“During the week, a friend asked me, what makes one a good writer? and I told him… Hey! Its quality structure and heartfelt content, because having both makes your writing well lubricated and better communicated”
Now, to the real issue, while watching the CNN last week to get updates on our #ChibokGirls, so many top issues streamed through my heart and none caught my soul as that of the Indian elections where over 500 million people voted and incredibly there were no allegations of irregularities even though it was the major opposition that won by a landslide victory. That was really touching having experienced the abnormal Nigerian elections that doesn’t even boast of 10% of the Indian voters. I started with a thought that all INEC executives should be exiled to India till January 2015.
Let me share with you the touching lessons I learnt from the Indian 2014 elections that you really need to know:
– The outgoing Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who had warned that Modi would be a disaster for India, congratulated his anointed successor in a telephone call. Singh’s Congress Party slumped to its worst ever election results. (Can you ever imagine this happening in Nigerian, other than accusations upon accusations?)
– The party that lost out is that of the sons of Mahatma Gandhi and at a chaotic press conference at the Congress HQ, a tired looking Rahul Gandhi accepted responsibility for the defeat, as his officials tried to insulate him from blame.
– What Modi did was to connect with a whole range of new voters: young people particularly, people in small towns, in rural areas, which was never the cast previously with the BJP. And they’ve made them believe that Modi is a man who can bring them economic growth, opportunities and restore a deep pride in India. (I hope we get to that someday)
– With 815 million eligible voters, 915,000 polling stations, and nine days of voting over five weeks, India has seen the largest parliamentary election in the world. (Jega should be on the next flight to India, Seriously speaking, He should stop promising what he can’t deliver)
Conclusively, Can you just join me as I read to myself an excerpt from Modi’s victory speech…?
“To live free to determine our future is our dream. India’s 1.25 billion people today should not be thinking about giving their lives for their country but living responsibly for it! If 1.25 billion people decide to live like this then my country will take 1.25 billion steps forward. The people of this country have been victorious for three centuries. Government means government of all the people not a few people. You have faith in me and I have faith in you. The people of this country have given their verdict. This verdict says we have to make the dreams of 1.25 billion people come true. I must work hard. I am a labourer, a worker. The country has never seen such a labourer as me? Is there any doubt in your mind about my capacity for hard work? I guarantee you our mission is everyone’s progress walking together, all together”
Reflect on these few questions before coming to your conclusion…
Do you know India would be fairly criticized if they had problems with their elections, considering the huge numbers involved?
Why can’t we just work out perfection with our own little numbers? At least this is our 5th consecutive election approaching and we should be thinking of progress at this stage, because Its better we spend 100 billion to get the “people’s person” into power than to spend 10 billion to bring in a crook into power to embezzle trillions.
Is our major political opposition ideally worthy of stifling out the ruling party? Modi’s party was all about economic growth and opportunities, Simple! Let me ask, what’s our opposition about? Are they just about opposing the ruling party or to create a matchless terrain of their own to rescue Nigeria of her mess?
Frankly, I wish we can all sincerely learn from India in time for 2015 and I also hope we get our girls back in no time.
I am Haastrup Steven Adeshope and I am a Nigerian.
Have a great week ahead.
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#SmartStart runs on Omojuwa.com every Monday
Apologies! The audio version of this article in voice by @StevenHaastrup couldn’t be made available this week. Should resume the voicing by next week.
The views expressed above are solely that of the author and not of Omojuwa.com or its associates.
