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[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”30px”][vc_row_inner el_id=”newsletters”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”The Seven Voices of the 2019 Elections” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:22|text_align:justify|color:%236699cc|line_height:1.8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_empty_space height=”25px”][vc_column_text]
As we approach the Nigerian 2019 elections, I have made it a new pastime to feel the pulse of the nation by speaking to different people at all levels of society. You will be amazed at the different voices out there. I have categorized these voices into seven different groups which I introduce below, in my order of preference.
Group one is the nationalist. The nationalist belong to no party, do not support any party but support candidates (either incumbents or opposition) based on ‘’national interest’’. Their mantra is ‘’as long as it is good for Nigeria’’ we will support it. I like the nationalists; their only thought is to see that Nigeria becomes a better place for all its citizens. So, their choices are usually pragmatic.
Group two is the loyalists. These people are committed to their party or candidates. They are usually members of a political party or have a leaning towards a political party or just an interest in candidates that they are loyal to for a good reason or cause. These people will cling loyally to even a fringe candidate who stands no chance of winning an election. I like these people because they know where they stand and have their reasons. Democracy thrives on the back of loyalists. These people are like Americans who are either Democrats or Republicans and they are loyal to the cause.
Group three is the reformers. The reformers like the nationalists belong to no party and do not support any party. The reformers simply want to see every incumbent out of power and a new candidate from a new party in their place. They think if a party has held sway for more than two terms they should be jettisoned, and the opposition candidate should take over.
I like the reformers. They believe no party or candidate should get too comfortable in office. Reformers are like the French. France to date has had only two Presidents who have served a full two terms (François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac). In fact, France in year 2000 voted and passed a referendum that reduced the length of the President’s term from seven years to five years.
Group four are the hesitant bunch. When you speak to them, they are never sure where they stand with any party or any candidate. These people sound like they can get to the polling booth and toss a coin or roll a dice to decide. You will hear them say –
‘’I think I like so and so candidate and I may vote for them’’. Even the candidate they think they like is still just a thought and if they will vote for that candidate is still just a ‘’may’’. I cringe when I have discussions with these kinds of people because they are the most gullible bunch and may vote based on the last person who spoke to them at the polling booth or probably decides not to vote at all.
Group five are the pessimists. This bunch of people believe that all the candidates are horrible, and politicians never mean well for the country so there is no use supporting any candidate. Pessimists typically have not even bothered to get their voters cards and the rich pessimists have booked their tickets to fly out of the country just before elections to avoid any chance of being victims of election violence or skirmishes.
Group six are the passivists. The passivists are very pathetic and lethargic Nigerians. They don’t know what is going on, they don’t care to know who the candidates are. They don’t know when elections are and may not even know that there are elections in 2019. If they obtained their voters card it would be because an activist friend of theirs dragged them to INEC office to register. These are the people that INEC’s Director in-charge of Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze Uzi, referred to in an interview with Saturday Vanguard, April 14, 2018 when he said: ‘’the commission in some cases had tried to reach out to some Nigerians to come and claim their cards, many of them said they were not interested’’.
The worse group is group seven – the opportunists. These ones should be given a badge of shame – the Grand National Shame Badge (GNSB). These people simply view elections as an opportunity to make money. They find candidates who they can fleece during elections and support them simply for that purpose. They sell their votes for a piece of bread. They take money to be influencers and canvassers for candidates they know are just the dregs of society. It is all about the money and short-term gains.
Statistic has shown that most Nigerians are either pessimist or passivists. In 2015 presidential elections the total number of registered voters was 67,422,005, but only 31,746,490 (less than 50% of registered voters) came out to be accredited on election day.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, September 6, 2018 said 84,271,832 Nigerians are registered to cast their votes in the upcoming 2019 general elections. So, Nigeria has 14,551,482 new registered voters. If I was to place these 14.5million new voters in any of the seven groupings I will stake my bet that they are either nationalists, loyalists or reformers. Why do I say so? If you heard the stories of how difficult it was to get registered for the 2019 elections’, only people with a cause or some angst would adopt a come rain come shine attitude to collecting their voters’ card.
I also think a few repentant passivists or pessimists are part of the 14.5 million new voters because many have woken up from the slumber party. As you can see from my order of preference, I have a leaning for the Nationalists. I therefore urge Nigerians to prepare to vote in 2019 and in choosing candidates to vote for I urge you to do one thing: Think Nigeria!
