Amidst the rallies and protests staged by strong-willed youths in demonstration of their civil rights and clamour for change in Nigeria; there remains that numb feeling in the hearts of many, that the change cannot yet come. Some are afraid to hope, while others who once hoped have lost faith in the system over the years.
But what better time is it for this desired change to come, than now?
A Reuters report has it that, most Nigerians feel they cannot be bothered with the coming 2011 elections, after long years of military rule, election rigging and I might add, dashed hopes. But who says things cannot change for the better now, if we-together actively will it so?
On 28th April 2010, the acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, asked the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Maurice Iwu, to step down. This was his way of reforming the electoral system and responding to the overwhelming sense of helplessness. Maurice Iwu was ‘grounded’ on alleged claims that the last election in 2007, was perceived as chaotic and fraudulent. A civil group was even set up on Face Book, tagged “Prof. Maurice Iwu must be sacked”. Their description reads, “This one man has done uncountable havoc to the Nigerian electorate by rigging election results to the detriment of our growing democracy. Please it is time to kick him out” (corrections mine).
Well that is a done deal now, what is next?
There are a host of reasons why this time around, your votes will make a difference like never before. But I will share only one this time. Are you ready? Get your thinking cap on J.
The world is in a season of transformation, things never thought possible 50 years ago are taking place now. Hence, it is in our best interest as Nigerians, to get caught up in this changing tide and steer the ship in the exact direction we want it to go. One of such landmarks of once-upon-a-time-unimaginable-change, is the U.S inauguration of president Barrack Obama, the first Black American president. You might ask me what that has got to do with our dear Nigeria. But I say to you, the atmosphere hovering over the globe is one of borderless possibilities- key into it by logging in your vote in 2011.
If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose the courage to be, that quality that helps you go in spite of it all. And so today, I still have a dream – Martin Luther King Jr.
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