by Abdulrahman Leme

Life as a Nigerian was promising, I was raised in a multi-cultural neighbourhood where respect for one another, discipline and tolerance were the hallmark of our peaceful co-existence. I had a passion for patriotism burning in me, each day I was looking at ways that I can contribute to make Nigeria better, when I grow up.

Dear Nigerian voter as you go to the polls on 28th of March 2015, permit me to refresh your mind on some of the things you already know , in the last six years that I describe as the worst administration in Nigeria’s history. Many of these things I will mention you already know them, but for the love of country I decided to pen down this reminder on some of the most pressing issues you should reflect on before casting your vote.

I was born in the late 80s during the military era and I say this without mincing of words that as despicable as the military regimes were, those days were the best part of my life so far as a Nigerian. I grew up appreciating the beauty of our diversity and I was a Nigerian first before aligning myself with any group, region or culture. Life as a Nigerian was promising, I was raised in a multi-cultural neighbourhood where respect for one another, discipline and tolerance were the hallmark of our peaceful co-existence. I had a passion for patriotism burning in me, each day I was looking at ways that I can contribute to make Nigeria better, when I grow up.

But today we have been pitched against each other by this self-absorbed first family, we attack each other both online and on our streets , we have sacrificed our friendship on the altar of the ambition of one man, remember that the Nigeria of today have been reduced to a group of sectional enclaves we are being led by a toxic leader a man who do not care about people he swore to protect, a man who is characterised by sheer incompetence, a man who had six years to transform our country at a time when the country was earning billions of dollars in revenue but chose to enrich himself and his cronies and subjected us to all forms of hardship.

We’ve had our share of bad regimes, but Goodluck took it to a whole new level. He is the epitome of incompetence. When people say Jonathan is a bad leader, I totally disagree; you have to be a leader first, before you can be categorized as good or bad. Believe me, Jonathan is NOT a leader in every sense of the word.

I watched one of the campaign ads for President Jonathan’s re-election campaign and the mantra is “for the love of country” vote Goodluck then I ask myself where was this love for country when Nigerians from Mubi to Buniyadi Southern Kaduna to Okrika , Wukari to Maiduguri from lagos to jos from Benue to Bama and many other parts of this country were either killed in their sleep, abducted or robbed in broad day light. Over 13,000 (Thirteen Thousand) lives have been lost to the insurgency alone, not to add those that died as a result of government’s negligence, and the millions that have been displaced as a result of one crisis or another.

Again I ask where is the love for country in those newspaper ads and documentaries on some TV stations promoting hate speeches targeting some of the people who have given their lives to keep this country one in the most ridiculous and unimaginable forms . As if that isn’t terrible enough, the first lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan has continued to display her crass ignorance and throwing all kinds of insults at the people of the north in particular, and the nation in general.

It is safe to say that the last six years have been the worst part of our nation’s history and with your PVC come 28th of March 15; you can help rescue our country from the hands of these cynics. We can’t afford to have another four years of this abuse of power total disregard for the rule of law, impunity and massive looting of our wealth, we cannot continue to live with traitors like Asari Dokubo threatening and intimidating us No! We CANT.

Dear Nigerian voter if you are a civil servant remember a certain pension boss is yet to account for billions of naira if you are a student remember the NIS scam, ASSU, ASSUP strikes. If you are business man remember the value of your capital today compared to what it were six years ago ultimately as Nigerian remember the millions of naira stolen in the name of fuel subsidy.

Vote for change, the younger generation and generations yet unborn will celebrate you for standing against modern slavery, nepotism and bigotry posterity will remember you for choosing for your country leadership that is based on integrity, uprightness and love for country for the love of country vote APC vote Change!?

God Bless Nigeria!

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.