my entire life and it has escalated the fear situation. I remember reading a few months back that fortunate Nigerians have renewed their visas in readiness to leave the country should a crisis break out, to which I say God forbid.
By the grace of God, this election will come and go in relative peace, I used the word relative peace because there is bound to be one or two ugly incidents especially in certain hotbeds like Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Elections should not be a do or die affair because there is a life after every electioneering process!
My goal is to encourage Nigerians to remember that we only have one home, one country to bequeath generations yet unborn, so please go out and vote in peace. Vote for your candidate of choice devoid of any tribal or religious sentiments. Let’s all work hard to ensure peaceful elections!
Your Role
- Pray that the Election is peaceful
- Go out there and Vote for the candidates of your choice
- Download any of these election monitoring apps – Citizens Ballot Watch and Every Vote Counts
- Don’t just download them, make sure you use them and help make this election free and fair (as much as possible).
At this point, I would like you to reflect on the 2nd stanza of our national anthem which I believe is an awesome prayer for our dear nation – Nigeria:
O God of all creation
Direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And live in just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace
And justice shall reign.
How many Nigerians would admit that the wordings of our National pledge even mean anything to them?
I pledge to Nigeria my country
To be faithful, loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity, and uphold her honour and glory
So, help me God.
See you on the other side after the peaceful elections and may God’s ordained candidates win, so life can return back to normal!
