By Ajogwu Jerry Ochada
It is another season of election; a time to elect the self-acclaimed God’s elect with many opportunists emerging victorious while dignified aspirants who understand the plight of the masses are lacking the wherewithal at least to excel at the polls perhaps because of poverty; not poverty of ideas but financial scarcity. For such politicians, their help is aligned with the name of the God (god) of any religion they profess.
Brethren! It is difficult for any poor man to emerge victorious in any election in this part of the globe because the bulk of our youths who are supposed to front the pursuit of justice and fairness by defining the paradigm pathway of credible elections choose to condescend by serving as messengers of death.
In any given society, where majority of the youths opt to serve as sycophants and thugs, the resultant effect can not be overemphasized however, in a limited scope of assessments, in every twelve, there must be a Judas but the reverse is the case in Kogi state; in every twelve, eight are Judas and the innocent ones pursuing truth and justice are hunted by their kinsmen for standing on a path they are not willing to trespass because all they want is an immediate cure to their hunger defined aspirations.
Back to the subject matter: The intent of this discourse is not to evaluate the over indulgence of our youths in the time past rather it should be absorbed without sentiments at least for peace to reign for once on the soil of the confluence state. Our youths should imbibe caution because electoral violence is not the best way forward. No nation can make progress in a city shadowed with undue chaos heightened by senseless killings of political opponents while supposed aspirants are revered as principals, wine and dine amongst themselves.
This act of celebrated ignorance must be trashed for the sake of peace and unity in our land.
Dear Kogi Youth!
Kogi state is not a theater of war. We are peace-loving people and should not be distracted by the juicy offerings of power drunk politicians who rarely fall as victims when hell is let loose. Politics is not a game of blunder, it is a game of numbers and the best style of politicking is when aspirants and the electorate encourage the purest crave for good governance reflected by the conduct and practice of free and fair elections. Let me reiterate clearly, no thug is celebrated for igniting mayhem rather they all die cheaply because those who live by guns die by gun.
Fellow compatriots!
Do not allow yourselves to fall as victims of any ugly circumstance that you had the opportunity of avoiding. Na election time be dis, no be war. Drop your guns and pick up your PVC. You can only rise to cast vote and protect your votes but do not rise to fight. Arms struggle is needless, what we need at the moment is how to encourage the emergence of credible leaders who can deliver on their electoral promises. It is demeaning to witness the shameful blunders displayed by clueless leaders who are lacking ideologies but are quick to sponsor and instigate crises. Violence is not a trait because nobody have monopoly of violence but we must learn how to cohabit in peace without struggling to kill our opponents because we are all one — a distinct race poised to pursue the dreams of our founding fathers without distress.
Recently, the lingering crises in Kogi state degenerated to a scene inimically showcasing a broad daylight manhunt of political opponents. Last week, numerous incidences of sporadic gunshots were witnessed in Anyigba, a “popular” region in Kogi East. Tragically, the major actors in this ungodly movie of illogical flair are championed by able-bodied youths who are supposed to lead the chorus for the actualization of good governance.
It is shaming to comment on the over indulgence of these brand of confused gangsters who can barely spell the first letter their names but are reputed for carrying arms to intimidate political opponents. If only they are wise. Many notable thugs who may be regarded as their mentors, trended for few seasons, yet they tragically exited the world untimely. This should serve as bitter lessons to these emerging breed of myopic disgruntled elements whose scope of affiliation and illogical dictates is measured by the level of hunger in the land.
Sympathetically, many gullible minded fellow who derailed to support the now renowned league of evil politicians but later retraced their step are battling hard to regain their self esteem but the stubborn fly who opt to follow the corpse to the grave prefer death than repentance.
It is time for our youths to shun violence by learning how to boomerang the schemes of evil sponsors whose kids and family members are enjoying the evil acquisition of loots mercilessly swindled but are always on standby to facilitate chaos during elections obviously because they are unpopular. They cannot survive the outcome of any free and fair electoral process because they are persons of questionable character lacking traces of political charisma.
We must understand the lucid fact that youths are champions of development and our best contribution to the growth of our fatherland should be juxtaposed by encouraging free and fair elections. Do not fall as preys to the self centered sugar coated crumbs of failed politicians. It is not a time to fight; let’s go to the polls to vote and be voted for. Do not give chance to violence because the victims may be our loved ones. Let’s give peace a chance by encouraging peace in the forthcoming election at least we can do it by changing the narrative.
We can break the jinx by not snatching the ballot boxes but safeguarding the whole process for the benefit of our beloved country.
Now, share the message, it is simple: DROP YOUR GUNS, PICK UP YOUR PVC!
