While I was away…..

While I was away….

OK, I did not go on a pilgrimage or retreat. I was physically at home but totally caught up with the Nigerian electioneering campaign which culminated in the Presidential Elections held on March 28th after a six-week postponement.

No, I’m not a politician, but this was one election that was not only hard to ignore, but also hard not to take a stand on.
I have voted in every Nigerian election since 1976, with the exception of 2003 when I was out of the country, but this last election was totally different. To me, it was a battle for the very soul of the Nation.
The campaign was the keenest I had ever seen, full of drama and nail-biting suspense to the very last minute. As election results from 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were being announced, it was not clear if a winner would emerge with the first ballot. In Nigeria, the winner not only needs to have majority of votes cast, he/she must also have scored at least 25% of the votes in at least two-thirds of the states in the country. So while the eventual winner was in the lead in terms of total votes cast, he did not achieve the second requirement until after 35 out of the 37 results had been announced. It was that close !

How can anyone forget the constant hard tackles, cheap shots, mudslinging and wolf-crying that characterised the campaign period. Hardly was any serious issue addressed or debated !
I was particularly disgusted with the uncouth utterances of two particular young men, some of which bordered on sacrilege. There is something sacrosanct about old age among Africans, especially Yorubas – you NEVER mock old age. Even mad men would have cringed as these two “Omo aláìlékó” (someone who lacks home training) did the unthinkable, crossed the line of decency and disgraced themselves and their families.

I am glad to have had the opportunity to participate and vote in this election. It was costly in the sense that the voting process took almost a whole day. Furthermore, the night before the election, my husband and I had to temporarily relocate close to our old polling unit since we had not been able to effect a change of address on our Voter’s cards. However, it was well worth it. Through our votes, Nigerians spoke loud and clear – enough is enough !
I believe something has changed permanently in Nigeria, the exact character and extent of the change is however yet to unfold. One can only pray that the change is positive and sustainable.