Notes for the Nigerian youth on the eve of 2023 General elections: Vote according to your conscience, belief, and conviction, By John Abhuere

My dear Compatriots- The Nigerian Youth, Bravo the day we have been waiting for to make the most important decision for the next four years of our life is almost at hand. But as they say in sports, the game is not over until it is really over – meaning until final

whistle. The purpose of this note is to sue for caution on Election Day and not to relent efforts until all is over on 25 February 2025.

First, let me commend you for your responsible behaviour throughout the campaign. It is now voting time, and I urge you to vote according to your conscience, belief, conviction, and judgement of what will be good for you and the country. Make good use of your numerical advantage.I have no doubt that if you speak with one voice and act as one body by voting for one political party, you will achieve your goal for a better Nigeria. The party of your choice can emerge victorious to form the next government.Such is the greatness of your numerical strength if properly mobilized and rightly channelled. So speak with one voice and vote as one group for a political party of choice.

Remember that elections are competitive games, and every competition has its winner and loser(s). We should be prepared for anything- favourable or unfavourable with candour and understanding .If your candidate wins jubilate and celebrate, if he loses, thank God you are alive to re-strategize for the next election. Period. Be humble in victory and patriotic in failure in the national interest. In this matter of election, the interest of the nation is uppermost. It is superior to individual ambition. Nigeria is bigger than any political party, individual, or region. It should win our loyalty foremost. Election is not a do or die exercise. Political power is for the living, not for the dead. No election or politician is worth dying for.Life is sweet, and

precious but without duplicate.So protect yours by running away from electoral troubles or misconduct.It is not cowardly but a wise thing to do. For me, most of the Nigerian politicians are callous and cannot be trusted. Many of them are heartless or soulless and are ready to sacrifice anything, including human beings, for political power. It is sad and frightening, but it has remained a permanent, dark feature of our political culture.So don’t offer yourself cheaply as a sacrificial lamb for unworthy cause.

The sermon last Sunday, the 19th February 2023, at the Lux Terra Leadership Foundation Catholic Chapel Abuja on AIT was on love, forgiveness, compassion, and justice. It is relevant here to you, my dear Nigerian youth, and indeed the rest of society. I commend it to you. because the nation needs these values, which had been scarce in the land to flow in abundance for survival. Briefly, a Christian, according to the Priest, should be Godly in conduct, compassionate, and love thy neighbour as thy selves, forgive all offenders including enemies, evil doers, etc .In short, in all we do,we should always show love, compassion, forgiveness, and justice. They are the key to collective peace, prosperity, and progress of the community. Please show these qualities on Election Day at the polling stations.

There are things, for instance such as violence during elections that are bad and should be avoided or discontinued because they are outdated and unhelpful. For instance, according to the priest, the Biblical law “Eye for an eye,” “tooth for tooth,” and “Fire for fire” is not the best. It is vengeful and disruptive of peace. We should allow God to get revenge for us as we work for peace and harmony in society. Perhaps there was nothing too much to be done for peace.

Thus, rather than fight or do violence, a Christian should turn the other cheek if one side was slapped. Refusing to fight, he explained, is not a sign of weakness but one of strength in the interest of peace, harmony, and collective progress of society. The priest denounced oppression, cheating, and hatred. A good Christian must be a good citizen and therefore must earnestly perform his/her civic duties. Please go out and vote. Against the background of religious antagonism in the country in the more recent years, I was just about wondering aloud if some people would not take undue advantage of the dovelike disposition of the Christian to sentence him to perpetual oppression -if not slavery when the priest introduced some exceptions. Reminding the audience that there was nothing impossible before God and that His way was not the way of man, the priest observed that the church approved war only for national defence and group’s interest. War or violence is only applied as a last resort. My advice here is to vote and walk away from electoral trouble as much as you can. Shun evil, violence during the elections, and do good always in the national interest. Think deeply before casting your vote. Remember how the country got to this pitiable condition,when and where the rains started beating the majority of us so badly, and think deeply before casting your vote. Remember how the country got to this pitiable condition, when and where the rains started beating majority of us so badly and think too of the party most capable and reliable to solve the myriad of problems facing the country. Vote for party with leaders of high virtue, intellectual capacity leadership, Imanagerial, governance knowledge, skills, competency, ethical balance, greatest moral strength, shared national vision to do the needful for the country, to move her really forward on the path of progress, unity and development.But always remember that there is life after elections and no politician is worth dying for.And in all circumstances the survival of the country especially after the election is a collective concern and thus should be upper-most consideration today.

Be constitutional and law abiding and rule obeying. There is room for voting, but no room for violence. Play by the rules of the game. Your strongest weapon and thus your greatest source of strength is the PVC. You must use it well and wisely to enhance the opportunity of growth and development of the country and happiness of yourself after the election Do not be afraid to vote your conscience and to pursue your goal and the dreams for a better country with your patriotic voting

Please do not succumb to the temptation of money or its evil equivalent to serve the devil. Reject invitation to thuggery and other evil ways of securing political power at all casts which the politicians have invented or may yet invent and sell to you.Tell them that you belong to new generation where sound ethical standards, honest production of goods and services, prudent spending rather than wasteful consumption, Justice, able leadership, effective management, good governance,respect for the rule of law are the order of the day.

As advised earlier,please use your PVCS well to show the country the new and right way to heaven, demonstrate your power and strength, and win respect. The judgement day may come later in the court. So, with keen interest,watch the voting process for any infraction or violation, and keep records discreetly. They may be useful as evidence-if need be after the elections in the courts.p of law. It still surprises why elections generate so much tension and hatred in Nigeria. For me, some unpatriotic political elite heat up the polity and generate high tension. Otherwise It is poss and to host a peaceful election in the polity. And we have a duty to build confidence in our electoral system. All hands must, therefore, be on deck. Almost every thing to achieve this is on the ground except the correct mindset, right attitude, and diligent commitment to national assignment. Otherwise almost everything has been done to have free and fair elections but the experience of the past twenty-two years shows huge failure due to lack of executive capacity. In deed, Nigeria is a country where its political elites must foul any plan no matter how well intentioned.
Generally wrong mindset of the political elite and their unpatriotic attitude to elections have been the bane.So our advice to all the stake holders of the2023

General Elections is to display utmost patriotism and cultivate the right attitude to

nation building in the overall national interest. Let each agency play its role honestly in the national interest here.For instance, INEC as the umpire or referee must show impartiality and fairness and be ready to use its red card on any foul play. The gov and must be neutral.The police and other security agencies should provide security and be seen to be real neutral patriotic and nationalistic. The citizens should cast their votes and allow designated officials to do their lobs. Judiciary should adjudicate well when disputes get to the courts of law.

I wish you successful voting. May God bless Nigeria and protect her unity far beyond 2023.

●Professor Abhuere is of the Centre for Child Care Youth Development, Abuja.