QUOTE: “In this time of universal deceit, saying the truth on its own is a great revolution”
-Nigeria beyond the 2015 elections:
The Nigerian 2015 presidential elections have come and gone and no doubt with it came a lot of lessons to be learnt not just for Nigerians but also the world at large and in particular, countries with much political, religious and tribal differences which usually come to play during electoral processes.
It is no secret that a lot of chaos was expected from this election- A lot of prediction was made and to some extent no one believed Nigeria would survive beyond 2015 as a country.
Even certain country from international community had predicted that by 2015 Nigeria would be divided through war but it seems that Nigerians have proven them wrong.
We have, on our part as Nigerians shown a high level of civilization, good conduct and professionalism during this electoral process.
No doubt, we had our challenges but our will for a better Nigeria prevailed the prejudice we might have with one another.
Let it be noted that the election results recorded from certain states were very unprecedented.
It shows that Nigerians as a people are clearly tired of the division and divide and rule mind game constantly being unleashed on them.
Benue state and pleatue state is particularly of interest in this situation because in the history of Nigeria, it was never thought that the candidate of Apc(opposition) would win in a state like Benue or even get high votes in plateau due to the presidential candidates tribal extract but no doubt, this shows that Nigeria across the religious and tribal divide stood together as one and said NO to division.
This election opened many doors of hope and success of Nigeria as a nation.
A lot of work still needs to be done and I hope that the new president will work towards a better Nigeria and towards uniting the nation( because we need that more than ever).
There are many things to be noted but ofcourse, inother to truly move our country towards a prosperous height, no discussion should be off limits in trying to do so.
I have to point out some things about our igbo brother and sister, a tribe, which I, as the writer is part of;
It is Not a hidden secret that a very high tension have always existed between the Igbo's and the Hausa's and with this came a lot of suspicion and hate which no doubt was reflected at the 2015 presidential polls as Majority Igbo's uniformly rejected the opposition candidate when every other region/state went for change and Yawned for better leadership-the Igbo's stood firmly behind a president who hasn't really done anything worth re-electing him (this was visible to all) but for some reasons, they still rather choose him over a competent “Aboki”.
Everyone has their individual choices and everyone has the right to elect whomsoever they wish to, but when doing so, it is important to know if your intentions are truly sincere or just allowing our bigotry or prejudice dictate what we should do
Hate and suspicion is no doubt expected giving the clashes we had but our past struggle for independence together against the occupiers should be a greater motivation to make us want the best for our country for division and hate mongering never solve anything but rather cause destructions on a large scale.
Many Igbo's have evolved beyond the hate and so have other tribes in Nigeria because such prejudice spread across the nation. Every country with much diversity usually go through such but for the betterment of their country and children, they put aside their hate and work together- United states did it, South African did it and Nigerian Must also evolve and do it.
I vividly remember when I travelled to Enugu during the election period and while on the bus, a debate began among igbo's in the bus, and a lot of igbo's in the bus spoke in favor of Buhari while some spoke in favor of jonathan(I was among those who supported Buhari)- those who spoke in favor of jonathan were accusing those igbo's who supported Buhari as being betrayals of igbo tribe and supporting the Aboki's, they said if we like Aboki’s much, why then are we running away during election?
Their points were very much understood but it was certain that they spoke out of fears and prejudice because none in the bus gave reasons why Jonathan should be voted instead of giving another person a trial - at this point, I realized that a great fear and suspicion of the Hausa's did really exist among some igbo's and a project of ending this fear and suspicion needed to be kicked off for the betterment of Nigeria but it is very well understandable why such suspicion of the Hausa's really exist among the my igbo brethren.
Even as a new president emerges, who happen to be an Aboki, a lot of igbo's are still skeptical and suspicious of his aim but no doubt, politicians and the media have played a very high role in igniting such suspicion and hate among the igbo's and the Hausa and to some extent, the behavior of some Hausa's have in no way helped in diffusing the tensions which have always existed since the civil war ended.
I think right now, the best thing that can be done is for the new president to find a way to unite the country and stop the suspicion which have existed for so many years.
As an Igbo man, I believe that if Nigeria can survive beyond 2015, no doubt, we will always survive bigger challenges- Afterall, we did survive the Nigerian Civil war.
Maybe God had destined that we will always remain one country till end of times.
It is now time for Nigerians across the regional, religious and tribal divide to put aside their differences and work together for the betterment of Nigeria and generations unborn for history will never forgive those who constantly spread fears, hate and suspicions against the innocent.
The new president (Muhammadu Buhari) is not and will never be the winner in this 2015 election. The winners are Nigerians who came out en-mass and demanded that their voice be heard.
We were afraid that 2015 would be a year when Nigerians will go to war and divide, it was easy for our president(Mr Jonathan) to fulfil such dooms days prophecy- he only needed to rig the election and/or deny the results or insist on remaining in power but we thank God that our president conceded defeat.
Conceding defeat has never made one hero or is it anything to give award for but the ex-president should also be acknowledged for such kind gesture.
At this point, No doubt, I have high hope that Nigeria will be great- Such hope I had once lost a long time ago because I never believed Nigerians across the religious, regional and tribal divide will put away their differences for the sake of Nigeria and the president should have in mind that he wouldn’t be in power without the supports of all Nigerians across the regional, religious and tribal divide.
