Nigeria is my dear country. And another country, which some
of you know, indeed, I can proudly claim, is "my country,” too. And I have
come to stay in both countries.
However, there is a country. And there is a country too.
But, there are sharp differences between these two countries, by wide margins,
despite certain obvious similarities.
The funniest thing is the inhabitants are the same: good
education, fantastic vocabularies, great human and material resources to their
optimal advantages. Many similarities. Though, there are few instances of
lagging behind by the other country in Africa. And it's quite unfortunate and
sad.
But during elections, citizens of a country see themselves
as one, and the citizens of the other country see themselves as arch and stout
enemies - with humongous venom.
To come home, let me draw this example. Elections were held
in Canada - at the federal, provincial and city levels not too long ago.
As the
elections approach, there was no bickering between, and among, candidates. No
thuggery. No tearing of posters. No inducement with dollars. No wooing of
voters with PDP's bags of rice, loaves of bread or 'sobo' milks. No inscription
of APC's on recharged cards, indomie noodles or exercise books. No use of
religion, ethnicity, tribe, geopolitical zones, militia groups to campaign. No
hate speeches.
