God is in control, but we must give Him something to work with…
When you speak to so many people in Nigeria, these days, and ask how things are going, especially with respect to the elections, they will respond, “God is in control”. I have often been tempted to say, “we all know that God is in control, after all, he made man and the universe, but have you given him something to work with?” Many of us genuinely want Nigeria to get better. But some just do not want to do their part. They want God to procure PVC for them and then vote for them. Or better yet, they want a miracle from God that will just change Nigeria overnight. Unfortunately, things do not work that way, if they did, Nigeria would be a far better place than it is today considering the number of churches there that preach the “God is in control” doctrine without lifting a finger to do their part. Even when Jesus performed the wine miracle, he had something to work with- the people provided water. When he performed the miracle of bread loaves, he had something to work with, the people provided bread.
The 2023 Presidential election takes place in a few days. It is highly consequential. It will determine the fate of Nigeria and Nigerians. For those who failed to get their PVCs, you have basically ceded your ability, if not right, to complain if things continue on the wrong path in Nigeria. But for those who procured their PVCs and are now mulling whether to go and vote, I will make the decision easy for you. I say, clear your calendar of every other commitment. On that day, leave your house early and go to your polling precinct. Stand in line until you are able to vote. If you live in a city like Lagos but are registered in your town or village, plan to travel back and vote. It may be inconvenient but worth doing. If you live in the city and registered to vote there, stay put and no matter the provocation, on that day, go out, stand in line and only leave the line when you have voted.
Yes, I am super pleased that I will not be hearing or reading too much about cases of people being paid for their votes. It gives you the opportunity to go out and vote your conscience. Even if your candidate ends up not winning, you have earned the right to complain afterwards. Ndi Nnewi nasi na “Ukpana Okpoko bulu, imalu na nti chii nyabu ukpana”. It means, if a grasshopper is carried away by a swarm of bees and eaten, it means that that grasshopper is deaf. Why? because these bees(Okpoko) make so much noise as they approach that only the deaf will not know that they are coming. Many have written, many have sounded the alarm, many have shouted from rooftops, and many of our youth have basically left what they do and concentrated on making jingles, satires, and videos all to inform Nigerians why they should take this election seriously and vote. If you have not at least heard part of that message, then you have fallen in line with the deaf grasshopper and whatever negative result comes out of the fact that you did not vote, stand ready to absorb it and don’t complain.
Na so me I see am oo. This ends my advocacy. I will now stand by in readiness for the results of the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians on February 25.
Good Luck Y’all
By Alfred Obiora Uzokwe.
Disclaimer:
The opinions and views expressed in this write-up are entirely that of the Writer(s). They do not reflect the opinions and views of the Publisher (Nze Ikay’s Blog) or any of its employees. The designations employed in this publication and the presentation of materials herein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever of the Publisher (Nze Ikay’s Blog) or its employees concerning the legal status of any country, its authority, area or territory or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. Equally, the sketches, images, pictures and videos are gotten from the public domain.
