2023: CIAN urges Nigerian electorate to transform to be change agents’

**Politicians have lost conscience, no place for fairness, equity says Okwadike

The Nigerian electorate must assume responsibilities in their quest for good governance by transforming to be the change they want to see, director of Information and strategy, Citizens International Accountability Network (CIAN) Dr. Cadyfidel Onwuraokoye has charged.

He spoke during a keynote address presented at the unveiling of the book, ‘Nigeria’s Next President’ on Friday in Abuja at the Nicon Luxury Hotel.

He said to achieve the desired participatory change in the polity, Nigerian electorates must first see themselves as critical partners in reordering the faulty leadership recruitment process; and not just as spectators, or passive partners, but as active compatriot who will be conscious about their votes, and the inherent power that lies in their vote to make a change. 

“They should not compromise the voting power for ephemeral economic gains popularly called “stomach infrastructure’’. “Nigerians must believe in themselves, they must believe in their sovereign voting power, and trust the electoral process. 

“We must not continue to cast aspersion on the electoral process, and with the negative mindset that election will be rigged and greeted with malpractices.”

According to him, going by the turn of events, as it is presently with the country, Nigerians can’t afford to be indifferent. “Nobody can afford to sit at home, having past time or sleeping, while elections are ongoing. We must be as vigilant as ever. 

“CIAN implore the whole populace to come out en-mass to vote and defend their votes, because from what we have seen, elections have consequences”

He said Nigerians need to urgently wake up from their slumber! 

“For too long, we have yearned for a better tomorrow, better country and mourned a better yesterday, hoping that one day things will change and get better. “But rather, we are being confronted with new woes that demand Nigerians in their collective effort to rise up and do something.

“If we refuse or become reluctant to do something or behaved like conquered people, nothing will change! Life can never give us what we want or desire without a fight. Remember, a people deserve the kind of leadership they get at a period m time.”

According to him, “Europe and other nations of the world we love to make reference to, or enviably talked about and currently rushing to migrate to, did not emerge on mere hope and passivity, but on visionary and constant struggles, with people standing up to fight for their rights.”

“As the saying goes “when evil reigns in a nation, it means that men of honor and good conscience have not spoken” For as long as the citizens and the civil society are docile, dubious and desperate politician’s codenamed “mandate stealers” will continue to have a field day.” 

He however indicated that, the empowerment resource materials which he was going to give out are not not intended to criticize any political party, politician, past or present leadership,but to reveal and draw attention to the basis for voting, issues to look out for, and the expectations of ‘Nigerians from a potential “Nigeria Next President”. He canvassed for the support of all and sundry so that the Novel project would be a success

“Out of our passion for this civic responsibility  “the Next President, which is currently being translated to Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Efik and Pidgin English shall be given free of charge to about 20 million Nigerians ahead of 2023 general elections. 

“The print will also be converted to audio mp3s in such simplicity that an ordinary uneducated and uninformed mind can comprehend.”

He asked that everybody joins forces together to wake the silent and sleeping giants of passive Nigerian voters from slumber.

Former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife who was the father of the day at the event said the book’Nigeria’s next President’ is coming at the right time saying Nigeria’s president is the hottest issue in Nigeria today.

He said, “The problem we have is that God loves Nigeria greatly but man is messing up the country. We must pray for God to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria for the country to brace up. “We don’t want Nigeria to brake up. We pray for one Nigeria, but people must show conscience.

Politicians have lost conscience. I am one of the politicians, they have no place for fairness, no place for justice, no place for equity and you know with that kind of a thing you cannot have a good country

“The manifest destiny of Nigeria is to developed into a super power and raise the respect and dignity of all blacks on earth and our children are beginning to do that.