The 25th of February 2023 was the day every well-meaning Nigerian looked forward to, in anticipation of a seemingly semblance of democracy. The people of Nigeria trooped out en masse defiled all universal odds, shunned their hitherto voting apathy, determined to reclaim the only land they’ve known and owned as home. But like clockwork they were jerked back to the monstrous reality that characterized the nation since inception of the fourth republic on the 29th of May 1999.
As a Nigerian in diaspora, all that ever mattered and will ever matter would be to see the re-birth of a nation, that regardless of the country of birth of my children, they would still keep an ancestry that portends hope and stability; alas, the harder I want this the farther away from reality it seems.
Speculations are rife that what happened on that ill-fated 25th February 2023 was an absolute sham. I sat through the electoral proceedings on Television, it was definitely not a sight for sore eyes. Even before the ‘selection’ result was announced I already had a fair idea of where the pendulum would swing to; that familiar post-election feeling of despondency had overwhelmed me…Nigeria is right back to status quo. A captured state! Does it not stink up the entire globe that 63years post-independence later, Nigeria still wobble across borderline travesty.
People’s mandate was so blatantly thrown to the dogs and the hopes of a common man dashed. The most disheartening part was, watching men of supposed status, who should uphold the true sanctity of democracy, tell bare-faced lies and damning the consequences. There were glaring evidences of number manipulations done so unscrupulously and flagrant tell tales of alterations; it was so clear for the blind to read.
It hurts. it hurts even more that some leaders of the western countries like France, United States of America, United Kingdom etc, have extended congratulatory messages to an elected leader who emerged under controversial circumstance? Or does it pander to their selfish interest of keeping the so-called third war country permanently on the backfoot? Does it not corroborate the assertion that the structural chaos that had become the mainstay in the politics of the African continent serves some purpose, definitely not the selfless kind, to the western world? Anyone’s guess, I believe.
I’m sore by the fact that even though post-election litigations have been initiated, the judiciary is regrettably also peopled by Nigerians at high risk of compromise, consequently justice could jolly well be turned on its head.
The question is, who will deliver us from us?
Nigerian bleeds!
