As the electorate in Nigeria goes to the polls to elect another set of leaders who will drive the destiny of over two-hundred million people for the next four years, I think it’s best to take this time to review the political trajectory of this country. We are at a crossroads where we have the power to influence the shape of this country, the form that we want Nigeria to take long after our complaints are no longer immediately relevant. As a citizen of this country, all my life I have wished for this nation to reach its full potential, to be a place that is safe, secured, and prosperous, to be filled with happy, healthy people who love this country. Yes, there are hardships affecting us all, young and old. But there is still hope for the nation; it is not finished for Nigeria.
Yes, we have complex challenges. Divides across ethnic, religious, political, and regional loyalty continue to play out on the national stage. What can we say of the insecurity, our health system, the state of education and unemployment, the systems in place that keep talented young people from positions of access where they can make a difference? But God the Most High has presented us with a physician to heal the land, for the sake of our enterprising youth, the 140 million Nigerians under the age of 35, who deserve a joyous present and flourishing future. This coming Saturday, 25 February is a moment in time where we can take the step toward a new Nigeria, one where meritocracy reigns, and propaganda, spin, and political machinations take a backseat to the welfare of the citizens of our nation. Nigeria can be better, and we have a renewed hope.
The Renewed Hope for Nigeria is in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a man who has learnt the rules of the game but played differently for all his life, a leader who against all odds, fought and stood for the reign of democracy in Nigeria. His two terms as Governor of Lagos State were marked with leadership and entrepreneurship, coupled with the efforts to modernize the city. In many ways, his efforts to revolutionize Lagos technologically, industrially, infrastructurally and politically created the blueprint for development in the nation, and allowed the city of Lagos to become an exporter of culture and intellect, as well as the internationally-recognized mega-city it is to today.
As a leader, he was completely detribalized, forming a political team and cabinet composed of citizens across the 36 states of the country, building them for leadership and sending them back to their native states to replicate development. Tinubu created a test-case with Lagos, had a litmus test with the city, validating and revalidating progressiveness in the southwest part of the country. As president, he is determined to reproduce this success and generalize the development of Nigeria in all sectors.
‘E LO FOKAN BALE.’ Let us rest our minds in confidence but we must not relax. It is not finished until it is finished. Let every patriot,every true Nigerian who wants to propel this nation forward, vote Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Saturday.
Just like the Ekiti State Governor HE Biodun Oyebanji has always implored us, Fine Asiwaju understands politics and governance, but he cannot do it all alone. He is a team player and must carry everybody along to do the work of reforming this great nation. The onus lies on us to vote for people who would make the administration easy. Let us vote for all the candidates of APC in the Governorship and National Assemblies elections to create a progressive path for Nigeria. Let us show ourselves and the world that we can progress steadily and safely. Nigeria is our country, a country we deserve to enjoy, and to feel proud of. Let us all do our part and make it one.
The writer, Dr. Mrs. Mojisola Yahya-Kolade, is an entrepreneur, grassroots politician and the former Commissioner for Health Ekiti state during the Covid-19 pandemic. She is currently a Federal Commissioner in the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. She is a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Southwest Contact and Mobilization and the Director General Tinubu Titans in Nigeria. She writes from Oye-Ekiti Ekiti State Nigeria.