By David-Chyddy Eleke
Don’t bother, this is not the part two of Mr Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s piece, released in November last year. This is my own piece, just to let you know that like Mr Governor, I have resolved not to be silent as history beckons.
Only thing you will find different in this piece is that like Mr Governor who will not to be silent, I too have decided same, but I’m mobilizing others not to be silent too. Those people are essential services providers who work on election days and end up not voting.
Now, let’s go. I have taken time to wonder about the number of votes that often get wasted as a result of the fact that some eligible voters are involved in election duties on election days.
Of course, even in highly developed climes, 100 percent voter presence can never be achieved in any election.
But if election duty workers make adequate arrangements where they can, they can participate in this all-important decision making process.
For example, in Anambra, there are over 1,000 active reporters, who work for various news organizations, and also over 4,000 editorial and support staff, who provide one service or the other in media houses, raging from security men, editors, typists, programme anchors, studio technicians, electricians and many more, who will be at work on election day.
On the other hand, the police, NSCDC, FRSC, DSS, army and many others have several thousands of eligible voters in Anambra too. All of them will be out to provide essential services during the election, and may possibly not vote. Just ponder at how many votes will be lost.
We will not proffer solution to this today, because we need deep thinking and the routine of the people involved to know how to marshal out plans about how they can squeeze out time to vote. But for today, I want to reveal my own strategy, which I have fashioned out for myself about participating in this all-important process.
I’m a journalist, my services will be needed on election day. I’m determined to provide it, but like Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, may I say too that “As History Beckons, I will not Be Silent”. Below is what I will do on election day.
Journalists make multiple reports on election days, all real-time reporting. Every journalist who is abreast with elections coverage knows that the first assignment on election day is monitoring the distribution of election materials. After materials have been successfully distributed for onward movement to the polling units, and the journalist has reported so, the second is to move to polling units to ensure that the materials that left INEC office arrived the polling units. The journalist reports this too, and also goes ahead to survey the number of voters turn up for the election.
The good thing about the forthcoming election is that it is not the type you come for accreditation and then go home to return later for actual voting. This is where I have decided my small strategy.
I shall monitor the distribution of materials at INEC, move to my voting centre to monitor arrival of materials and turn out, then I shall seize the opportunity to get accreditation and vote, before moving out to cover the election proper.
Friends, whatever it will cost, please do well to vote. It doesn’t matter if your vote is in the minority, what is important is that you made efforts to change Nigeria, but was overpowered by a bigger population.
Since I started working as a journalist, I have never had the opportunity of voting, save for 2019.
That year, I was determined to vote because the four years of President Muhammadu Buhari was to me a collosal failure already, so I was determined to add my small voice to the decision of who ruled Nigeria next.
I voted against Buhari that year, and you may say my vote was insignificant, but truth is, I did it to satisfy my conscience, and to be sure I was not part of those who were pushing for the election of a glaringly incompetent herdsman as president. Today, Buhari is completing an eight-year term already, and the hardship he has inflicted on Nigerians is high, but I can beat my chest that I’m not the worst hit of the hardship in a country he has ran aground. Rather, I’m happy that I voted against incompetence, but a larger number validated his tenure, despite seeing what was on ground.
It is same way I will stamp my feet on the ground and ensure I vote in the forthcoming election. I call on election duty personnel to device a way to ensure they vote, irrespective of which candidate. As for me, I shall be voting for Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party.
As History beckons, I will not be silent. May I appeal to you not to be silent too, so that years to come, you will either see reasons to argue about how you supported in mending Nigeria or destroying her.
Kachifo!
