Nigerian Elections.. Any Concern for the Environment?
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Even before the year 2019 came rolling in, the air was heavy with election antics:
The sprouting of new political parties like weeds;
Forging and felling of alliances;
Candidates shouting accusations of opponents' failures from the treetops and of course
The free-for-all social media battles with "keyboard warriors" wielding words, memes and damning pictures for battle artillery.
In the midst of the "who did what and who did it worse", no mention is made of our steadily degrading environment and how this is affecting our dear country on a daily basis.
While forward-thinking countries are researching, testing and collaborating on the most sustainable methods to best combat the looming danger that is climate change, the Nigerian people are distracted by the trending hashtags and comedic spins on actions worthy of national embarrassment.
We have been touted as the "happiest people on earth" for our ability to turn every bad situation into a joke, but at what point will we begin to deal seriously with serious issues? When we sell our birthright for a bowl of watery soup?
Ask yourself this, what did your favoured candidate have to say on the widespread climate issues? Do they care about the scorching heat and steadily dropping levels of rainfall nationwide? Are they thinking of how best to make the Nigerian environment clean, safe and liveable for you and your generations after you?
If none of your candidates had a solid map or clearly conceivable thought concerning the environment, did you ever think to jog their memories by asking questions? Why are we so comfortably silent on the one thing that has a major hand in our economy, health, security, and development as a people?
Now, the first leg of elections has come and gone. And while some of us may want to hide under the excuse that we couldn't directly engage the candidates for President, Senate and House of Representatives, we have another opportunity in the upcoming elections for all things at the state level. These are the men and women who are supposed to be living and breathing the harsh realities in our various states.
If they do not have any idea what you go through daily, should they be allowed the right to claim to represent you and other members of your constituency?
If they have not been able to proffer or implement feasible solutions to the basic issues around you, should they be allowed another tenure?
The life of the everyday Nigerian depends on the environment and what (s)he can make of it - the woman selling vegetables whose prices have risen because she now has to pay "mai ruwa" to water her crops; the nomads who now encroach on farmlands for their animals to eat because the forests are now deserts and wastelands; the tons of food that rot because farmers overdose the soil with chemicals to have any form of growth and of course, our non-existent export of natural resources.
We always have a choice. This year is no exception.
Let us not end like every other election year - screaming about how "unwoke" one candidate is while doing nothing to enlighten or demand that the elected or soon-to-be elected make our local space conducive for productive living.
This is Nigeria. This is our one true home.
Forget the recycled promises.
"Leave trash for LAWMA" and demand for functional systems NOW!
We are not too young to rule.
We are not too young to demand a cleaner, safer environment NOW!
Lest we forget.. some hastags for the road ;)
#Nigeria #environment #climatechange #whatareyoudoingaboutit #election #2019 #wakeup #woke #speakout #speakup #standp #standforsomething
The sprouting of new political parties like weeds;
Forging and felling of alliances;
Candidates shouting accusations of opponents' failures from the treetops and of course
The free-for-all social media battles with "keyboard warriors" wielding words, memes and damning pictures for battle artillery.
In the midst of the "who did what and who did it worse", no mention is made of our steadily degrading environment and how this is affecting our dear country on a daily basis.
While forward-thinking countries are researching, testing and collaborating on the most sustainable methods to best combat the looming danger that is climate change, the Nigerian people are distracted by the trending hashtags and comedic spins on actions worthy of national embarrassment.
We have been touted as the "happiest people on earth" for our ability to turn every bad situation into a joke, but at what point will we begin to deal seriously with serious issues? When we sell our birthright for a bowl of watery soup?
Ask yourself this, what did your favoured candidate have to say on the widespread climate issues? Do they care about the scorching heat and steadily dropping levels of rainfall nationwide? Are they thinking of how best to make the Nigerian environment clean, safe and liveable for you and your generations after you?
Now, the first leg of elections has come and gone. And while some of us may want to hide under the excuse that we couldn't directly engage the candidates for President, Senate and House of Representatives, we have another opportunity in the upcoming elections for all things at the state level. These are the men and women who are supposed to be living and breathing the harsh realities in our various states.
If they do not have any idea what you go through daily, should they be allowed the right to claim to represent you and other members of your constituency?
If they have not been able to proffer or implement feasible solutions to the basic issues around you, should they be allowed another tenure?
The life of the everyday Nigerian depends on the environment and what (s)he can make of it - the woman selling vegetables whose prices have risen because she now has to pay "mai ruwa" to water her crops; the nomads who now encroach on farmlands for their animals to eat because the forests are now deserts and wastelands; the tons of food that rot because farmers overdose the soil with chemicals to have any form of growth and of course, our non-existent export of natural resources.
We always have a choice. This year is no exception.
Let us not end like every other election year - screaming about how "unwoke" one candidate is while doing nothing to enlighten or demand that the elected or soon-to-be elected make our local space conducive for productive living.
This is Nigeria. This is our one true home.
"Leave trash for LAWMA" and demand for functional systems NOW!
We are not too young to demand a cleaner, safer environment NOW!
Lest we forget.. some hastags for the road ;)
#Nigeria #environment #climatechange #whatareyoudoingaboutit #election #2019 #wakeup #woke #speakout #speakup #standp #standforsomething
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