"Arguments Against Voting In 2015 Elections"
2015 general and presidential elections
are approaching fast. Some Nigerians have already decided who they will
be voting for, while some are not yet sure whom to support. At first
sight, everyone is excited and looking forward to the potential positive
outcomes of their voting. Naij.com has received a great number of messages from Nigerians who urge their comrades to work towards a united and peaceful Nigeria.
However, the tone of some of the opinion pieces we receive is not too optimistic. Mr. Godson Da-Clarke, in his article “Nigerians, Do Not Vote!,” explains why he thinks voting in 2015 is “useless”.
“May I use this medium to remind the enlightened and inform the ignorant that all the political brouhaha we see this year will be a (mis)calculation with the 2015 voting campaign at the end of it all. The massive deployment of armed forces to elections. The expansion of puny Boko Haram against our mighty military. The mago mago being played with the economy that has led and will still lead to strikes and more strikes. The concessions and promotions suddenly being given to federal and state civil servants. The impeachment river running from South to North like the Niger. The convening of the National Conference at precisely this time. The white elephant projects undertaken by governments. And yes, even the Ebola outbreak ravaging the South and clawing its way up North. All we see and will see in 2014 is geared towards swinging the power pendulum in 2015 voting.
“Let me tell you at this juncture that it’s no use wasting your time and energy voting. It’s an even more worthless risk protecting your votes when your life is no better than a turkey’s in Nigeria. You see, Nigeria does not appreciate your voting, anyway. The surest way to shock the government into the realization that the people are tired of over five decades of increasing mendacity is to let them record a low turnout of voters. Do not think that you’re doing your country any good by voting. The right to vote was given to you for their sake, not yours. Governments at all levels and with whichever party in power have always failed in Nigeria.
“Let me say it again for emphasis: elections will always favour the elite of the government. Never the plain folk. You think any elected officer will serve you when you have nothing to offer? They serve those whose money sponsored them into those positions. They serve the interests of political godfathers and economic juggernauts. For example, who do you think NNPC will listen more to, between Dangote and you?
“Now you get the picture: you are not on their minds at all after you have “fulfilled your civic duty” of voting. That’s why we keep hearing the same campaign promises of good roads, potable water, security, education, food for all, and all such pipedreams. More serious countries like Ghana and South Africa take these basic necessities of modern life for granted. So why can’t we task the government to give us what is ours by right?
“Listen to me and listen good. Nigeria is on the verge of breaking up, chikena! No matter how these elections of next year turn out, there will be problems that could cause the military to take over under a messianic pretext.
“If Goodluck Ebele Jonathan wins and retains the deified throne at Aso Rock which the Northern Moslems have consecrated unto themselves, he would have defied the lords of the rings. They will leave him restless with pins pricking his buttocks till he either surrenders or does a great deal of ‘cleansing’ (if you know what I mean). At the extreme, he could be assassinated—and you don’t need to be told that the Niger-Delta militants will take up arms again with one aim in mind: secession. More likely, though, GEJ will stay alive, in which case it could be the North calling for a breakup.
“If, on the other hand, GEJ loses, be sure that a civil war is in the offing when the South-South and Southeast feel slighted. They will then want total control of oil money—theirs. The military will be fighting on four fronts. There’s Boko Haram to the North. The creek beasts to the South-South. The Southeast Biafra secessionists who will latch onto the golden opportunity to realize MASSOB objectives. And, perhaps, also riots in the Southwest from people who want an Oduduwa Republic that affords them the sort of development last seen in the days of Awo. That gives us four countries, with the middle belt states realigning as appropriate (for example, Kwara to the Yoruba and Benue to the Igbo).
“The best way to avert this (mis)fortune is to let politicians eat their franchise. The rice and cash they shove into your bosom will be recollected a hundredfold when they get into power, and you’ll be the worse for it. Fellow Nigerians, let us seize this opportunity to finally make a difference and make our votes count. There can be no rigging if there are no people voting, or the votes are astonishingly and incomprehensibly few in number. I’m offering you a way to a smooth, easy revolution—unless you prefer it the other way, which, we pray does not happen.”
Do you agree with any points of Mr. Da-Clarke’s article on voting? What should we expect of 2015, and what each possible outcome may mean for Nigeria?
