Signs of things to come

The most worrisome of all the failures is the inability to protect life and property, which is the core reason behind the social contract theory, which gave birth to the modern state system. It is no news that life is short, nasty and brutish in Nigeria. Under this government, life has lost its sanctity and […]

The most worrisome of all the failures is the inability to protect life and property, which is the core reason behind the social contract theory, which gave birth to the modern state system. It is no news that life is short, nasty and brutish in Nigeria. Under this government, life has lost its sanctity and meaning and thus the essence of the existence of the state in the first place has been mercilessly defeated and just like Reverend Mbaka said in his cross over sermons recently, Nigeria is breaking down on our very hands and it is the responsibility of every well-meaning citizen to ensure that we do not allow President Goodluck Jonathan and his crowd to send us to our graves untimely.
Another reason why I will vote for change is to create the fear and reality in the minds of elected officials that indeed the sanctity of people’s vote is critical under a democratic order. That people can determine the fate of their representatives by either retaining or removing them from office. This is a central reason behind multi- party democracy and periodic elections. When there is failure or dissatisfaction, the electorate is at liberty to change its representatives. By the time Nigerians change through the ballot box the government at the centre, the rest of the nation would be aware that it has come of age and that democracy is in place and that sends an immediate lesson and message to all representatives at all levels that in fact, their performance and representation determines their continued stay either in office or parliament.
Consequently, another reason why I will go for change in February is the follow-up to the above meaning that the citizenry correctly identifies all those fault lines that have been exploited by those in power and authority in covering their weaknesses and failures in government and are rebuffed. This government has used and capitalised on the differences of Nigerians for the six years that it has existed to cover its obvious failures to govern properly and provide the essentials and necessary conditions for citizens to thrive. Instead, the government placed tremendous premium on the dividing lines amongst Nigerians. They capitalised on religion, region and tribe to perpetuate in office.
The option that Nigerians from across the country seem to have and is showering clearly is that these factors are deceptive and mere tools in the hands of a non-performing government. I am sure that change in February would evolve a stronger and more united Nigeria. The argument about religion and governance would have sufficiently been defeated.
As a student of political science, I do know very well that in fact, there is a close relationship between politics and morality. Those who claim there isn’t or there should not be are way off in the arithmetic of global political reality. It is critical that the religious persuasions of politicians must dictate their political actions.
All religions in Nigeria teach justice to their adherents. So every Christian or Muslim must place justice as cardinal in his political actions and intercourse. If justice were primary in politics and governance, Nigeria wouldn’t be where it is today. The failures we are talking about would have been replaced long ago with success.
The politicians here only use religion and God in the reverse and in the negative. They call God while destroying the economy. They fraternise with religious leaders only to harm the faithful and as usual, the government has created pools of establishment clergies and imams while the nation continues to sink in the deep waters of backwardness.
I see change in the air all over Nigeria. The reality of the being of the country is challenged by the monotony and incompetence of the PDP federal government and the signs and songs across the length and breadth of Nigeria suggest change as the only option. Even those at the highest level of the PDP and its government know this fact.
As the days roll by, the government must live up to the realities of the situation on the ground and be prepared for whatever the nation may decide in February. Elections are a testimonial to every sitting government and this fact must sink in the ears of the PDP. In as much as incumbency could be an advantage it also could be a colossal disadvantage and I think that is the scenario in Nigeria today.
Citizens seem determined to vote and defend their votes. In the event that anybody in government or in the opposition is thinking of fixing the elections, that will be the greatest mistake to commit and may not be in the best interest of their thinkers and others not connected to this thinking.
As we approach February, politicians must tell the nation what they have done or what they intend to do but for me, the matter is already determined. I have passed a vote of no confidence on the rulers of Nigeria. I think majority of Nigerians are thinking like me and I urge people to vote en mass and ensure that their votes count. That is a major tenet of Western liberal democracy.
God bless Nigeria and Nigerians.