Believe it or not, the world as we know it is changing before our eyes. Africa is not isolated in this undisputable truism; neither is it immune by exemption to this wind of change. For the records some are even of the belief that the wind blows strongest on the black man’s continent. And as some are poised to postulate, the wind has its origins in contemporary African.
Irrespective of your political affiliations and entrenched political convictions, one thing remains unwavering; you have all it takes to actualise the reality you desire in politics. Nigerians need to do the needful; to wake up from ‘there is God’ palatable appeasement and knock some sense into our minds on preferring time-tested solutions to our glaring yet unending national issues.
To have a better understanding of these opening statements, you need not look too far. Ghana, a country in West Africa has shown the world that indeed credible elections are possible in Africa. In Senegal too, elections in that country in recent times have reignited a flame of hope, that indeed Africa can make it right. Despite the backlash that comes with planning for, and executing elections in Africa, the truth is that political events in some countries resonate much louder than some others.
This is the case for Nigeria. As much as we may pretend to believe that the whole world cares little about what happens inside Nigeria, we should be reminded that on the contrary, the world has its gaze fixed on Nigeria. The general elections coming up in a few weeks will determine the future of Africa’s most populous country. If you do not think that there are any geopolitical consequences for us, you need to rethink that again. Since April, 2014, Nigeria became Africa’s largest economy and the 26th largest in the world. We also have the 4th largest peacekeeping contingent in the United Nations. Believe it or not, Nigeria counts!
What worries the hearts and minds of Nigerians today is that various interests are clamouring for the mandate of Nigerians to direct the course of the nation. Make no mistakes, politics still offers the most reassuring and potent instrument for cooperation, compromise and change on a national scale. Sadly, some misinformed individuals are of the archaic view that the votes of Nigerians can be bought over. In this present time and age, where the proliferation of social media and GSMs have dominated everyday life, to think that Nigerians can be manipulated into jumping at empty promises would be a grave miscalculation and to put it mildly, a fruitless undertaking.
Miracle believers you call us? Well yes we are. But we are not a bunch of ignorant people relegated to ‘high-hopes-all-will-end-well’ syndrome when we have it within us to demand political rejuvenation and economic robustness across our country. When the American’s craved for newness, they did not wish Obama down from heaven, they voted the man into the White House! Whatever policies POTUS has since introduced, be it leftist, centre-left, right, or centre-right, Americans made their choice and they are contented with their decisions. Come 2016, aggrieved elements would have another chance to exercise their most voting rights to birth the changes they anticipate. If after reading this last statement, and your thoughts are ‘oh, but that is America, not Nigeria’ then permit me to say that you are one of those holding back, rather than pulling the trigger to our nation’s great reawakening. To be ignorant of this, is to further drag the gains of Nigeria’s hard earned democracy down the murky waters of antagonistic partisan politics.
To all the parties out there, whatever names you call yourselves, whatever ideologies you stand for, be sure of one thing, Nigerians are no fools. They have their most prized possession; Permanent Voters Cards up their sleeves. For the love of country, make no mistakes, we will not be deterred, we will not waiver, our votes must count! Gone are the days when Nigerians will settle for less or hide under the pretext of the shameful pseudo perception of ‘I don’t care’. To all those making promises and mega promises without taking stock of what is and what is not, a piece of advice; ‘fun arare brain’ (wise up!)
Again, little seems to be said about the post-elections. One thing is crystal clear; Nigerians want peace. Nigerians are collectively clamouring for unity and progress and this or nothing else is what we will settle for! Long live the federal republic of Nigeria! God bless Nigeria.

Views expressed are solely that of the author and do not represent the views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates