In the course of grappling with the burdens that come with living in this present Nigeria,
I keep asking myself, where are the voters who ushered in this government?
The same ones, a few months ago, who would not shy away from putting their best foot forward for their preferred candidate and justifying why they have made that choice.
What? Are they okay with this new Nigeria? One, which makes it impossible to go out without having to add and re-add the transport cost, only for us to find out even that would not make a difference?
Is this perhaps the same scenario that the supporters of the All Progressives Congress Party (APC) are okay with? Or given the fact that the government they helped put into power has and continues to let them down so badly, the supporters of the government do not want to express their anger?
I find myself thinking about these issues every day especially considering the fact that fuel prices have gone up from N600 to N950 within the short span of a month and there is no uproar from the electorate.
In my opinion, we are all imprisoned, yes even the so-called guardians of the prison and the diehard followers are also imprisoned in some way even if they do not know it.
Whereas some of them make themselves feel better with the idea that the alternative in the elections would not have been any better.
But if you want to back this man so much, why do you not feel the need to ‘call him out’? Or has it become that funny that Or has it sunk deeper that even the ones forever with him think he could not have a wittol of concern on their plight?
The decline of basic human values is moving fast.
The media is under siege. People’s right to demonstrate or criticize the State are now capital treason.
That even the right to vote was diluted long before they came to power through massive intimidation and even violence to guarantee an outcome was in favour of most.
I think it is about time members of APC started taking responsibilities for the condition of the country. The increasing threats to our security ,the increase in bandit leaders and the increase in violence of kidnapping during the day has now become appalling lifestyle of most people. Yet, the support of the coalition government is ironically, absolutely mired.
Possibly, you should ask yourselves: Is this the Nigeria of your dreams when you cast that vote on February 25, 2023? Is this what you wished for when you sang ‘Emilokan’ and all other unprintable things against your own people?
Did you picture a society in which life itself was becoming an increasingly difficult affair?
Nigeria is all we have. Isn’t it time to leave behind partisanship and apply common sense and morality?
Partisanship should not result in willful ignorance of the facts or apathy towards the duty to protect those in authority from abuse or misuse of their positions.
We all need to accept this is the Nigeria we have permitted to come into being and more so, but that doesn’t make us immune to abuse.
Written by Omobosola Karimat Alaka
Omobosola Karimat Alaka is a social scientist, project manager, and concerned Nigerian citizen passionate about civic engagement and the democratic process.