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Nigerians really do not learn their lessons on who to vote for during elections, like they have not suffered enough to vote their choice and conscience rather it all boils down to who shares the most money. It almost time for the people of Edo state, Nigeria to decide who their incumbent governor will be and campaigns have started fully that many empathy promises are been made as usual. Currently we can only identify with 3 parties who are campaigning so hard to win the seat, these are labor party, all progressive congress (APC) and people's democratic party (pdp). As usual these are all parties we are familiar with and holds prestigious post across the nation.
During elections, one thing that is common is the distribution of branded materials such as tee shirts, face caps, aprons for market women, stickers that carries the party candidates, notebooks, umbrellas and so on. Some even go as far as sharing food stuffs in small quantities to communities to campaign for votes. Sometimes because of these material gifts, many have sold their franchise to the wrong person that they do not desire but for the mere fact that they satisfied their want at that moment. In my community, I have seen where political aspirants share at most 2k or 2 to 5 cups of rice for election campaign.
One thing that baffles me is the fact that, despite everything that is going on in the country, people have not learnt their lessons to vote for viable candidates that would take the affairs of the country to the next level. I experienced something with Some persons who were campaigning for the political aspirants of their choice and they made a statement that whatever money the other party is giving them (that is the people) he would double or triple it. Instead of giving us his mandate on how he intends to make the state better, that was the best thing he could say.
We are lacking seriously in many areas such as agriculture, businesses, education, Healthcare, bad roads, insecurities and so on. Some how the people that are willing to put in the work are not financially capable to beat their opponents. This year was indeed a tough year for Nigerians as the prices of food and acracity was so high, as I speak tomatoes of 200 naira cannot cook anything unless you buy as high as 500 naira and above. The first part of the year was so tough that many had to fall out of businesses.
Well, as the elections happen on the 21st of September, may the best man win and we hope that thing get better. Hopefully,its a free and fair election where people can exercise the rights by voting their choices.