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery!
-Nigeria beyond the 2015 elections:
The Nigerian 2015 presidential elections have come and gone and no doubt with it came a lot of lessons to be learnt not just for Nigerians but also the world at large and in particular, countries with much political, religious and tribal differences which usually come to play during electoral processes.
It is no secret that a lot of chaos was expected from this election- A lot of prediction was made and to some extent no one believed Nigeria would survive beyond 2015 as a country.
Even certain country from international community had predicted that by 2015 Nigeria would be divided through war but it seems that Nigerians have proven them wrong.
We have, on our part as Nigerians shown a high level of civilization, good conduct and professionalism during this electoral process.
No doubt, we had our challenges but our will for a better Nigeria prevailed the prejudice we might have with one another.
Let it be noted that the election results recorded from certain states were very unprecedented.
It shows that Nigerians as a people are clearly tired of the division and divide and rule mind game constantly being unleashed on them.
Benue state and pleatue state is particularly of interest in this situation because in the history of Nigeria, it was never thought that the candidate of Apc(opposition) would win in a state like Benue or even get high votes in plateau due to the presidential candidates tribal extract but no doubt, this shows that Nigeria across the religious and tribal divide stood together as one and said NO to division.
This election opened many doors of hope and success of Nigeria as a nation.
A lot of work still needs to be done and I hope that the new president will work towards a better Nigeria and towards uniting the nation( because we need that more than ever).
There are many things to be noted but ofcourse, inother to truly move our country towards a prosperous height, no discussion should be off limits in trying to do so.
I have to point out some things about our igbo brother and sister, a tribe, which I, as the writer is part of;
It is Not a hidden secret that a very high tension have always existed between the Igbo's and the Hausa's and with this came a lot of suspicion and hate which no doubt was reflected at the 2015 presidential polls as Majority Igbo's uniformly rejected the opposition candidate when every other region/state went for change and Yawned for better leadership-the Igbo's stood firmly behind a president who hasn't really done anything worth re-electing him (this was visible to all) but for some reasons, they still rather choose him over a competent “Aboki”.
Everyone has their individual choices and everyone has the right to elect whomsoever they wish to, but when doing so, it is important to know if your intentions are truly sincere or just allowing our bigotry or prejudice dictate what we should do
Hate and suspicion is no doubt expected giving the clashes we had but our past struggle for independence together against the occupiers should be a greater motivation to make us want the best for our country for division and hate mongering never solve anything but rather cause destructions on a large scale.
Many Igbo's have evolved beyond the hate and so have other tribes in Nigeria because such prejudice spread across the nation. Every country with much diversity usually go through such but for the betterment of their country and children, they put aside their hate and work together- United states did it, South African did it and Nigerian Must also evolve and do it.
I vividly remember when I travelled to Enugu during the election period and while on the bus, a debate began among igbo's in the bus, and a lot of igbo's in the bus spoke in favor of Buhari while some spoke in favor of jonathan(I was among those who supported Buhari)- those who spoke in favor of jonathan were accusing those igbo's who supported Buhari as being betrayals of igbo tribe and supporting the Aboki's, they said if we like Aboki’s much, why then are we running away during election?
Their points were very much understood but it was certain that they spoke out of fears and prejudice because none in the bus gave reasons why Jonathan should be voted instead of giving another person a trial - at this point, I realized that a great fear and suspicion of the Hausa's did really exist among some igbo's and a project of ending this fear and suspicion needed to be kicked off for the betterment of Nigeria but it is very well understandable why such suspicion of the Hausa's really exist among the my igbo brethren.
Even as a new president emerges, who happen to be an Aboki, a lot of igbo's are still skeptical and suspicious of his aim but no doubt, politicians and the media have played a very high role in igniting such suspicion and hate among the igbo's and the Hausa and to some extent, the behavior of some Hausa's have in no way helped in diffusing the tensions which have always existed since the civil war ended.
I think right now, the best thing that can be done is for the new president to find a way to unite the country and stop the suspicion which have existed for so many years.
As an Igbo man, I believe that if Nigeria can survive beyond 2015, no doubt, we will always survive bigger challenges- Afterall, we did survive the Nigerian Civil war.
Maybe God had destined that we will always remain one country till end of times.
It is now time for Nigerians across the regional, religious and tribal divide to put aside their differences and work together for the betterment of Nigeria and generations unborn for history will never forgive those who constantly spread fears, hate and suspicions against the innocent.
The new president (Muhammadu Buhari) is not and will never be the winner in this 2015 election. The winners are Nigerians who came out en-mass and demanded that their voice be heard.
We were afraid that 2015 would be a year when Nigerians will go to war and divide, it was easy for our president(Mr Jonathan) to fulfil such dooms days prophecy- he only needed to rig the election and/or deny the results or insist on remaining in power but we thank God that our president conceded defeat.
Conceding defeat has never made one hero or is it anything to give award for but the ex-president should also be acknowledged for such kind gesture.
At this point, No doubt, I have high hope that Nigeria will be great- Such hope I had once lost a long time ago because I never believed Nigerians across the religious, regional and tribal divide will put away their differences for the sake of Nigeria and the president should have in mind that he wouldn’t be in power without the supports of all Nigerians across the regional, religious and tribal divide.
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery!
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