While scrolling through social media on Monday morning, I came across a controversial topic where a public figure, a music artist, was asked whom he intended to vote for in the upcoming election in Nigeria. He went on to say that he was not going to vote because he did not see anyone among the contestants who was fit to lead Nigeria out of the bondage it is currently in. The internet rained fire on him, insinuating that there is actually a suitable candidate but that he is either blind to it or intentionally wants to re-elect the sitting president, whom many people have regarded as the worst president in Nigeria's history so far.
The whole thing got me laughing because, if we critically examine the situation, we cannot really say who the best candidate to vote for is. At the beginning of every election cycle, during their campaigns, politicians appear like saints, saying all manner of ear-tickling things just to attract the masses and get them to vote them into power. However, once they eventually assume office, they switch to the usual routine we have seen from past presidents: a lack of commitment to their duties or an inability to handle the pressure that comes with leading the country.
I won't lie, I have thought deeply about it, and none of the candidates currently campaigning is a saint. However, the fact that some of them appear more decent and considerate, especially in terms of putting the lives and welfare of the people first, makes it easier to point to a particular candidate as the one worth voting for. This is what is currently happening in Nigeria. The worst candidate is very visible to everyone, which automatically makes the others appear to be the better candidates to vote for.
But come to think of it, it is never an ideal thing to tell someone whom to vote for. Maybe I am too used to public and neutral spaces or platforms where it is considered inappropriate to openly pronounce someone as the best person to vote for. The best we can do is encourage people to get their voter identity cards ready by all means and vote according to their conscience when the time comes, without mentioning a particular name or forcing a specific candidate on them.
This is how it is supposed to be, and I would strongly frown upon a situation where my church publicly endorses a candidate or a school publicly endorses one. This is something many Nigerians have been pushing churches to do, but I like the way many of these churches have been applying wisdom in handling the situation, although political campaigns still take place heavily within church environments.
But as things currently stand in Nigeria, the sitting president has underperformed, and a large number of Nigerians want him voted out by supporting a particular candidate who appears ready to take on the responsibility with full commitment and action. This has led to many people openly announcing the name of that candidate and forcing the choice on everyone else. Whenever someone says they are supporting the sitting president, the masses quickly come after them. Lol.
Thanks for reading.
Posted Using INLEO
