Rupert Ojenuwa
In less than 24 hours, it will be time to cast our votes. Our votes, cast in favor of the right contestant will invariably mean that we have been able to secure our futures and most importantly, the future of our children. Therefore, before you exercise that franchise, you may want to spare a moment to THINK.
Nigeria is reputed to be the Giant of Africa, but today, except if we want to deceive ourselves, we are only the Giant of Africa in terms of our numerical strength, which unfortunately, are mostly youths and who are either unemployed, underemployed or managing employment. We got here because of the choices we have consistently made. There is an opportunity to change the narratives tomorrow.
Today in Nigeria, we have an issue with energy which is very fundamental to the growth of the private sector. No nation can develop without its private sector actively participating but how can our private sectors participate in growth and development of our dear nation where there is no power. The barber who cuts our hair will charge only half the price if he has access to electricity instead of depending on fuel. Do you know that same goes for even our daily needs products like tooth paste, soaps and all. Our nation will be a better place if we had electricity provided by the government. Again, we may never achieve this if we don’t vote the right candidate.
Life expectancy in Nigeria according to World Health Organization is now pegged at 55 years. What this means is that if you live to be 56 then you are lucky. Compare that with that of Canada which averages at 80years or India which is about 69 years or even China which is about 76 years and you know that we truly need the right leadership in Nigeria. But I know you may say, ‘compare us with fellow Africans and we may fare well’. How well? Because Life Expectancy in Ghana averages at 64 years, in Tunisia, it is 76years. Why must Nigeria continue to trail behind in anything good? Why?
Our life expectancy is low because of our poor health infrastructure. It is low because of our poor access to nutrition. Our continued inability to access proper meals, fruits and vegetables are also contributors to our poor life expectancy. We can’t even afford exercise because our lives are already ‘harmfully’ ‘cumbersomely’ exercised. We have become the poverty capital of the world and poverty is a greater disease than cancer for it brings with itself many latent and manifesting disorders including stress, depression, hypertension and all the diseases better imagined than experienced. We have to take a break Nigerians and change the trajectory. Tomorrow, Feb 16th offers that opportunity. To vote for the fellow who can bring that real change we have always desired.
Nigeria celebrates locomotive trains which are always overloaded. Can you compare that to the train system in UK or even in United Arab Emirates? If you do, then it will be synonymous to comparing death with life which unfortunately has no basis for comparison. In Kenya, their trains are resplendent, comparable to those of the Western Countries; in Ghana their Airport carries with it a national pride. Where is the pride of Nigeria? I shall tell you.
Our pride as a nation is buried, sacrificed on the altar of tribalism, nepotism and outright foolishness. We have continued to chase shadows and left substances. We have crucified merits and empowered mediocrity. Nigerians now crave to belong because only those who belong can be given a crumb from the masters table where our collective national cake sits waiting for the highest bidder. What a shame! It is only in Nigeria that you find that the corrupt screams on the top of his voice calling another corrupt when he knows in himself that is a greater brand of corruption. It is only in Nigeria that we embellish untruths. The other day, somebody told me that there are no more reasons to import rice. All you need do is go to the market and check what brand of rice you have on the shed. Imported or local? And, if you are reading this piece, don’t you know the answer? What brand of rice did you eat last? What is wrong with this nation?
If there is anything that I seem to recently like Davido for, it is because recently, he tweeted on how he will be voting across party lines. This is the only way by which we can salvage our nation. The new ethnicity is gradually manifesting in Partisan leanings. We vote only because our beneficiaries are of a particular political party or because we think that we have our kinsman as a prominent member of a political party. This address is not about partisanship, it is about patriotism. Vote anybody just be sure the fellow has the wherewithal to take us to El Dorado.
A candidate can be good. He can mean well but have you stopped to ask yourself whether he has the capacity to deliver the nation of your dreams. How many of us will start an enterprise and employ somebody only because he is good? Why do you have to check to see if he is able to deliver? Because you know that at the end it will not be about whether or not he has good intentions, it will be about the fact that he has the capacity and he can deliver.
It is clear that the election tomorrow will me majorly about 2 contestants and two parties; I urge us all to exercise our franchise in peace but be sure to vote for a candidate who will move Nigeria forward. A candidate that we can all be proud of, a fellow that will represent us well and put our nation first even before himself or his clan. One who will turn our fortunes around and set us on the path of recovery and growth. Please make sure you vote and vote your conscience. When we do, we would have helped salvage our today and secured our future.
May God bless all Nigerians and keep us save in Jesus name.
Rupert OJENUWA
@pasrup
pasrup@yahoo.com