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[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”The Seven Voices of the 2019 Elections” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:22|text_align:justify|color:%236699cc|line_height:1.8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]
As we approach the Nigerian 2019 elections, I have made it a new pastime to feel the pulse of the nation by speaking to different people at all levels of society. You will be amazed at the different voices out there. I have categorized these voices into seven different groups which I introduce below, in my order of preference.
Group one is the nationalist. The nationalist belong to no party, do not support any party but support candidates (either incumbents or opposition) based on ‘’national interest’’. Their mantra is ‘’as long as it is good for Nigeria’’ we will support it. I like the nationalists; their only thought is to see that Nigeria becomes a better place for all its citizens. So, their choices are usually pragmatic.
Group two is the loyalists. These people are committed to their party or candidates. They are usually members of a political party or have a leaning towards a political party or just an interest in candidates that they are loyal to for a good reason or cause. These people will cling loyally to even a fringe candidate who stands no chance of winning an election. I like these people because they know where they stand and have their reasons. Democracy thrives on the back of loyalists. These people are like Americans who are either Democrats or Republicans and they are loyal to the cause.
Group three is the reformers. The reformers like the nationalists belong to no party and do not support any party. The reformers simply want to see every incumbent out of power and a new candidate from a new party in their place. They think if a party has held sway for more than two terms they should be jettisoned, and the opposition candidate should take over.
I like the reformers. They believe no party or candidate should get too comfortable in office. Reformers are like the French. France to date has had only two Presidents who have served a full two terms (François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac). In fact, France in year 2000 voted and passed a referendum that reduced the length of the President’s term from seven years to five years.
Group four are the hesitant bunch. When you speak to them, they are never sure where they stand with any party or any candidate. These people sound like they can get to the polling booth and toss a coin or roll a dice to decide. You will hear them say –
‘’I think I like so and so candidate and I may vote for them’’. Even the candidate they think they like is still just a thought and if they will vote for that candidate is still just a ‘’may’’. I cringe when I have discussions with these kinds of people because they are the most gullible bunch and may vote based on the last person who spoke to them at the polling booth or probably decides not to vote at all.
Group five are the pessimists. This bunch of people believe that all the candidates are horrible, and politicians never mean well for the country so there is no use supporting any candidate. Pessimists typically have not even bothered to get their voters cards and the rich pessimists have booked their tickets to fly out of the country just before elections to avoid any chance of being victims of election violence or skirmishes.
Group six are the passivists. The passivists are very pathetic and lethargic Nigerians. They don’t know what is going on, they don’t care to know who the candidates are. They don’t know when elections are and may not even know that there are elections in 2019. If they obtained their voters card it would be because an activist friend of theirs dragged them to INEC office to register. These are the people that INEC’s Director in-charge of Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze Uzi, referred to in an interview with Saturday Vanguard, April 14, 2018 when he said: ‘’the commission in some cases had tried to reach out to some Nigerians to come and claim their cards, many of them said they were not interested’’.
The worse group is group seven – the opportunists. These ones should be given a badge of shame – the Grand National Shame Badge (GNSB). These people simply view elections as an opportunity to make money. They find candidates who they can fleece during elections and support them simply for that purpose. They sell their votes for a piece of bread. They take money to be influencers and canvassers for candidates they know are just the dregs of society. It is all about the money and short-term gains.
Statistic has shown that most Nigerians are either pessimist or passivists. In 2015 presidential elections the total number of registered voters was 67,422,005, but only 31,746,490 (less than 50% of registered voters) came out to be accredited on election day.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, September 6, 2018 said 84,271,832 Nigerians are registered to cast their votes in the upcoming 2019 general elections. So, Nigeria has 14,551,482 new registered voters. If I was to place these 14.5million new voters in any of the seven groupings I will stake my bet that they are either nationalists, loyalists or reformers. Why do I say so? If you heard the stories of how difficult it was to get registered for the 2019 elections’, only people with a cause or some angst would adopt a come rain come shine attitude to collecting their voters’ card.
I also think a few repentant passivists or pessimists are part of the 14.5 million new voters because many have woken up from the slumber party. As you can see from my order of preference, I have a leaning for the Nationalists. I therefore urge Nigerians to prepare to vote in 2019 and in choosing candidates to vote for I urge you to do one thing: Think Nigeria!
