Is The Forthcoming Elections a Make or Break for Nigeria?

I grew up learning about Nigeria's civil war. I grew up learning about the boldness of an Anioma youth: the late Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu. He spearheaded the failed January 15, 1966, coup.  Since that bloody coup, mistrust between the North and South of Nigeria has been ongoing. 

Fast forward to 2016- Speaking at the 50th commemoration of the death of Ahmadu Bello, President Buhari described the assassination of the prominent Northern premiere and its consequence on Nigeria.
“The events of January 15, 1966, were a monumental tragedy. They set in motion other tragedies that severely bucketed our country. The assassination of our revered Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Chief Okotie Eboh, Brig.-Gen. Maimalari and other political and military leaders pushed Nigeria to a new dangerous place, culminating in a civil war. I lived through these events as a young officer.

“My generation can testify that this is an important value and that it is better to talk through our differences than come to blow with short cuffs, the opportunism and the narrow-minded magnification and mobilization of every imaginable difference for political gain, ruining the promise and optimism of the early post-independence fears. These are the sort of behaviors we should deplore and reject."

The late Sir Ahmadu Bello is credited with a speech that does not go down well with many Igbos.

Late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

I also read history books about the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu. I had read that Colonel Ojukwu was moved by the anti-Igbo pogrom to declare emancipation from the Nigerian State.

At school, we sang this song:
"Ojukwu wanted to separate Nigeria, Gowon said Nigeria must be one. We are now fighting for the Nation, so dear Nigeria must be one."

The  1967 Biafra declaration of independence did not come to fruition. 

It led to a brutal war that shaped Nigeria's political landscape. The aftereffects of the Nigerian civil war were far-reaching and long-lasting. The war had a profound impact on the economy and infrastructure of the country, as well as on the social and psychological well-being of the population. 

In addition to the physical destruction, the civil war significantly impacted the country's social fabric. Many communities were left deeply divided and traumatized by the conflict, and there was a lack of trust and reconciliation among ethnic and religious groups. 

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I recently had the privilege of meeting my anatomy instructor Dr Joseph Nnodim. If you were taught by him , you would agree he is a genius! He just published a book titled : "Toward Understanding The Nigeria-Biafra War and Lingering Questions"

The book is a chronicle of modern Nigeria and the repercussions of colonialism, deep ethnic tensions, and catastrophic civil war that persist to this day.

According to the author, the Igbos had been in the vanguard of the struggle for Nigeria's independence and unity. Still, they paradoxically became the whipping boy in the postcolonial era when the country "lost" its collective mind. The Igbos were subjected to untold savagery before and during the civil war, whose repercussions they continue to suffer to the present day.

Joseph Nnodim, MBBS, PhD, FACP
Clinical Associate Professor, Geriatric and Palliative Medicine

The mistrust from the sixties still runs deep to date. Many people believe Candidate Peter Obi would be best for Nigeria at this time as he plans to bring change and massive development. 

Nigeria's elections are generally viewed as a balance of power between the North and the South. Both Christians and Muslims have learned to live together since independence in 1960. It has not been without conflicts that have led to the senseless loss of Nigerian lives. 

 

Will the North support an Igbo candidate for President?

Can a Muslim- Muslim ticket win?

The President of Nigeria is elected using a modified two-round system. To be elected in the first round, a candidate must receive a plurality of the vote and over 25% of the vote in at least 24 of the 36 states. If no candidate passes this threshold, a second round will be held between the top candidate and the next candidate to have received a majority of votes in the highest number of states.

There have been all kinds of permutations. Many believe that there will be a stalemate. Many predict the emergence of an interim government.

Nigerians believe in prophetic utterances.

The prophecies have begun to flow. 

Many have been praying for over a year.

Will prayer alone cause a good leader to be elected? 

The election process is typically driven by qualifications, campaign strategy, public opinion, and voter turnout. In the past, rigging,  violence, and thuggery have been employed by power-hungry politicians to win elections. With the present economic hardship in the country, politicians and their aides will attempt to offer palliatives that will not last two days to woo the citizenry to sell their votes.

Are you registered to vote?

Do you have your PVC?

Bella Naija blog posted this: The simple gesture of getting your PVC, and having your thumb on the ballot paper goes a long way in moving the country forward. Read more

Pastor Paul Enenche 

Pastor Paul Enenche spoke recently about the Nigerian elections saying: “Nigeria is at a junction where the forces of destruction want to tear it apart but I tell you that this nation shall fulfill the agenda of God. “Call your family members and tell them who to vote for, and how to vote. I am saying this because the matter of the election now is no longer physical, it has gone spiritual. “Call your family members and tell them, if they vote for killers, God will judge them. “I say again, if they vote for terrorists and their sponsors, Jihadists, God will judge them.Read more:

While prayer may provide inspiration and guidance for individuals and communities as they decide who to vote for, ultimately, the actions and decisions of the candidates and the electorate's preferences determine an election's outcome.

Do you think religious leaders and institutions should be seen actively campaigning or endorsing a candidate in an election?

In the words of Veno Marioghae, Nigeria Go Survive.
If them thief our oil ooo
Even if them burn the oil ooo
(Nigeria Go Survive)
I say if them drink the oil ooo
No matter how them try ooo
(Nigeria Go Survive)
Our roots them strong for ground ooo

To Nigeria, we declare, " Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”

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Dr Uvoh Onoriobe
Editor, Real Relationships Magazine

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Medical Missionary @ www.hhands.org
editor@realrelationshipsmag.com
Author of Emptied Cup. The book is a collection of inspiring stories of God’s faithfulness in the mission field.
Uvoh is a member of Christian Union Uniben alumni in the United States. He serves as Director of Healing Hands Health Society a faith-based organization with the commission of spreading Christ’s love through medical care to all people worldwide.

He has worked as a General Dentist/ Missionary for over twenty years, offering dental services across various communities around the African continent and other parts of the globe. He has had the opportunity to train in various tertiary organizations in the United States.

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