June 29, 2010
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to voice my opinion and suggest solutions to a shortlist of our country's well known and resented problems. From the ongoing corruption stripping away our depleting resources, the deplorable school system depriving our students of a proper education, to the lack of infrastructure hindering our Nation's growth. A lot of the blame has fallen on our leaders, the leaders that have deceived us, and have never had our best interest at heart. The response I received was astounding. Nigerians thanked me for my honesty and blamed me for my complacency. Yes, I was speaking to our leaders and demanding change from them, but what was I doing to make a difference. The saying "if you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem" never rang truer. The truth of the matter is that the time for blaming our leaders has come to an end. It's time for us to look within and ask ourselves what are we doing to make a change.
This time I am writing to my peers, the Nigerian youth, the future of our country. We are can no longer avoid blame in the current affairs of our country. Though we are very much aware of the injustice, and heart breaking cruelty we are forced to endure, we shrug our shoulders and say that's the system. How much longer will we continue to accept this system? A system that has forced our brothers and sisters to a life of crime, abetted by a lack of opportunity. A system that has led to the destruction of the once beautiful shores of the Niger Delta. A system that forces you to bribe your professor for a passing grade. A system that puts fear in your heart every time a police officer that is supposed to be protecting you, threatens your life for 100 Naira. How much longer will we accept this as a normal part of life?
After reflecting upon the various comment I decided to rally up a number of brilliant minds who share the same love for our country, and belief in the potential of our nation. We got together to form VoteorQuench.org, an organization that calls upon our youth at home and in the Diaspora to spur much needed change in our country, and to breathe life back into this fallen democracy. We call upon you to join our efforts, because we will be the ones to inherit the problems of our country once our aging leaders are no more.
We are at a critical time in the history of Nigeria, the world is watching, and is curious to know where we are headed next. The universe has created a window of opportunity to take Nigeria back to glory. This window will not last, we must seize the opportunity, and join forces regardless of ethnicity, religious belief, gender or language. We are one Nigeria, and together we must fight for our one chance at redemption. Our culture of criticizing without action must come to an end. In a comment Nyamodi Ochieng-Nyamogo said "Change is not something you beg for, you simply take it because it is your birth right!"
Several of our brave brothers and sisters have started movements to regain control of our great nation, and we are here to support them through the efforts of Vote or Quench. Change will never come from the outside. The outside has too much to gain, for them to intervene in our local politics. It is easy to fold your arms and grumble that your vote will not be counted, everyone could take the same stand and nothing would ever happen. We are building a platform with various groups to ensure that your vote is counted, and that the election is free and fair, all we ask for you to do, is to take the first step towards a better Nigeria and register to vote.
Change obviously will not come overnight, and it will be a lot of hard work, beyond just casting your vote, beyond election monitoring and making the vote transparent. The change will come with a collective effort of our people, and a unanimous decision to commit to an attitudinal change. There must be a desire to see each other succeed, a willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good, and to be kind to even those who can do nothing for you. Change will not come from one Messiah, it will come because the nation as a whole including our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora demand change from themselves and from the nation.
I'd like to remind you, that you only get one life. So ask yourself, if you were to leave the earth today, how will you be remembered? Will you be the person who took care of himself, but did nothing for his country? Or will you be the one who was called on to save his country and answered the call with courage? What happens next in our country is your choice. Vote or Quench!
Join The Cause-Check out : http://voteorquench.org/
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