Youths obey the clarion call
Let us lift our nation high
Under the sun or in the rain
With dedication and selflessness
Nigeria is ours, Nigeria we serve.
(1st stanza NYSC Anthem)
More than three and a half decades ago, Dr. Oluwole Adetiran of Ibafo, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State Nigeria, graduate of Music from the University of Nigeria Nsukka during his days as a corps member composed the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) anthem which myriads of graduates mandated to a year national service to their fatherland, Nigeria sang every morning while at the NYSC camp.
Inspired lyrics with beautiful rhythm the anthem remained for years until recently the Nigerian youths tired of failed governance and economy took the bull by the horns, and arose to the clarion call to make Nigeria great again.
For years they were aloof about politics and the rate of apathy increased steadily until the emergence of Peter Obi as the Presidential flag bearer of Labour Party.
Never in the history of Nigeria has a campaign been a bottom-top approach as is recorded now and the infectious enthusiasm of the masses is unprecedented; could this be the finger of God?
From receiving mere porridge from politicians to willingly answering the clarion call to make Nigeria great once more, these youths defy the rains as is the case in Calabar, the sun and not even fear of losing their lives as recorded in the EndSars protest could deter them.
But will they see this struggle to a conclusive end? Can this zeal be doused? Will they come out en mass to vote, wait for the votes to be counted, recorded, and the winner declared at each polling unit?
Judging by the level of awareness and wiliness, they will exercise their franchise this time but the experienced politicians may end up using a few unscrupulous youths to perpetuate their nefarious political acts thereby undermining the desires and hard work of millions of Nigerian youths.
Bear in mind that the four election personnel in each polling unit (PU) are youths; the Presiding Officers (POs), and three (3) Assistant Presiding officers (APOs) namely, APO I, APO II and APO III. Also, the accredited Party Agents and majority of the Supervisory Presiding Officers, SPOs, are youths.
In past elections, while the POs are serving corps members, majority of the APOs are youths recruited as ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the purpose of conducting the election.
My guess is as good as yours; who you know syndrome predominant in Nigeria works here as well. Governors, Local Government Chairmen and Ward Councilors lobby in their own person for the position-their candidates planted as APO1, APO11 or APO 111 to do their bidding at the expense of the nation and that gullible youth’s future.
The pay tantamount to Jacob’s porridge is their motivation for taking up the assignment and for mere porridge, they sell a better Nigeria. What a shame.
As the fable of the pied piper of Hamelin suggests that he who pays the piper calls the tune, ‘obidients’ should be wary of these old politicians and beat them to their games using the power of social media, come out en masse, defy the sun, yield not to the temptation of rushing back home to watch movie or play ball on that all-important day.
It is simply not enough to vote but we must guard our votes jealously; we must know and demand that the laid down electoral process be followed stricto sensu. We can only get 2023 election right if we play with integrity and sacrifice.
Knowledge of the number of registered voters in your polling unit and accredited voters in nipping election rigging at the bud is paramount; this information should tarry with the number of votes after the counts bearing in mind that the votes can only be less than the accredited number due to nullified ballot papers rising from poor voter education.
Party agents play a vital role in safeguarding their party’s votes; they should be men of integrity, alert at every step of the election and ready to do the right thing no matter whose ox is gored.
Same laid-back old faces with nothing to offer fight ruthlessly to lead brilliant and very industrious millions of persons; no agenda, no developmental plan, no scruples, they obviously lack capacity except their warped sense of inheritance and self-imposed rights and self-aggrandizement.
We are the future of this nation yet our very existence is threatened and stunted by unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, rising insecurity, inflation and little or non-inclusion in governance; yet some gullible youths subject themselves to their exploitations, allowing them to toil with our future.
The 2023 General elections is the defining moment in Nigeria as a wrong turn will keep us in perpetual agony; if we succeed to vote in credible leader with capacity, Nigeria will recover, and the clarion call to lift our nation high answered.
As we talk the talk, flaunt our decisions on social media, and pray, our eagle eyes must watch the electoral personnel at each polling unit; you have a right to remain in your polling unit to watch the process but do not fall to their trick of causing mayhem which will result in security officers driving voters away thereby giving their payers ample opportunity to rig the election.
Seats will not be provided but you can go with yours; sit responsibly and watch the process to the end, it is our civic responsibility. Vote, wait for the votes to be counted, recorded and announced at each polling unit before going home; only then will we beat them to their game.
The jinx is broken and apathy towards election destroyed; the Nigerian youths have changed the narrative, our voice must be heard and our vote counts.
Come Friday 25th of February, 2023, Nigeria Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold while 11th of March, 2023 is the D-day for Governorship and State Assembly elections; together, we take back our nation Nigeria.
