Combating Tribal and Religious Biases in Our Electoral Process. June 22, 2022

There's a Peter Obi in every one of Us - an underdog.

It is NOT About his Structure or my Structure.

It is about us. Our docility. Our sense of denial.

It is whether we are one people, one tribe, one culture, and share a common aspiration.

It is about our Structure as a nation-state.

It is whether we are willing to discard our superficial comfort zone mentality; think, reflect, and act on the Arab Spring. And like Cairo, refuse to sleep until sunset in Mubarak, and the brotherhood without compassion is vanquished.

Therefore, as the call of the time, we have to choose whether to remain passive and comfortable continuing as a victim of the culture of low expectations or choose to be messengers of hope and courage.

It's being a selfless Saul/Paul of the Act of the Apostles in the face of clear and present danger. It's about standing for what is right.

Yes, we can.

Following the sacking of President Mubarak at the height of the 2011 Arab Spring, a general election was held, and the Muslim Brotherhood, being the only organized political movement at the time, won the election handily and formed s government. But they miscalculated and went extreme, embracing fundamentalism.

It didn't take the Egyptian people a long time to realize that the philosophy or ideological bent of the new leadership in Cairo is inconsistent with the goals and aspirations that motivated the sacking of the previous administration.

Without much ado, Egyptians rallied together again and evacuate the Muslim Brotherhood from the corridors of power in Cairo. That cannot happen in Nigeria. Ethnic and religious considerations would have subverted the new moment and perpetuated the Muslim Brotherhood in power. Thank God, Cairo is not Abuja.

Today, the Egyptian economy is one of the fastest-growing economies in the developing world. Their breakthrough in clean energy, thanks to the massive assemblage of solar power systems, has caught global attention.

Yes, Egypt is one people, one tribe, one culture, with common aspirations, shared values, and pyramidal aspirations that resonate with all.

And yes, there is Peter Obi in every one of us, Nigerian. His frugality and espousal of accountability doctrines speak volumes. Nevertheless, "Obi" is a minus. Is Peter Nigerian enough? Does he enjoy nationwide acceptance? What about his structure on the ground? Is the momentum sustainable?

I'm not holding a brief for Mr. Obi. But, I share his predicament, the doubt. The much-trumpeted absence of structure on the ground in social media is emotionally draining. And where I come from is not lost in translation, either.

But there is hope. Thank God. There is hope in emerging stars luxuriating in the dark tunnel.

The likely voters on the "ground" have little or no reckoning of what structure or the lack of it connotes. Meeting with me and expressing their sorrows and grief is all that matters to them.

Simply put, and sadly though, they have had the best and worst of times with great parties. And they had enough. They are tired and they want a new tomorrow. That's the dominant beat from the streets. And I am on the streets.

Moving Forward!

To sustain the momentum, we must translate the pains and griefs in our households all over the country as well as the Abuja disconnect into a commonsense narrative of rejection. And that is your responsibility - the enlightened folks, reading this piece right now.

If the absence of a structure is the issue you are the issue because you are not playing your part: taking the message to the streets. You have the license. Be the messenger and play the Saul/Paul of the New Testament

It starts by Developing and choreographing a coherent narrative for a fundamental shift in populist appeals. That's what they did in Egypt. It is about reawakening. And I call it a road map to mental restructuring.

The fact that Mr. Alex Ehi Aidaghese of the Accord Party doesn't have the necessary funds to woo prospective voters or the fact that his political party is relatively young is not a disqualification. That's your job to do.

Do what they did in Egypt and give his platform a voice. Be committed. Stand by him. Say no to wastage. Say no to the padding of budget culture. And say no to squandering our riches.

Embrace the path of righteousness, nobility, and selflessness. And support him to support you to populate the corridors of our Justice Ministry and the EFCC war room with an air of prosecutorial activism and put an end to the embezzlement of public funds.

Now is another chance to make a change. We cannot afford to falter in the search and enthronement of True Federalism and Decentralization of Power.

We, the people, the enlightened folks, must break the yoke of ethnic biases and religious bigotry in Nigeria's leadership.

Stand tall and stand firm to replicate what the Egyptians did at Tahrir Square in Cairo. Take a stand for what is right. Stand for progress and align with candidates who represent the values you seek in leadership, irrespective of the emblem of their political party.

We must either have one Nigeria of equal rights and justice or we don't have a country. We must vehemently and unequivocally reject our sense of denial of an elusive unity because there is none.

And we must accept our docility, and define an exit strategy for Nigeria to move forward. That's what this essay is about. Enough of the best President we never had escapism.

BE THE STRUCTURE TO END THE CULTURE OF ETHNICITY AND RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY IN NIGERIA. VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE AND NOT HIS POLITICAL PARTY OR TRIBE.

Thank you and God Bless.