by Kunle Sodipo
ckswritings@gmail.com
Nigeria is a ship of over 230 million people. But today, less than 5% of us are deciding where the ship is sailing to.
That is the tragedy of our democracy.
Every election cycle, we complain. We lament bad roads, epileptic power, jobless graduates, insecurity, and leaders who treat public office as inheritance. Yet when it is time to vote, the majority of us stay at home, sell our conscience, or argue on social media while a tiny, organized minority goes to the polling units, buys votes with N5,000 and determines our destiny for the next four years.
Let us be honest with ourselves.
In Abeokuta South, in Ogun State, in Nigeria – elections are not rigged only at the collation centre. They are rigged long before election day. They are rigged when we refuse to get our PVCs. They are rigged when we refuse to attend ward meetings. They are rigged when we say “politics is dirty” and leave it for dirty people. They are rigged when we worship moneybags instead of interrogating their manifestos.
Until we are back to our senses, a few minority will continue to determine where our ship is heading.
Until we understand that a Governor, a Senator, a House of Assembly member can cripple or develop our lives more than a prayer point, we will remain passengers who complain about the captain but refuse to choose the captain.
2027 is not just another election. It is a referendum on our senses.
Will we continue to vote because someone is from our tribe, our church, our mosque, our street, or because someone gave us rice?
Or will we vote because someone has capacity, character, competence and a verifiable track record of service?
The ship is sinking, not because we lack talented sailors like Asanata Mayor, but because we have allowed a few to hijack the steering.
The time to be back to our senses is now.
Get your PVC. Join a party – BOOT Party welcomes you. Ask questions. Follow candidates. Demand manifestos, not money.
Because if the majority keeps sleeping, the minority will keep steering – and we will all have nowhere to anchor when the storm comes.
*Comrade Sodipo Olukunle Oladimeji, _anipr_*
BOOT Party Candidate, Abeokuta South Constituency II, OGHA 2027
