THE mood across Nigeria shows the people’s preparedness for the 2023 general elections. The political parties and their candidates have intensified campaign, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) is set for a free, fair and credible elections while voters’ education and enlightenment by the Federal Government and civil society groups is rising in tempo.
IT is a countdown to the elections with the date for the presidential and national legislative elections as February 25, while the governorship and state legislative elections hold on March 11.
A total of 18 political parties are billed for the presidential elections while INEC has registered a total of 93.4 million voters for the exercise out of which 37million are youths.
FROM indications, Nigerians are upbeat about exercising their franchise. Many, with an unprecedented eagerness, are proudly displaying their voters’ card while others who have not accessed their voters’ cards would be missing the opportunity to vote.
A critical demand throughout the period is security. While the Police and other law enforcement agencies have assured the nation of adequate security, it would not be out of place to urge them to perform even better than they had done in previous elections.
HAPPY enough, President Muhammadu Buhari has promised a transparent polls and Nigerians are looking forward to an exciting moment that will preserve his name in gold. Therefore, he will not tolerate a deviation or a contradiction that will likely kill the joy of Nigerians.
AN obvious contradiction is the cash swap policy alongside the lingering fuel crisis nationwide. While the policy is well intended, its implementation has run into hitches judging from untold hardship it has exposed the nation to with the majority of the population agonizing from cash inaccessibility and downturn in business operations.
THE regular fuel scarcity in Nigeria still biting hard, and with the price of petrol gone up high in spite of the government is said to be paying on the product
THE daily news reports are pointers to the fact that Nigerians are hungry and angry and whatever will add to their burden should be avoided else it triggers frustration and rage.
THE need to address the current financial saga, and how to ease the sufferings from fuel scarcity and hike in price cannot be overemphasized.
FINALLY, voters should guard against sentiments during the elections and vote for candidates who will serve the people and not themselves. Nothing should therefore stop an eligible voter from exercising his/ her franchise in these elections.