2015-02-03 17:28
It is not an exaggeration to say that whenever Valentine’s Day
celebration is mentioned that what comes to mind are Roses, Cupid’s
arrows, chocolates, cards and even romantic feelings. While it is not arguable that the foregoing are collectively synonymous with Valentine’s Day celebration, it is not laughable to say that the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) that are been lopsidedly distributed to duly registered voters across the country has somewhat become a paraphernalia of Valentine’s Day as the much-awaited presidential election is scheduled to hold on the day the Lover’s Day is traditionally celebrated all over the world.
The beauty that is inherent in the coincidence of the conduct of the presidential election and the celebration of the widely celebrated Lover’s Day come February 14, 2015 cannot be far-fetched when seen from the prism of the fact that the love which Saint Valentine exhibited while on his earthly journey can be emulated at the polls to make the presidential election that coincided with Lover’s Day, including the governorship and state house of assembly elections scheduled to hold on February 28, 2015, are peaceful elections that would make any book on Nigeria’s political history a must-read for political students and gurus across the world.
At this juncture, one is compelled to ask, how can voters express Valentine’s love at the polls to make the election peaceful? First and foremost, voters and party s would not go to the polls to be involved in the nefarious activities of ballot snatching and snuffing. Given the undiluted love which St. Valentine professed and exhibited, it can be argued that there is no justifiable reason that would make any voter to be enmeshed in the labyrinth of electoral violence that comes in the similitude of clashes among supporters of rival candidates.
Secondly, voters that purposely left their homes to vote for their choice candidates would in the spirit of Valentine not forsake their choice candidate and accept monetary gifts from supporters of other candidates at the polls in order to buy their consciences and usurp their freedom of choice. There is no denying the fact that the expression of Valentine’s love at the polls would make voters that are truly patriotic not to take up the cudgels for their choice candidates. The voters that truly understand the essence of Valentine’s love may not on the day of its celebration think of even hurting his or her neighbor; not to talk of going to the polls to foment trouble and engage in electoral malpractices.
One may not be wrong to say that some readers of this opinion article may have disagreed with the views expressed herein. However, the truth of the matter remains that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear…” The foregoing biblical scripture is the word of encouragement in the book of 1st John chapter 4 verse 18 on the need for the expression of love under any situation and circumstances as it is capable of engendering peace.
With this in mind, one can say that it would not be out of place for politicians and electorates to express love at the polls come February 14, 2015 and beyond in order to let peace reign on the nation’s political landscape. At this juncture, one cannot deny the fact that expressing the kind of love which St. Valentine exhibited throughout his earthly journey in order to engender peaceful coexistence has become an indispensable panacea for all Nigerians of votable age come February 2015. The spirit of Valentine’s love should be exhibited on the day of presidential election to enable peace to reign.
When viewed from another perspective many Nigerians have no doubt developed apathy, and to a large extent, hatred towards some politicians that are wont to see the game of politics as a dubious means of amassing ill-gotten wealth to themselves. Rather than been compelled to stay away from the polls by the spirit of apathy and hatred which they have overtime developed towardthe politicians, they should resort to expressing Valentine’s love by going to the polls and vote for the candidates of their choice. Nigerians of votable age who have already developed apathy should remember the admonitions of Abraham Lincoln that says “The ballot is stronger than the bullet“ and that of William E. Simon that says “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.”
Translated to suit our environment, it can be said that “Bad politicians are sent to Abuja by good people who don’t vote.” Permit me to say that this piece would not be brought to conclusion without admonishing desperate and greedy politicians that being elected into one political office or another would make them to be fulfilled in life. If some of them who are Christians should go through the book of Ecclessiastes, it would clearly dawn on them that their collective thinking is erroneous. The scriptures in chapter 6 verse 1 and verse 2 has it that “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men; A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth and honour, so that he wanted nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it: this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.”
Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient for politicians that are destined to obtain victories in various political positions come February 2015 to hold on to the love which St. Valentine demonstrated rather than thinking of how to carry out nefarious activities at the polls.
Finally, politicians should endeavor to be expressing Valentine’s love toward the country growth in all ramifications rather than thinking of how to milk her dry.
- MyNews24
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