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[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”The Seven Voices of the 2019 Elections” font_container=”tag:h1|font_size:22|text_align:justify|color:%236699cc|line_height:1.8″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]
As we approach the Nigerian 2019 elections, I have made it a new pastime to feel the pulse of the nation by speaking to different people at all levels of society. You will be amazed at the different voices out there. I have categorized these voices into seven different groups which I introduce below, in my order of preference.
Group one is the nationalist. The nationalist belong to no party, do not support any party but support candidates (either incumbents or opposition) based on ‘’national interest’’. Their mantra is ‘’as long as it is good for Nigeria’’ we will support it. I like the nationalists; their only thought is to see that Nigeria becomes a better place for all its citizens. So, their choices are usually pragmatic.
Group two is the loyalists. These people are committed to their party or candidates. They are usually members of a political party or have a leaning towards a political party or just an interest in candidates that they are loyal to for a good reason or cause. These people will cling loyally to even a fringe candidate who stands no chance of winning an election. I like these people because they know where they stand and have their reasons. Democracy thrives on the back of loyalists. These people are like Americans who are either Democrats or Republicans and they are loyal to the cause.
Group three is the reformers. The reformers like the nationalists belong to no party and do not support any party. The reformers simply want to see every incumbent out of power and a new candidate from a new party in their place. They think if a party has held sway for more than two terms they should be jettisoned, and the opposition candidate should take over.
I like the reformers. They believe no party or candidate should get too comfortable in office. Reformers are like the French. France to date has had only two Presidents who have served a full two terms (François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac). In fact, France in year 2000 voted and passed a referendum that reduced the length of the President’s term from seven years to five years.
Group four are the hesitant bunch. When you speak to them, they are never sure where they stand with any party or any candidate. These people sound like they can get to the polling booth and toss a coin or roll a dice to decide. You will hear them say –
‘’I think I like so and so candidate and I may vote for them’’. Even the candidate they think they like is still just a thought and if they will vote for that candidate is still just a ‘’may’’. I cringe when I have discussions with these kinds of people because they are the most gullible bunch and may vote based on the last person who spoke to them at the polling booth or probably decides not to vote at all.
Group five are the pessimists. This bunch of people believe that all the candidates are horrible, and politicians never mean well for the country so there is no use supporting any candidate. Pessimists typically have not even bothered to get their voters cards and the rich pessimists have booked their tickets to fly out of the country just before elections to avoid any chance of being victims of election violence or skirmishes.
Group six are the passivists. The passivists are very pathetic and lethargic Nigerians. They don’t know what is going on, they don’t care to know who the candidates are. They don’t know when elections are and may not even know that there are elections in 2019. If they obtained their voters card it would be because an activist friend of theirs dragged them to INEC office to register. These are the people that INEC’s Director in-charge of Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze Uzi, referred to in an interview with Saturday Vanguard, April 14, 2018 when he said: ‘’the commission in some cases had tried to reach out to some Nigerians to come and claim their cards, many of them said they were not interested’’.
The worse group is group seven – the opportunists. These ones should be given a badge of shame – the Grand National Shame Badge (GNSB). These people simply view elections as an opportunity to make money. They find candidates who they can fleece during elections and support them simply for that purpose. They sell their votes for a piece of bread. They take money to be influencers and canvassers for candidates they know are just the dregs of society. It is all about the money and short-term gains.
Statistic has shown that most Nigerians are either pessimist or passivists. In 2015 presidential elections the total number of registered voters was 67,422,005, but only 31,746,490 (less than 50% of registered voters) came out to be accredited on election day.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, September 6, 2018 said 84,271,832 Nigerians are registered to cast their votes in the upcoming 2019 general elections. So, Nigeria has 14,551,482 new registered voters. If I was to place these 14.5million new voters in any of the seven groupings I will stake my bet that they are either nationalists, loyalists or reformers. Why do I say so? If you heard the stories of how difficult it was to get registered for the 2019 elections’, only people with a cause or some angst would adopt a come rain come shine attitude to collecting their voters’ card.
I also think a few repentant passivists or pessimists are part of the 14.5 million new voters because many have woken up from the slumber party. As you can see from my order of preference, I have a leaning for the Nationalists. I therefore urge Nigerians to prepare to vote in 2019 and in choosing candidates to vote for I urge you to do one thing: Think Nigeria!
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