However, the tone of some of the opinion pieces we receive is not too optimistic. Mr. Godson Da-Clarke, in his article “Nigerians, Do Not Vote!,” explains why he thinks voting in 2015 is “useless”.
Please note that opinion expressed in this article belongs solely to the author and does not necessarily correspond with Naij.com editorial team's points of view.“Nigeria, our dear ‘Giant of Africa,’ stands on the edge of the precipice. The centenary celebration of the existence of the West African sub-region’s hegemon is, alas, the very point at which the very existence is being called into question. I am one of those who want so much for Nigeria to remain united. But for those who refuse to see the cracks in the wall which portend imminent division, I have only one word: shine your eye!
“May I use this medium to remind the enlightened and inform the ignorant that all the political brouhaha we see this year will be a (mis)calculation with the 2015 voting campaign at the end of it all. The massive deployment of armed forces to elections. The expansion of puny Boko Haram against our mighty military. The mago mago being played with the economy that has led and will still lead to strikes and more strikes. The concessions and promotions suddenly being given to federal and state civil servants. The impeachment river running from South to North like the Niger. The convening of the National Conference at precisely this time. The white elephant projects undertaken by governments. And yes, even the Ebola outbreak ravaging the South and clawing its way up North. All we see and will see in 2014 is geared towards swinging the power pendulum in 2015 voting.
“Let me tell you at this juncture that it’s no use wasting your time and energy voting. It’s an even more worthless risk protecting your votes when your life is no better than a turkey’s in Nigeria. You see, Nigeria does not appreciate your voting, anyway. The surest way to shock the government into the realization that the people are tired of over five decades of increasing mendacity is to let them record a low turnout of voters. Do not think that you’re doing your country any good by voting. The right to vote was given to you for their sake, not yours. Governments at all levels and with whichever party in power have always failed in Nigeria.
“Let me say it again for emphasis: elections will always favour the elite of the government. Never the plain folk. You think any elected officer will serve you when you have nothing to offer? They serve those whose money sponsored them into those positions. They serve the interests of political godfathers and economic juggernauts. For example, who do you think NNPC will listen more to, between Dangote and you?
“Now you get the picture: you are not on their minds at all after you have “fulfilled your civic duty” of voting. That’s why we keep hearing the same campaign promises of good roads, potable water, security, education, food for all, and all such pipedreams. More serious countries like Ghana and South Africa take these basic necessities of modern life for granted. So why can’t we task the government to give us what is ours by right?
“Listen to me and listen good. Nigeria is on the verge of breaking up, chikena! No matter how these elections of next year turn out, there will be problems that could cause the military to take over under a messianic pretext.
“If Goodluck Ebele Jonathan wins and retains the deified throne at Aso Rock which the Northern Moslems have consecrated unto themselves, he would have defied the lords of the rings. They will leave him restless with pins pricking his buttocks till he either surrenders or does a great deal of ‘cleansing’ (if you know what I mean). At the extreme, he could be assassinated—and you don’t need to be told that the Niger-Delta militants will take up arms again with one aim in mind: secession. More likely, though, GEJ will stay alive, in which case it could be the North calling for a breakup.
“If, on the other hand, GEJ loses, be sure that a civil war is in the offing when the South-South and Southeast feel slighted. They will then want total control of oil money—theirs. The military will be fighting on four fronts. There’s Boko Haram to the North. The creek beasts to the South-South. The Southeast Biafra secessionists who will latch onto the golden opportunity to realize MASSOB objectives. And, perhaps, also riots in the Southwest from people who want an Oduduwa Republic that affords them the sort of development last seen in the days of Awo. That gives us four countries, with the middle belt states realigning as appropriate (for example, Kwara to the Yoruba and Benue to the Igbo).
“The best way to avert this (mis)fortune is to let politicians eat their franchise. The rice and cash they shove into your bosom will be recollected a hundredfold when they get into power, and you’ll be the worse for it. Fellow Nigerians, let us seize this opportunity to finally make a difference and make our votes count. There can be no rigging if there are no people voting, or the votes are astonishingly and incomprehensibly few in number. I’m offering you a way to a smooth, easy revolution—unless you prefer it the other way, which, we pray does not happen.”
Do you agree with any points of Mr. Da-Clarke’s article on voting? What should we expect of 2015, and what each possible outcome may mean for Nigeria?
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