"We the people" - How young voters will determine Nigeria's 2023 elections

This a picture that speaks volumes

"We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate" - Thomas Jefferson 

The era of #Endsars is still fresh in the heart and minds of the young people, the tragedy that trails the nights, the guilt, claims, and of course uproar from the people, the young people, with extension to cries and silent people who are now exiled.

Recall, that the popular celebrity DJ switch who is among the exiled was granted asylum in the United Kingdom. Her case was the claims of several death the night of the events, done by the Nigerian government through her agency, the Nigerian army on the event of October 20th, 2020 in Lagos.  The young lady was recently given a standing ovation in the United Kingdom, upon entry and exiting the stage while making a talk as per what happened at the Lekki toll gate.

I digress, why do the white or pink people, the people who colonize Nigeria, and Africa by extension feel more concerned with issues in our continent? Let's have it a story for another time.

Demands of the youth

The young people said;

• They want power, 

• They said they want to lead

• They said they want to wear the shoes the elders wear

• They declare they have passed the mark of the Yoruba long adage "Omo to ba mo owo we, Oma ba agba jeun" - A child who can wash his hands right, can eat with the elders.

•  They assert they are now prepared to face the tide, the wind, and the hope to sail the ship to the right shore.

The Strategies 

Young people are accessing their renewed call to lead, opinion and physical polls show that young voters are trooping out in their numbers to register to vote, especially women. Among these figures are people transferring their vote from their place of primary residence to their current state. This seems to be a calculated chain of events. 

Why 2023?

"We as young people need to be tired of the flow of events in the country, it's not favoring us, we must make a change". Adamu said when asked why he queue to update his voter's card details?

He further, I live in Borno, due to the event of things, I am in Abuja, I recall, I once ran with just my panties when there was an attack in recent years, and though I still go home I don't mind staying in Abuja for now. Coming here was to come to transfer my voter's card. I have been here since 6 am, and am so well determined to get this done. Looking at the time, it was past 3 pm. What courage!

New events unfolding

"As our case is new, we must think anew and act anew"

Msurshima, a female corp member, recounts how she controls the queue alongside other faithful Nigerians. I came in here past 9:00 am, and unfortunately, I fell in the list of names on number 101 out of 130 names compiled, I thereby deduce that it's simple arithmetic that the numbers on the ground are not up to the numbers we have on the paper, because, some who came in have gone back due to reasons best known to them or the way things are turning at the center, as some people are using the long leg to enter. 

She expanded, I had to look out for people who had a voice amongst the crowd, and we join hands together, we change the tide of things. People now enter as they came, it was now first come first serve.

Some dissidents crammed people's names, but unfortunately for them, we outsmart them by asking them what their names are in full. Once you can't tell your name in full and the number you fall into, you are out of the line. When we started this the people there felt hope in their quest to get registered.

When asked, what's the joy you got doing this? I couldn't do mine as the time was already almost 4 pm. I was glad others were able to and our voice count. What a smile! 

The experience above made me believe in the statement 'No Nigerian is more Nigerian than the other Nigerian'. This is what I say when some people came trying to use the Nigeria factor 'long leg' or 'I am an elder. It turns out bad, we restrain them from entering, indeed "We the people" can change the course of the event when we come together to make a say. The majority always wins.

Politics is a game of numbers, if you don't have the numbers you negotiate, make deals, and eventually, it will work.

Accessing the event above, one can only summarize it as a new hope for a better Nigeria, the idea of the new generation, the new youth, and more importantly the renewed vigor. Believe the best is yet to come, and of course, we can together make this country the leader of the black race once again.

It's evident if this effort shows up in all the corners of the nation, indeed 2023 will not be business as usual. It's my wish the best candidate is elected in the general elections, and who is the right candidate? A topic for another day!

God bless Nigeria.