As Nigerian election approaches few days from now, it is obvious that a very pivotal time in our nations annals has come. It is a deciding moment for a nation and a people that have gone through so much trauma and distress. It is therefore very crucial that every adult of voting age perform this civic responsibility without any excuse. By the power and mandate of one man one vote, everybody in the nation independent of rank, color, sex, wealth, statement of faith and pay is permitted to decide in favor of any candidate of choice without undue influence or coaxing.
It is indeed very crucial that the approach of one person, one vote, and one worth be the hallmark of any democratic system.
I know how discouraging what is going on right now is. We are perplexed at the cash crunch issues messing with our heads. How can people have money and be denied access to it; and when you do have access you are made to buy your money back with a crushing interest from the black market POS dealers. This is the first of its kind all over the world. What really irks me the most is the burden on the core poor who do not have any money how much more buying the little they have back. Looking at the generous communal giving lifestyle of Africans especially Nigerians one really appreciates God that made us like that. A lot of distressed families are being helped by other families, friends and other support systems like NGOs, Philanthropists, Churches, Mosques etc.
Well this is an opportunity to set things right by choosing the right leader. The time to put sentiments, political, religious, tribal, selfish, monetary inducement related options aside is now. Africa and the entire world is waiting for the giant of Africa Nigeria to rise again. Nigeria is the hope of all nations and we cannot afford to get it wrong in leadership this time. You might be saying what difference will my vote make amongst millions of others, but how wrong you are.
Please know now that you are a very powerful tool in the hand of God and Nigerians towards choosing the right leader. Remember the earth God has given to the children of men and there is nothing He can do here without our permission.
“The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men”. Ps 115: 16 [NKJV]
It is therefore pertinent that Do bear these three things in mind.
- That the future and that of my children born and yet unborn is dependent on the choice of a good leader ushered in by my vote
- That this my vote will change the narrative of Nigerian history and ultimately help influence the outcome of my everyday life
- That I am very important in this election and that my vote counts.
This is a good place to pause, call yourself by name …………and say to yourself that you are important and that your vote has the power to bring the change you desire. If you say this with a deep conviction and vote your conscience led candidate and keep repeating how important your vote is prayerfully, you can be sure God will act on it, and give you your heart’s desire.
I like an article titled “How important is one Vote” written by Mike Mazzalongo. He said
“Sometimes when we listen to the news and they talk about the number of people there are in the world and the magnitude of the problems, we feel rather insignificant. It seems that corporations and governments are getting bigger and more powerful and we, the solitary citizens are becoming weaker and less influential all the time”.
We must know that in the political process, one vote, one person, can make all the difference in the world. It will interest you to know that when it comes to one person, one vote, that:
- In 1645, one vote gave Oliver Cromwell control over England.
- In 1649, one vote caused Charles I to be executed.
- In 1776, one vote gave America the English language instead of German.
- In 1845, one vote brought Texas into the Union.
- In 1868, one vote saved President Andrew Johnson from being removed from office.
- In 1875, one vote changed France from a monarchy to a Republic.
- In 1876, one vote gave Rutherford Hayes the Presidency of the USA.
- In 1923, one vote gave Adolf Hitler the leadership of the Nazi Party.
- In 1941, one vote saved the Selective Service process here in the USA, just weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked.
- In 2015, one vote made gay marriage legal in all 50 states.
It is amazing to know that one single vote, one single voice makes a difference that can change history. Looking at the Bible also we see how the choices of individuals have affected the human race till today.
- Adam’s vote brought death into the world.
- Noah’s vote saved the human race.
- Abraham’s vote brought the Jewish nation into being.
- Joseph’s vote preserved it.
- Moses’ vote freed his people.
- Mary’s vote enabled God to become man.
- Jesus’ vote saved the world.
- Peter and Paul’s vote brought salvation to every person including you and me.
Like Mike said, “we tend to believe that groups change the world, but throughout history it has always been individuals who make the difference, individuals who at some critical point in their lives cast a deciding vote on what they would do or let others do; what they would say or allow to be said; what they would themselves attempt or support an attempt by someone else. No matter who or where, it usually comes down to a deciding vote, and each of us has a deciding vote”.
Another article I found in the site of Town of Middleton Massachusetts titled the “ The Power of One Vote, Your Vote, Use It”, had these striking examples of what one vote could do.
By the Smallest of Margins…
In 1800 – Thomas Jefferson was elected President by one vote in the House of Representatives after a tie in the Electoral College.
In 1824 – Andrew Jackson won the presidential popular vote but lost by one vote in the House of Representatives to John Quincy Adams after an Electoral College dead-lock.
In 1876 – Samuel Tilden won the presidential popular vote but came up one electoral vote shy and lost to Rutherford B. Hayes.
In 1962 – Governors of Maine, Rhode Island and North Dakota were elected by an average of one vote per precinct.
In 1994 – 1.1 votes per precinct in Alaska elected Tony Knowles as Governor and Fran Ulmer as Lieutenant Governor out of 216,668 votes cast in the General Election.
In 2008 – Stockton, California: The Stockton Unified School Trustee Area No. 3 seat was won by one vote. Jose Morales received 2,302 votes while Anthony Silva received 2,301.
In 2008 – Minnesota voters cast 2.9 million votes in their US Senate race that may be decided by as few as 200 votes (1/1000th of one %)
Many examples abound but for space and time I will not go on naming the power of what one vote can do. I wish I could bring this closer home but for lack of data I could not find any to buttress the power of one vote in our clime or Africa for that matter. So people let us make history. We all must go out and vote and wrestle the soul of our nation out of the hands of those determined to ruin it. No matter what it will cost us, inconveniences and all, we are already here, we can’t back off, cash or no cash, we have not all died of hunger and God will not allow that, we refuse to be intimidated by anyone or anything, so let us do this cause we gat this. Victory is ours and the masses will have it their way this time around. May God be praised
