January 08, (THEWILL) –Â A new year goes with resolutions. These are decisions, individually or collectively taken to quit actions. January 2023 is here; expectations are also high as the forthcoming general election will begin in February.
December, which is the month for the celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ, has come and gone with a bang. December 25th was celebrated as the birthday anniversary of the creator of the heavens and the earth, Jesus Christ, who died and gloriously resurrected after three days of his demise.
The mystery beclouding his resurrection power has remained dumbfounding to human folks. How he was able to defeat the grave, death and other unseen forces that could have pulled him down.
No power has been able to conquer his supernatural reigns. Even DD Rawlings of Ghana had tried to toe the same line with Jesus but was humiliated into counterfeit, as thunderstorms struck and shattered him back to the grave.
It has outrageously become a nasty culture among some people, especially traders, to skyrocket the prices of goods and services for selfish reasons to make more gains and frustrate other citizens.
Sadly, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association see the month as a time to sell their hoarded fuel at a higher pump price. Sometimes, the citizens apportion blame on the elected leaders as being the architects of the harsh situation of things.
During the Yuletide, the craziness of materialism and ill-gotten wealth triggered out of consciousness, prompt some youths to engage in armed robbery, killings, kidnapping, bags-snatching and other criminal acts that could lure them to death.
Literarily, this period is supposed to be a time for sober reflection, a time to assist those who could not fend for themselves and a period to let go of grievances and embrace reconciliation with one another, especially those who might advertently or inadvertently wrong us, and a time to personally take stock of how we made it from January to December.
In lieu of the above, the 2022 Christmas celebration was expected to be accompanied by political activities by various candidates for the general election that will kick-start in February 2023. But campaigns appear to have been low-keyed. In fact, since I got old to know what elections are all about, I have witnessed the 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019 past elections, and the political activities that preceded them. The year 2023 is uncharacteristically different from the previous ones.
Expectations of Nigerians from the outgoing President, Mohammadu Buhari, henceforth, are high. The skyrocketed prices of fuel, food items, insecurity and other challenges are crying out loud to be redressed before he hands over to his successor in May 2023.
This time, there is a need to always appreciate due processes in our everyday dealings with people. The coming election is an auspicious period that should not be taken for granted. Nigerians should behave responsibly during this electioneering period and make sure to steer clear of unethical activities that would cause problems.
Parents, guardians, traditional rulers of the seven hundred and seventy four (774) Local Government Areas across the country and religious leaders are critical stakeholders, as far as the forthcoming election is concerned. They need to urge their children, wards, subjects and adherents to desist from any form of disturbances that could mar the coming general election.
The 2023 polls ought to be deemed as a period to exercise our franchise, which is also enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should cooperate with the voters and other groups that have roles to play during the election.
The Police, Army, Civil Defense and other sister security agencies should see Journalists as partners in progress, whose duty is geared towards ensuring the coming elections are conducted in a free and transparent manner. I am aware that the expectations of Nigerians of various political party members are high, but one thing is certain; the presidential election must hold, and a winner will definitely emerge at the end of the exercise.
In the Southeast States, those setting infrastructures ablaze should quit their evil-doing and channel their grievances to the appropriate quarters for necessary action to be taken.
Supporters of the presidential candidates of the registered parties that would participate in the forthcoming election; Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are expected to go about their campaigns responsibly.
Nigerians hope that the electoral umpire will conduct a transparent election as was exhibited by the former immediate past Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, in 2015, and Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, who made history.
Regrettably, the high rate of insecurity in the Southeast may affect the electioneering exercise in the region. The staff of the INEC are in fear. The lives of the electorate, security agencies, and Journalists are in danger if nothing is done about it.
