2019 ELECTIONS AROUND THE CORNER.

2019 ELECTIONS AROUND THE CORNER.

BY:

MUDASSIR ALIYU YUNUSA

NTA KADUNA NWC

mudassiray@gmail.com

  In Nigeria election into political offices take place periodically after 4 years to allow citizens to make an overview and assess the performance of the office holders voted in previous election. It is about to be a time up to the tenure of political office holders elected in 2015, this compells INEC to hold another fresh election in 2019 (Ceteris paribus). Election is the most important aspect that presages the sustainability of democracy particularly in a country where military coup became frequent, like Nigeria military were in power for 29 years of independence.

    Election is a way of choosing leaders through casting of votes directly by people or delegates vested with the power and authority to put in place and legitimize a leader in governmental or non governmental organisations. It is also a procedure that allows members of an organisation or community to choose somebody who will hold position of authority to command and direct their affairs.

For election to be viable, credible and acceptable it has to be free from violence, thuggery, manipulation, rigging and above all people should be given what they desired through their votes. It is pertinent for eligible voters to consider certain factors in voting processes, which are credibility, competency and trace records of politician, should always be a preference. We must avoid tricks by some politicians who dedicate themselves to win election no matter what it might cost them and intense political desperation, most of them join politics just to satisfy their own personal interests, whims and caprices. We have learnt many lessons from political deception, fraud and bitterness during previous elections, so we now have better political awareness and understanding to fish out what is right or wrong for us. What I am saying is the electorates should carefully assess any person aspiring or contesting for a given political office/position base on his/her previous records and testify his/her credibility and accountability before voting him/her. Let us look for the qualities and potentialities that will benefit our society positively, for the fact that it has been a tradition for long, some politicians have been deceiving people with their sugar tongues full of lies and empty promises but their ulterior motives are self centered, self perpetuating and paying no heed to the yearning and plight of their people and constituencies.

    As a matter of fact, if we want to salvage ourselves from the danger of electing bad leaders we must not compromise our votes with money or other materials. Let us vote leaders who will make our government fully representative and responsible to the citizens/ electorates, leaders who will work tirelessly to solve our problems of poverty, unemployment, corruption, ignorance and above all insecurity and insurgency.

   In as much as we want to sanitize the political scenario of our country we must know among the contenders who the crown of leadership will suitably fit, even though in most cases some of the electorates especially the masses are considering the economic strength of politician where they are convinced to vote people that distributes money or other fragile political token or bribe called TSARI or SAITI (in Hausa)  regardless of his/her social, moral and leadership qualities and commitment which I am sure those politicians when elected would definitely recompense themselves with all they spent during electioneering process, and at the end masses who elected them would be treated ruthlessly and in many cases were forced to became beggars, housemaids, watchdogs and servants of the politicians despite what they endure in long queues; the hot sun, rain, cold and hunger (as the case may be) to vote them into their offices.

   Fellow Nigerians, time has come again, let us make rational and commendable choice in the fourth coming election. It is high time now to stop fighting each other and concentrate much on promoting proper values, good attitudes, characters and virtues that will help in building a prosperous nation. Let us consider the responsibilities attached to any political office and endorse a person whom we know is equal to the task for our own benefit. Let us join our hands, work together and endure all the pains of today for the gains of tomorrow, we should set aside and forget all our sentiments, sectionalisms, political differences and feelings to strive for good governance. Usually elections holds in few days but the tenure lasted for 4 years, so is better to capture the chance in little time and get the benefit that will last for long time. Our goals and ambitions are attainable. Our right could be sustained and guaranteed with our PVC and our choice on election day could  bring either positive or negative change to our dear country. Let us vote wisely and give our  mandate to those who have political will and ability to bring positive change which eventually drive our nation to a destination where there is true freedom, justice and accountability. Let us have certainty on whoever we vote will be trustworthy, compassionate and hardworking in serving us to the best of his/her ability. We must elect responsible and accountable leaders or else we must provide pain reliever to ourselves that can mitigate the political tension created by some ineffectual and deceitful politicians those we voted with our hands. Please let us not allow the cycle of thuggery, manipulation, rigging, insecurity, imposition of candidates, political blackmail, tyranny, oppression, human right deprivation and corruption to continue in our pride nation.

    Finally, my hope to Nigeria is to conduct free, fair and credible election, and I pray each person elected would be suitable for the crown of leadership, very equal to the task and ever ready to shoulders all the responsibilities attached to the office he/she is going to hold.

MUDASSIR can be reached on 0802818129