2015: What Nigeria Expects Of The Citizenry

At the end of every year individuals,
corporate citizens and even countries of the world plan for the coming year. This comes by way of resolutions or projections, intended to utilize the potential of the New Year.
Tomorrow begins a journey to another frontier of national challenges, hope and indeed expectations. More than anything else, 2015 is unique in the sense that it is the long-awaited year, Nigerians will file out to choose their leaders.
On February, 14, 2015, the electorate will cast their votes for the Presidential candidates of their choice among many being put forward by various political party platforms. On the last count, 11 such parties have presented candidates to fly their party’s flags at the general elections.
Along that line, members of the two chambers of the National Assembly: the Senate and the House of Representatives would also be elected. By now, it is believed that many Nigerians have been following the political activities around them with a view to making informed choices.
According to official time table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the election of State governors and members of state Assemblies would follow on February 28, 2015, less than two months from today.
These national events without doubt, place on the average Nigerian electorate enormous responsibility and demands a deep sense of national service, by expecting them to vote wisely. They must not allow themselves to be deceived through financial inducements which eventual outcome they would regret.
Also, Nigerians must appreciate the fact that their vote is their power and if exercised wisely will make Nigeria a better place for themselves and their children, yet unborn. They would have only themselves to blame, if they do the contrary.
There is however, the tendency among the political class to recruit the gullible youth as thugs to truncate the democratic process, and threaten the peace of the state and the nation. Nigerians must resist such clandestine attempts by politicians as no man’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Therefore, as we approach the year 2015, politicians must resolve to do things differently in the promotion of peace, unity and development of the country. The must eschew bitterness, incitements and indeed impunity and instead, embrace issue-based campaigns, as a means of garnering the people’s support and votes.
More importantly, the political parties must realise that Nigerians expect to know what each political party has in stock for them on various defining issues and that way, make an informed choice.
This is why Political Parties must see themselves as the pivot of the nation’s political wheel of growth. They must therefore exhibit responsibility in the quest for political power and avoid unduly heating-up the polity.
They must assume that role with a great sense of responsibility, because they can only achieve real success through well organised, very articulate and issue-based campaigns that helps to not merely educate the citizenry but also helps them to make informed choices.
This indeed is what Nigeria expects of her citizenry and the political class as what better height Nigeria hopes to attain indeed depends on how right we do it this time. Happy New Year.