Vote Wisely On Saturday

It is less than 48 hours to the crucial Presidential and National Assembly elections. The polls scheduled to hold on Saturday, 28 March, will indeed be a clash of the titans. No doubt, it will determine the fate of the nation for another four years. Therefore, as Nigerians anxiously wait to exercise their franchise, it is noble for them to shun violence and vote wisely.

The presidential election earlier fixed for 14 February, 2015 was postponed as result of security challenges in the three North-eastern states in the country: Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. Given the territories that have been recovered from Boko Haram in the last six weeks, there is no reason to contemplate any further postponement of the polls. Already , the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has started to distribute election materials to various states, while electioneering campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to end today.

Saturday’s election is widely perceived as critical as it will either make or mar the entire country. The choice Nigerians make on Saturday will determine whether the doomsday prediction that the country will disintegrate this year will come to pass. The presidential election is a straight contest between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan who is banking on his score card for re-election and General Buhari of the All Progressive Congress, APC, believed to be the agent of change Nigeria needs.

While the gladiators engage in last minute manoeuvring and razzmatazz to seek votes, it is of importance for the electorate to understand their roles in this all-important election. As the accreditation process kicks off by 8am on Saturday, every eligible electorate must see it as his civic duty to be a part of the process, comply with electoral guidelines and vote wisely for the right candidate.

It is also essential for voters to desist from any act that can truncate the polls or the will of the people. They should avoid thuggery, rigging,  snatching of ballot boxes and electoral materials, breaking of law and order, among other vices that can undermine the credibility of the polls.

Security agents and all other stakeholders such as INEC officials, candidates seeking various elective positions, party agents, both local and international observers, media practitioners, other government agencies should maintain neutrality and professionalism to ensure a peaceful exercise.

We subscribe to Hillary Clinton’s postulation when she visited Nigeria a few years ago, that Africa, as a continent and most especially Nigeria’s epidemic problems can be traced to bad governance premised on bad leadership. Bad leaders emerge when good people fail to use their votes to change the dial. The power of choice lies in the people. Every action or inactions of the electorate influence the result of the polls. Hence, Nigerians must rise, vote and make sure their votes count. We must make positive history this Saturday. If not,  we will sink together and posterity won’t forgive us for failing to vote in the right candidate as our president.