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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Nigeria Fragile Unity Battered After 2015 Elections

Unfortunately, the general elections in Nigeria left behind, some bitter taste in the mouth of certain individuals and groups in Nigeria. This has further polarised Nigeria, a country where the regions are consistently suspicious of each other.
Nigeria’s New Telegraph, analyses the situation that the country was left in after the aftermath of  an election many say would have been disastrous if not for the magnanimity of former president Goodluck Jonathan.
Read below:

The 2015 general elections have come and gone leaving prints on the sands of Nigeria’s history. A large number of Nigerians actively got involved just to ensure their candidates emerged victorious. Many were desirous to see the country led by the best hands irrespective of religion and ethnicity; some others were motivated by monetary gains and gifts they received from the contestants with little interest in the quality of leaders that emerged winners. The latter group could only wish that elections were conducted more regularly so they could amass wealth even at the detriment of the country. One fact that stands out is that the political consciousness has risen among Nigerians and more prominently among the youths. The divide is no longer restricted to one’s ethnicity or religion but consciously or sub-consciously, Nigerians are torn apart politically.
The youths have not helped matters with the constant vitriolic exchange of comments on social media with each trying to shove his opinion down the throat of others. In today’s Nigeria you are either agitating for your ethnic group to be adequately represented; lobbying hard to have someone of the same religious faith at the helm of affairs or pushing beyond boundaries that your party takes it all and painfully this is the legacy our leaders are bequeathing to the youths.
This has led to increased tension among youths creating unnecessary enmity and exhibiting a high level of intolerance leading to friends blocking themselves on social media and deleting accounts of others who do not share their political ideology. Another aspect of the social media drama is the verbal attack and direct insults youths pour on opposition leaders who are old enough to father them but in the words of an angry friend, “What respect do you show an elder who has stolen from you?’’ One can only admit that the leaders have failed the youths and present happenings are the realities of a failed state.
For some of us, this burning anger expressed by the youths would only be justified if they have sincere motives but unfortunately the politicians understand the game and know the carrots to dangle to make the youths their stooge. Unfortunately some of us have refused to put the events of the last election behind us instead we prayerfully anticipate failure from those with good intentions because we do not share any affiliation. Nigerians must look past the results of the election and in the Jonathanian spirit; support the men with good intentions irrespective of their divide. If we must achieve the Nigeria of our dreams, we must accept the fact that we are first Nigerians and as a Nigerian, I belong to any state under the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, some Yoruba elders have expressed their regret for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari in the last election.
READ MORE:www.naij.com

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