Picture gotten from Christian Joe(Artist).
We have all seen the statistics of the just concluded reality show in South Africa. In 2017, the Britain Got Talent show received a total number of 6.2million votes while the American Got Talent show received a total number of 52.1million votes the same year.
America's population is twice Nigerian population while the voting mode is cost free, because one can either vote on their website or using the show's mobile application.
Total number of votes cast during “Big Brother Nigeria” 2018 amounts to 170million at ₦30 per Sms's. Mind you, there is multiple voting in the show. That is, a particular individual can vote as many times as he wishes through text but but has limited voting choice online.
Nigeria current population according to the latest United Nations estimate 194,866,807 (One hundred and Ninety-four million, Either hundred and sixty-six thousand, Eight hundred and Seven) as of Sunday, April 22, 2018 with the youths comprising of about 54.2% of that population.
Nigeria's population is equivalent to 2.57% of the total world population.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official website, the total number of votes cast during the 2015 general election was 29,432,083 (Twenty-nine million, Four hundred and thirty-two thousand, Eighty-three). According to World Bank and United States Census Bureau, Nigeria's population was roughly over 186 million. The 2015 election was conducted freely with no cost to vote at one person per vote.
People will argue that INEC's election is fare more stressful and hectic to vote with all its attendant discomfort. But if INEC is to organise general election this weekend and ask Nigerian youths to vote on their mobile phones at ₦5 or ₦10 per SMS to elect Leaders whose policies will either shape the destiny of the nation or mar the future and the country at large, a vast majority of the youths will still ask Nigerian Government to credit their accounts first, before they will agree to vote. Even on that magnitude. Some will begin to calculate how much the service provider will earn at that rate if they should vote.
"Lazy gossipers" - Gov Henry Seriake Dickson called them in 2016
"A generation that is not ready for leadership" - Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi and Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo tagged them.
“Wasted Generation” - Prof. Wole Soyinka described them.
“A generation of illiterate graduates” - Atiku Abubakar called them in 2016
“A generation that play too much, sleep too much and engage in idle chatter and gossip" - Chief Obafemi Awolowo foresaw
“Idle youths who sit and do nothing, but expecting everything from government free” - President Buhari has summarized.
"A generation waiting to fill dead men shoes" - Obasanjo concludes.
How do you describe a generation where student leaders move in motorcade?
A generation where key players of various pressure groups are occupying juicy positions in government?
How do you call a generation who judge someone's worth with the level of wealth he has accumulated?
A generation that kills and maim for politicians?
How do we describe a generation where young women are completely profane?
What do we call a generation that holds a national prayer conference to pray out bad leaders?
A generation that utterly criticize with no real life accomplishments?
A generation willing to die to escape the hardships of this country but not willing to die to lead a successful revolution.
What do you call a generation who believes his Pastor or Imam can do no wrong?
A generation that goes to Church on a Monday morning in lieu of factory or office?
A generation not willing to help his brother or sister grow.
Let us tag this generation that is so dissolutioned and impoverished by over 50 years of failed leadership with a positive adjective.
Today, as I read the words of Mmusi Maimane on his message titled "Let's rewrite our future, not our past" I am convinced that this generation needs more than just a hashtag.
Inspired by Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine.