Every four years in Nigeria, the air just changes somehow. You will start hearing words like “hope,” “fresh start,” “we need a change,” and the most popular one “a better Nigeria is possible.” Politicians suddenly start behaving like everyday people. They will now wear Ankara, eat roasted corn on the street, wave at market women, and act like they’ve been part of our daily struggle since day one.
The promises nko? E full ground. They will say, “We will fix the power supply,” “We will give jobs to the youth,” “We will fight corruption,” “We will make education free,” and plenty other sweet talk. You will see posters everywhere some smiling, some frowning like they mean business. Rallies will start , loudspeakers blasting from every corner, and people will be dancing as if their future is guaranteed.
I remember one of those elections clearly, everyone was hopeful,people were hopeful, talking about how “this time” things will be different. My sister even said one evening that “This election go shock us, watch and see.” My mum, who normally minds her own business, even started following the news back to back, like that is how hyped people were about the whole thing.
But fast forward a few months after the elections silence , The streets go cold. The electricity still blinks like it’sshy, prices of everything keep rising like they are chasing heaven , and those jobs we heard about? Only God knows where they disappeared to.
It just feels like the same story on repeat…..
One time I was sitting outside with my neighbor, daddy Elizabeth , and we got talking about the whole situation. I said, Daddy Eli, every time they will say this new person will fix things, but it's the same thing every time , same story eveeytime.”
He looked at me and said, “Na packaging, my dear. Every thing is just like a movie , you don't worry yourself “.
And he’s right you know?.
It is like they all attend the same political school where they teach how to speak well and promise big things , they all come with mouth full of promises, but after election poof! All enter ghost mode ,you won’t see or hear anything meaningful again , like that's the end , just struggling here and there.
Sometimes I wonder if we as Nigerians have gotten used to disappointment ,Like, we now expect things to go wrong, many people do not even vote anymore because, in their words, “What’s the point?” The faith is no longer strong like before.
See and honestly, who can blame them? How many times will you try to believe and get the same result? ehn?...
But then again, I believe giving up won’t solve anything either sha, Yes, we have been played too many times, but if we continue doing the same thing no change, no questions , no accountability history will just keep repeating itself like a broken record.
So I think it’s time we start thinking deeper. Ask better questions, hold these leaders accountable, not just during campaigns, but even after , Let’s stop dancing at rallies and start demanding results you get?
Because truly , we cant keep doing this every four years . The promises are just too plenty, but the action is small Very small. And until we, the people, decide to act differently, it will still be same script that they will keep using for us.
This is my entry to the Hive learners prompt for week 171 , Edition 2
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