31st March, 2015
For the first time since 1999 when Nigeria, the most populous black country in the world, began its current democratic journey, its citizens, last Saturday braced all odds to exercise their franchise in an election which is globally seen as one of the most keenly contested in the nation’s history.
It was heartwarming to see a lot of aged people, some in their 90s and above coming out to be part of history. In one case, a man, obviously ill, was brought to his polling unit, assisted by nurses, just to cast his vote. More commendable is the fact that many of these aged Nigerians stayed on queue at their various polling units till the exercise was concluded.
Many waited patiently even when officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were not forthcoming. The election went deep into the night in some polling units. For example, in the Magodo area of Lagos, patriotic Nigerians who got to their polling units early in the morning, stayed till 10 p.m. when INEC officials finally arrived. Residents even contributed their power generating sets and lighting materials for the exercise. Same things happened in many parts of the country until the anomalies were remedied.
Most of the voters in Lagos defied the elements. Some were drenched by the rain while waiting to vote but this did not dampen their resolve to exercise their franchise.
In spite of the failure of the National Orientation Agency to perform its statutory role of national enlightenment before, during and after the election, many Nigerians saw and believed in the power of the electorate to take their destinies in their hands. Though some cases of violence were reported in some parts of the country, this was minimal as many residents shunned anything that could lead to bloodletting.
We think it was this courage and determination by the citizens to show politicians in the country that power truly lies with the people, that was one of the major reasons for the peaceful election. Nigerians, in many polling units, performed their civic rights in a free atmosphere unlike in previous polls.
If nothing, the exercise is a big lesson for politicians in the country that henceforth, the people would not welcome empty ‘promises by the people in government. Nigerians have also shown the level of their political education and knowledge and can no longer be taken for a ride. Any political leader who fails to meet the yearnings of the people is doing so at his own peril.
In as much as we commend the people for coming out en masse to exercise their rights and vote for their choices, we also lament the poor turnout of the elite in the society many of whom stayed glued to their homes and television while the election lasted.
As the last sets of results are announced by the INEC, we urge Nigerians to maintain peace whatever the outcome of the election. We must know that elections are over and they must abstain from provocation and violence. We must see ourselves as one, our country as ours and our lives as important. No politician is worth dying for.