By Asiat Meikudi
A decade ago, Nigeria was everything a nation could call itself. A pacific nation with abundant resources, an affluent nation attributed as the giant of Africa; a nation known as the world’s largest producer of oil. Alas, regression has halted the progre
The main feature key in a democratic nation is the ability to choose a representative in a free and fair conduct as election plays a dominant role in democracy. However, these days ours are befriended by corruption and bothered by a series of vices; intimidation, rigging and other forms of malpractice.
The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 9th Edition defined a democracy as a system of government with fair and equal treatment to everyone. It is based on the principle that all members of a country are equal rather than divided by wealth or class. Nigeria has made major strides since democracy was restored in 1999 which is almost 24 years old today.
The shock and trepidation expressed in daily headlines, innocents bearing the nemesis, no sign of relief but mischief, the nation is greeted with daily cries of killing, kidnapping, banditry and the like of them terrorizing every edge, crook and cranny of this home bearing Nigeria. While the struggle to prevent its infectious corruption and violence, plagued its communities, is far from being actualized.
It’s oblivious that Nigerians couldn’t make a choice of electing their leader except by indulging in kinds of precarious interests such as materialism, ideological, primordial and political affinity which influence people’s decision and recurring ever since 1999. Nigerians believe in the avail of democracy to be a cable wire that curb electoral mischief, yet, this has failed.
Election rigging has been a major threat to democracy. It delayed Nigeria’s hope for a consolidated democracy. This instigated the emergence of kleptomaniac politicians who want power by hook or crook. During electioneering, they implore every means to clinch onto power and the installation of these candidates result in corruption and mismanagement of affairs and public funds
Nigeria is not an ill-luck country, it’s what’s induced in her administration that persists in declining her plights. If not anymore, Nigeria had once been attributed as a giant of Africa— her enormous resources, numerous population and even efficiency in her administration had attested to it all; but the incompetent and deception of the leaders has landed her in despair and doom. These have gained ground in our midst: as both voters and aspirants.
Our preamble should stand on choosing a leader whose priority will be to secure the lives and property of the citizens. A Leader who will make nepotism, tribalism and other forms of negative ‘ism’ a thing of the past, A leader who will ensure no Nigerian is left out because of their differences. A leader who will give us a Nigeria where oil takes the back seat and agriculture and tourism take the front seat; contributing more to our foreign exchange earnings and Gross Domestic Product (GDP); defeating the terrorists and making the country not accommodating for bandits.
To cap it all, our future should be placed on the hand of a virgin virtue. we should avert our eyes from the indiscreet exhibition and materialism. May this home [Nigeria] prosper!