If intentions were rewarded, the world would have a million more achievers, accomplishments, and breakthroughs in every discipline across all spheres of life. Unfortunately, the world does not work like that, so what we have are carcasses of abandoned dreams, uncompleted tasks, avoidable mishaps and regrets.
Now in my 30s, I am one of those Nigerians that have never voted before. Never for once have I participated in the electoral process, majorly because there was nothing inspiring about Nigeria I grew up to know. Before and after I crossed into the voting age, corruption, directionless leadership and moral decadence have never ceased to make the headlines. All we have always had for leaders are old, recycled and overfed officials that only seek office for personal gains. So voting has never appealed to me because it didn’t really count.
Then something happened that changed my mindset. A certain candidate joined the presidential race and suddenly, there seems to be hope. Although at first, all odds seemed to be stacked against him because his political party is not popular, he has since grown into a strong ‘third force’ and given the ruling party a run for their money. The prospects of this candidate could emerge as president has filled a lot of youths and well-meaning Nigerians with the hope that things can indeed get better.
And so with renewed hope, I purposed in my heart to do everything possible to get my permanent voter’s card. My only error is I did not follow through with my intention. The plan we to get the registration done online, which I did. I entered all the required information, uploaded a picture, submitted my application and left it at that. I didn’t bother to check the portal to monitor the progress of my application until the June 30 deadline. On logging into my account, I was greeted with bad news. My application got rejected because the picture I uploaded did not meet the requirements. Had I checked back before the deadline, this would have been rectified.
Ever since getting this news, I’ve been filled with so much guilt. How could I allow this to happen to me? I feel like my vote might be the reason my preferred candidate, the one with the most credibility and competence, might not win. It feels like the fate of the nation lies in my vote.
Since the deadline elapsed, a civil society organisation, SERAP, approached the court for an order for the Continous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise to continue indefinitely. If they win in court, I and many other Nigerians that are yet to be registered will have the opportunity to do so. That’s the only hope I have now.
For now, I can only hope and pray for a miracle to happen.
Till then, consider me an unpatriotic patriot.
