Hope




I enthusiastically voted for Peter Obi in the presidential election. I was so excited, I got up early, dressed up and got to my polling unit before 7am. It was not my first time voting but it was the most significant. I believed Nigeria was due for a peaceful revolution. I thought we could have our Obama moment. See, many people look at Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States and wonder what was so special about His presidency, the first thing for me is his most popular campaign slogan - Hope!

Peter Obi, for me, was going to signal to the ruling class things are no longer the same. We would no longer play by the same set of rules. I believed a Peter Obi victory will also signal to the outside world Nigeria is ready for business. Like Obama's victory, it was going to awaken hope in the hearts of many Nigerians and let them know we hold our future in our hands. Maybe I was a little naive but, I couldn't understand why anyone will look at the APC and their reign of disaster over the past 8 years and conclude they are the best choice. APC has been so terrible, their candidate hardly campaigned on their achievements, in some instances, they tried to play opposition.

On election day, my naivety was at it's peak, I saw the high turn out and enthusiasm in the faces of the young and old who trooped out to vote and just assumed they were as tired of the same old system like me, I assume we all wanted the same thing. I don't begrudge anyone who choose to vote differently from me, the beauty of democracy is diversity of opinion and choices. I only ask for a free, fair and credible election and like Australia, I want everyone who is eligible to vote to come out and make their voices heard, without fear or intimidation. Whether or not that happened over the two weekends we voted, nationwide, is there for everyone to judge.

At this point, however, I am ready to move on from the elections. I didn't vote for Bola Tinubu, I don't see a scenario where I ever vote for him but, I wish him well, to the extent he does well for the country.
We obviously cannot continue like this and honestly, I am not putting much hope in the presidency of Tinubu. The man has not shown why he deserves to be president, he looks to me like someone desperate to add the title to His list of achievements. I wish the people of Borgu named him president instead of Jagaban, they may have saved us the trouble.

I wish Mr. Peter Obi well and I thank him for his service and sacrifice. Like him or not, you cannot deny His impact in the last 12 months. I dare say no politician in Nigeria's history has made that much impact in such a little time. I salute his courage and while I will monitor closely his petition at the tribunal, I still think His best bet is rallying his party and supporters to continue to press and win more local seats. The labour party has done well to win a handful of positions, I hope they set a template for what a new Nigeria can be and maybe more people will stand up next time an election cycle come around.

God bless Nigeria
May only those who love our nation exert influence.

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