Service above self is a habit either inculcated from childhood, deeply ingrained within the crevices of one’s consciousness or imparted through a well-structured religious or spiritual path. Anything short of the above is a mere veneer over one’s covert intention(s)” Prof. Dele Owolawi.
The above quote puts in a nutshell the dilemma of the Nigerian today. They are disappointed by the drolleries they see every day in the name of democracy.
The fate of the people of Osun State now rests with them, as they prepare for the governorship re-run election today, Thursday, September 27, 2018. It will be ridiculous if the Osun voters, like some voters, in another state, allow themselves to be persuaded to elect candidates based on the enticement of cooked rice, or bags of rice and sundries. That would be an insult to the people and by extension all Nigerians.
They should have nothing to do with the politics of deceit and avoid being passive. This country is in ruins because the voters have made poor use of their influence and authority and what has happened? The result is the endless gulf between the haves and the have-nots.
Today, some office seekers, being mindful of their political ambition, have set in motion a resemblance of service to the people whilst in reality it’s a scheme to clinch political power and when this is achieved, they watch citizens die from diseases that care could prevent. It is now common for people to beg on the streets for alms, and in the newspapers for donations to bring medical care to their loved ones.
And as they do, those elected on their promise of Utopia continue to fail the voters in their pursuit of self-interest.
The people of Osun are bleeding and wonder how long they would have to wait for their modest dreams to come true.
Now is the time for them to look at the candidates eyeball to eyeball and ask them what they can do to stem the tide of rural-urban migration which has only added to the congestion and the problems of high density living where infrastructure and services remain underdeveloped.
Now is the time to ask them what plans they have to expand access to quality education which is denied to the poor and what processes are in place to prevent the state from being another haven for religious bigots caused by the publicised intervention of the state administrators in the affairs of some schools with religious comportment.
We have our public schools in Nigeria, unsupported and decaying with unqualified teachers and from lack of funding.
And this remains the status quo where only the poor send their children to learn in these schools.
Ask them what plans they have to lift the people out of poverty, to give them decent healthcare, quality life and meet all of their needs.
They should not fall victim easily to promises made by those who seek your votes. Instead, they should vote the candidate who can firmly protect their homes, provide education for their children and regular income for breadwinners.
There is no better time to change Osun State than now and the burden of change rests on the voters.
This time, let the voters not be swayed by the same promises that delivered nothing.
Let voters not be seduced again. Let them not sell their precious votes for a handful of coins scattered to the masses. They are worth less than the coinage from which they are made.
Osun voters should not allow a single vote to be wasted on the man who will only fail them again. Such a candidate does not deserve their precious votes. Not this time round.
Remember, only the small-minded keeps repeating the same mistakes and hopes for better outcomes.
Simon Abah, Abuja
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