The 2023 Nigeria Election: Déjà vu ’93
The news of the 2023 presidential election rocked the nation. Rumors of voter suppression and irregularities swirled in the days and weeks following the election. Eventually, a special commission was formed to investigate the claims, and their findings were shocking: the votes didn’t count.
It was an eerie echo of a similar event that had taken place 30 years earlier. In 1993, the election was marred by similar allegations of fraud and voter suppression. In both cases, the commission found evidence of tampering and voter intimidation. In both cases, the will of the people was subverted in the name of political expediency.
As the dust settled on the 2023 election, the country was left to grapple with the aftermath. Many questioned the validity of the political process, and some even called for a complete overhaul of the system. But for many, the most heartbreaking realization was that, once again, another generation had failed to get it right.
The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow, but if they inherit a broken system, how can they be expected to fix it? The failures of the past cannot be undone, but we can learn from them. We must take a hard look at the systems in place and work to fix the root causes of voter suppression and fraud. It is also essential that we instill a sense of civic responsibility in future generations. We must teach them that democracy is not something that can be taken for granted, but rather something that must be actively safeguarded and protected.The road ahead will not be easy, but we must remain hopeful. The lessons of the past should serve as a warning and a call to action. We must work together to build a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all. We owe it to ourselves, and to future generations, to get it right this time
