THE NORTHEAST AND ELECTIONS

We have just a few hours left out of our six week postponement. The 28th of March 2015 will be Election Day and the whole country is frozen in anticipation of what may happen. I cast my mind back to five weeks ago when the decision was made to postpone these elections, primarily because of the security situation in the North East and the fact that, according to our government, the citizens there deserve to also have the opportunity to vote.

I have been well impressed with the advances that the army has made in this short time but feel somewhat alarmed that the whole focus of the country as well as the media is the ability of the citizens of this area to vote. It has all been about voting, about numbers and where the PDP feel that they can make gains against the opposition. The whole effort to me is an indictment on the government. The people of the North East like the rest of us are mere political pawns.

I must use this opportunity to thank all the charitable organisations, NGOs and private sector bodies that have been galvanized by the cruelty, suffering and trauma that their fellow brothers and sisters have been exposed to and are still suffering in this zone and have arranged all manner of relief materials, etc. We have IDPs, (internally displaced persons) camps all over the country and you really want to take a visit to these camps to see the appalling neglect that these people endure.

But I cannot be all negative, because as a people, I feel proud to be Nigerian; it fills my heart with joy when I see how the communities, the villagers, poor people who are scraping to get by, have opened up their hearts to these fellow Nigerians. They have made semi-completed buildings, grain stores and even their living rooms available to anyone from these zones. They have provided them with security, a place to lay down in peace and have a secure nights sleep, no matter how uncomfortable.

We hear everyday of ethnicity and discrimination, but I was in Lagos last week and there were many refugees from the north being given any kind of work available, so they could send money back home and to Cameroon and Chad to assist their families in their plight. It is heartwarming to know that though the politicians come from amongst us, they are a breed apart from us and act like colonial masters, here to get what they can from an open hearted but defenseless land. I grew up in Lagos but have lived in Abuja now for the last 15 years. I do not feel ownership for the place. I still feel like I felt when the military were in power and we were second class citizens, ‘mere civilians’; the politicians have done the same to us again.

By the time some of you read this, the Presidential election at least would have taken place already. It is the most closely contested election that we have ever had. This means that we are making progress and depending on how it goes, some will feel that they have lost and the situation is hopeless but I say to you that we may have lost this battle but the fight goes on and we will win the war. Our futures and our lives depend on it.

We should all be aware that a huge responsibility rests on our shoulders. Whether we like it or not, Nigeria is the giant of Africa. A sick giant, but, nevertheless, the giant. The success, the inspiration of the black race all over the world rests with us. We cannot get it wrong and must lift peoples who live in the Americas who have only experienced negativity all their lives out of the doldrums. We must psychologically assist them in casting off those shackles, otherwise we as a people will keep on wallowing in the backward mediocre situation that we find ourselves and let down the rest of humanity as a result.

By the way, we still have the responsibility to further secure our votes and make sure that through a viable opposition, we can call the politicians to order and that way ensure our progress. People may see it differently, but if you have your desired governor, change is even more imminent than having your desired president because your governor is closer to you. Nigerians, effect positive change wherever and however you can!