Vote against violence

In 2011, around 65,000 citizens of Nigeria resident in Kaduna were reported to have been displaced from their homes and properties lost as a result of the post-election violence. In January 2015 (four years later), the Executive Governor of Kaduna Dr Mukhtar Ramalan Yero set up an ad hoc committee on disbursement of relief to […]

In 2011, around 65,000 citizens of Nigeria resident in Kaduna were reported to have been displaced from their homes and properties lost as a result of the post-election violence. In January 2015 (four years later), the Executive Governor of Kaduna Dr Mukhtar Ramalan Yero set up an ad hoc committee on disbursement of relief to victims of the post-election violence in the state.
Some of the victims who died (God rest their souls) felt they were fighting a just cause at the time, others were just innocent bystanders who had nothing to do with the outcome of the election but were collateral damage; some are yet to recover from the losses suffered, yet Nigeria has not stopped moving on. As a matter of fact, four years have gone by already and it’s time for another election.
For one reason or the other, people seem to be worried about where they want to be during the forthcoming elections, parents are asking their children and wards to return home from school even after the Minister of Education tried to assuage fears of the public by directing that government schools should not go on break.
Despite the peace accord signed by the presidential aspirants and the U.S Secretary of State’s insistence on non-violence during the elections, convoys being attacked by political thugs and several political clashes resulting in injury and death of Nigerians still make the news; and this is only during campaign.
The quest to serve our fatherland through elective position is not a do or die affair; elections give the electorate power to choose the right person for the job irrespective of religious, ethnic or tribal differences, and no matter what man tries to do, only one person would emerge victorious at the end of the day.
The 14th and 28th of February (now postponed to 28th March and 11th April) mark another milestone in our history: it is a time citizens of Nigeria need to work for the unity and progress of the nation and not draw it backwards by maiming each other; it is a time the educated elite and groups need to enlighten the many illiterates who could be used to orchestrate any dastardly act on the dangers of engaging in electoral violence.
The music making airwaves at this point in time ought to be preaching how one can use his or her vote to make a difference not mayhem; sermons in worship centres should be centred on peace and love. Young wigs can also engage their immediate community and neighborhood on how the electorate ought to behave at the polling booth. It is an obligation we all owe our beloved country.
Advocating against violence by young wigs can be considered as humanitarian contribution to the peaceful co-existence of Nigeria. It is unfortunate that volunteerism of this nature has lost its place in Nigerian culture since everything has now become all about money.
A young wig however should not be perturbed or weighed down by lack of monetary gain, the election period avails one an opportunity to be relevant in his society at a time Nigeria needs all the help it can muster. Some young wigs in Kaduna decided to conduct voters education in the state but had to put it off as a result of time constraint (elections were around the corner and not much could be done). Now INEC has extended the elections for another six weeks giving ample time to carry out any anti-violence awareness to the general public, I hope they continue from where they stopped.
The importance of a violence-free election cannot be overstated, which is why the unlettered and uneducated that could be used to distort Nigerian peace need to be constantly reminded of the dangers of orchestrating violence during elections.
P.S: Now that the elections have been postponed for another six weeks, we urge JUSUN to call off their strike so lawyers can go back to doing what they love best.
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