We have a dream

But, without a doubt, when you print your ink-stained thumb on the ballot sheet, you are actually letting your hopes and aspirations flow. One significant thing about this year’s general election is its ability to shatter some of the myths we held about our nation. We used to believe that except for football, nothing can […]

But, without a doubt, when you print your ink-stained thumb on the ballot sheet, you are actually letting your hopes and aspirations flow. One significant thing about this year’s general election is its ability to shatter some of the myths we held about our nation. We used to believe that except for football, nothing can unite Nigerians over and above ethnic, religious and regional divides. We knew that despite paying lip service to Nigeria’s unity, the only time most of us really stand together, oblivious to all societal differences is when the nation competes in international soccer tournaments against other nations.
But in the run-up to today’s election, we have seen a unity of purpose and direction among Nigerians of all creeds and tribal affiliations, never before seen on the political scene. Among those dying to save
the old order by giving the present national leadership a new mandate, are Nigerians from all over the six geo-political zones of the nation.
So also when you look at the main opposition party, the strangest of bed-fellows are today chanting and dancing to the tune of change. They pull such mammoth crowds from all corners of the federation that one could be forgiven if he thought there are no other parties contesting.
This is a testimony to the fact that our politics has matured beyond region and tribe to encapsulate the sense of a shared mission and vision. But this achievement did not happen by chance, it occurred because some of the harrowing experiences we had gone through as a nation, in recent times, have shown us that when tragedies occur, they spare no one and that a stroke of bad luck can affect everyone, no matter his religion or tribe.
So as we queue up to make our votes count, with our dreams close to our chests and secret prayers to see them come true, we must resolve not to let anything derail us from this mission. Those of us who have known better times in the life of this nation, would very likely vote for a return to the good old days. We will certainly choose the path that will keep us safe and secure, we will vote for a leadership that will end the bloodshed and rehabilitate all victims.
When we stamp our thumbprints today, we will be hoping that with this one action, we have sealed the fate of the insurgency and ended the days of suicide-bombing and needless bloodbath. It is our hope that our votes will mean that North-easterners will no longer refer to bomb-blasts as ringtones (because they are so common) and adolescent girls will never again be blown up with suicide vests (did we ever find out where they were getting them from?).
By undertaking this one civic responsibility today, we will be the masters of our fate because the outcome will be the future we will have to live in for the next four years. Let us therefore be resolute
and not let any provocation derail us from our mission. There are people who seem hell-bent on scuttling this attempt by us to determine our future, let us not allow them to succeed. We should remain on orderly queues in order to cast our ballot and must be on the alert to report any sign of electoral malpractice to the relevant INEC hotlines.
On no account should we take the law into our hands, no matter the extent of provocation. There are rogue agents who are paid to do just that and if law-abiding citizens fall into their trap, they will cause confusion in that particular polling unit and disrupt the polls. Let’s be alert to their dastardly plans. We must remind ourselves that we are in these queues today to pursue our dreams and since nothing good
comes easy, we must tolerate all the inconveniences on our path. But we must not abandon the dream. Voting is our only way to make it real.