So the February 16th elections were postponed 8 hours before polls were set to open. Citing logistical difficulties the press statement from the INEC claimed several mitigating incidents and challenges as being responsible for the postponement. Obviously this made news around the world and political leaders/parties released statements accusing the INEC of ulterior motives.
It was all amusing to watch as the political parties never once made mention of the disruption the postponement had caused to Youth corp volunteers and businesses. It was all allegations about ulterior motives. The president even went ahead to claim whoever was caught involved in ballot box snatching would pay dearly with their lives.
After all this has been said I hope the Nigerian youth remembers something with this extra week we have been afforded to ponder on our future. Interestingly enough I haven’t seen young people have more serious, honest and productive conversations about the elections like we have done in this cycle. Most of us are fully aware that these politicians are just proxies and stooges. Their main objective is self satisfaction and enrichment. Not like we have better options at the moment but I plead with the youth base, let’s not relent. Let us maintain this same energies going forward and be that inspiring generation that asks the tough questions of these pretenders.
We will no longer be deceived with glossy/flashy pictures of rudimentary buildings being called ‘state of the art’, or basic buildings being called ‘ultra modern’. We won’t simply accept social programs seeking to perpetuate poverty in low income areas. We demand economic programs that promise a better future for our children, economic policies that ensures government does not make a promising program an avenue for political cronyism. We are increasingly beginning to see the power of what our electoral rights can do to these politicians. They can’t continue to feed fat at our expense while claiming to be working on our behalf. The lies have run out and so has our patience.
Those who see political office as a soft cushion career path will have a most shocking surprise coming their way. It’s clear that our young democracy is slowly but surely maturing and the growing awareness and restlessness shown by the youth is playing a role in ensuring we a kept on the right path. Let’s not allow these delays dampen our spirits or weaken our resolve. We need to ramp up the excitement in our localities and within our networks; people have to go out to vote on the 23rd.
