The last time I checked, there was a good and convincing reason for Nigerians in their entirety to become very vigilant, political wise. As I write, such a mode of attitude expected of them is still highly needed.
It’s not anymore news that the heat is on at the moment across every nook and cranny of the country and beyond. Even a-day-old child can testify to the fact that Nigeria is currently being heated by all the political gladiators and statesmen within.
The situation has continued unabated for quite some time now, especially since we entered 2022, that you wouldn’t be surprised if you are welcomed with political talks, rather than kola, whenever you pay a visit to any of your relatives or friends, as might be the case.
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Even in most schools, presently, teachers have resorted to discussing politics in the classroom when they are meant to impact knowledge on their students. The level of the melodrama has made the learners prefer the former to the latter.
The circumstance has become so intense that our various worship centres are not exceptional. The clerics, now, have abruptly become fond of analyzing political happenings right from the altar while standing before the congregation. It suffices to say that they have thrown the duty of preaching the gospel to the waste bin just for the sake of politics.
The way and manner the incidence is trending has ended up causing further confusion among the citizens of the country that possess electoral value, popularly known as the electorate.
Most of this set of Nigerians who are eligible to cast votes during polls are right now apparently faced with a dilemma that they do not even know where to go from here or the next step to take.
The situation is quite appalling because if it continues, I’m afraid, the impending elections might end up in shambles come 2023. It is so bad and disheartening, because its effect does not in any way augur well for the country.
It’s, therefore, needless and inconsequential to reiterate that the emergence of this piece is solely informed by the compelling need for every Nigerian – both at home and in the Diaspora – to be politically vigilant. They must be very vigilant at such a critical and sensitive era like this towards ensuring they aren’t consumed by the foreseen ocean wind.
A vigilant person is always alert and conscious. He or she is invariably prepared to withstand any pressure irrespective of nature. A vigilant individual is at all times ready to overcome any challenge that comes his or her way. Above all, he/she is ever awake; in other words, such a person does not fall asleep unnecessarily.
Nigerians must unequivocally stop being carried away by frivolities. They must at this point start facing realities. They need to, at all cost, overlook anything that could make them begin to think or act in a weird manner. They must be ready to repulse all odds.
It’s clear that a thousand and one persons are presently nurturing interest to lead Nigeria come 2023. On the other hand, countless individuals in the country are also warming up to occupy one elective political post or the other outside the presidential position.
Funnily enough, most of these aspirants have no vision and mission. It’s needless to assert that they are creating awareness only to distract the mindsets of the concerned Nigerian citizens.
The electorate needs to fish out such a set of unserious aspirants and discard them completely just as they would do when their households are littered with banana peels. There’s an urgent need to realize these unwanted individuals in their midst before it becomes too late.
It’s pertinent to acknowledge that the good people of Nigeria cannot be able to fish out the bad eggs if they fail to be vigilant. Vigilance, in a nutshell, is all about carefulness; it is a careful attention that one gives to a situation in order to notice any danger, trouble or anomaly that may arise.
So, the above paragraph signifies it takes only careful Nigerians to realize those who have come to devour their flesh. Thus, I urge them all to be, and remain, extra careful come rain come shine. They must not allow themselves to be deceived or used regardless of the tactics the politicos deploy.
Do not sell your conscience for a mere penny. Your future ought to be a thing of paramount concern at the moment. So, if the future matters most to you, no one born of a woman can cajole you to betray your conscience. You must, therefore, be wise and focused.
Inter alia, as Nigerians vigorously prepare themselves towards embracing the polls, they shouldn’t forget the fact that the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) remains the power of all the electorate. This implies anyone who is yet to obtain their PVC but intends to vote at the polls is, to say the least, only deceiving him/herself.
Hence, at this juncture, I enjoin any Nigerian who hasn’t grabbed their PVC, to hurriedly walk up to any centre of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nearest to him/her with a view to doing the needful. Registration and revalidation of the PVC is now reportedly ongoing, thus you have absolutely no reason to tender an excuse.
On their part, the various institutions – including religious, educational and traditional – must equally be very careful. It’s their civic obligation to conscientize their wards on the need to support, or vote for, an aspirant based on his/her competence, background and antecedents instead of laying emphasis on party or social affiliations.
Anything contrary to these expectations is totally an aberration, hence the need for Nigerians to strongly concentrate on only the needful at all times.