Would you vote for change again?

During the past few months I’ve found myself growing increasingly more upset with PMB’s administration; so much so my left eye twitches whenever any cabinet minister make statements.

But why?

And more importantly if I were to go back in time would I vote for PMB again? Indeed it’s the latter question that irritates me more and more with each passing second. For I suspect that were I have to make a choice again I would vote Buhari – again! And that’s what upsets me the most.

I’m exasperated with a disillusionment of the most frightening proportions because of his administration’s poor economic performance. Their inability to be practical is fast becoming the stuff of legendary folklore, and I find myself wondering how on earth we’ll survive the next three years. But lurking at the back of my mind is a reality so basic and blatant that I literally can’t stand facing it. For in all likelihood I would vote for PMB again.

Am I dumb or clueless? Maybe a bit of both.  Anyway, so as to ascertain whether or not I need those dour looking men in white coats to come and pick me up I decided to find out whether others feel the same.

I asked a cross section of people the following questions;

Who did you vote for at the last general election, and if you were to vote again would you do the same? And why?                   

Below are their answers.

‘’I voted for Buhari and I would do so again. It was the lesser of two evils….the mayhem that has characterized the confusion in the other camp (as they are not in power they don’t know what to do with themselves). Have things evolved as one had hoped…no! However we all continue to turn a blind eye to empowering the establishment of domestic industries for the re-vitalisation of our economy, the gainful employment of our youth, the solid and meaningful education of our children (emphasis on children). You are a student of the Good Book….train up a child…and he will not depart therefrom. Don’t get me started!!!!!

Kemi

‘’I didn’t vote bro. But all in all I simply wanted PDP out.  I knew we didn’t have any real choice in terms of party or candidate as they are one and the same. The country was running on so called free money (stolen money). It has come home to roost now.’’

Michael

 

‘’I voted for Buhari. I will still vote for him because I think the pain of today is a result of the past manifesting now.’’    

Shola

 

“Buhari. If I have to do it again I will vote him over and over again. He is obviously not the best candidate for the job but Jonathan can never be an option for me. Nigeria’s problem is partly due to poor performance of this administration but largely delayed effect of the profligacy of the last administration. This administration has not disappointed me as a person because I wasn’t expecting any magic from them. All I wanted was for them to stop the impunity going on in Nigeria. People were stealing everywhere openly and nothing was being done about it. Please note that it’s not that this government has done so much to stop the looting but at least it’s being discussed. The few people with conscience may think twice or be persuaded from joining the looting spree. No nation develops when looting is at this level. One reason why nothing works in Nigeria is because of corruption. Check your environment – you see corruption everywhere.’’

Sam

 

‘’Buhari. Yes. Because the Jonathan administration would have destroyed the country.’’

Niyi

 

‘’Yep. I’ll still vote for Buhari because he was the best choice between the two candidates presented. It was an election where you had to choose the lesser of two evils.  If the country was still under Jonathan’s administration, God knows where the country will be. However, I believe people got way to excited about Buhari and saw him as a savior.  No matter the issues we face right now pertaining to the economy no one should be surprised.’’

Gbemi

 

‘’Buhari. I would do it again. The Jonathan guy and his cronies? No thanks.’’

Temi

 

‘’I voted President Buhari in the last election.
I will vote him again but I will not go thru the stress I went through during the last election.’’

Tunji

“Wow! That’s a tough one. I voted for Buhari last time. For want of a better alternative I would probably do the same again. Not because I’m at all impressed with their performance thus far but having heard the rate at which this country was being sucked dry by the unprecedented level of kleptomania during Jonathan’s presidency(which he simply lacked the will and possibly the desire to do anything about) coupled with the crash in oil prices it’s my opinion that the country may have gone under by now if Jonathan had returned.”

Dapo

 

“I know PMB is not as competent as people would have wanted but Nigeria has limited options. With what I know now, if given the chance to go back in time, I will still vote for ‘change’.
We are in terrible times. I think APC isn’t fundamentally different from PDP. At the least, we have sincere leaders, and once they can harness the potential of the talents that abound, we will move in the right direction. To be very clear, APC (in my opinion) was (and remains) the better choice in the general election. Definitely not the ideal structure (party, candidate, etc), but best available.”

Abimbola

“I voted APC, I would vote same because the PDP are a worse option. “

 Femi

“For the General, yes would still vote for him. He’s the best of the rest!”

Deji

“I voted for PMB and as frustrating as things are now, I would do it again and again and again and again….Or perhaps I should rephrase. I didn’t so much vote for PMB as I voted against GEJ. I wasn’t crazy about Buhari (in fact, I was a bit wary). But the alternative (GEJ) still in power for me was worse.‎ The illusion that we were doing ok…we were managing, was just that – an illusion. Burying our heads in the sand and pretending things weren’t that bad was only making things worse.
It’s like being sick and either ignoring that you’re sick at all or spending your time complaining about the sickness, not taking any steps to cure yourself and all the while, abusing your body for not being stronger. Abusing the disease for taking advantage of your weak body.
Even if the cure doesn’t work, you friggin’ tried!!! When you realize it’s not working, you then go ahead and search for another cure. And another. And another. You don’t sit there whining, and expect things to miraculously change. Furthermore, what did we think was going to happen? Nigerians, we talk of Change, but I don’t believe any of us are ready to do what needs to be done – no matter how inconvenient it may be – for REAL change to happen. It’s like how I spent years not exercising and eating poorly, slowly but steadily putting on weight. I start dieting and get pissed off when after 3 months I STILL don’t look like Teyana Taylor. So PMB may not be as effective as we would like. But the Nigerian people finally taking a stand – no matter how small – is a giant step (in my humble opinion) in the right direction.‎ Rant over.”

Fatima

“Buhari. No I won’t. He knows nothing but revenge. “

Ope

“Buhari. And I would still vote for him because the other guy claimed ignorance regarding corruption – a classic example was his statement about corruption not being stealing. Or was it the other way round?”

Femi

 

So there you have it. Despite our present pains the majority of us would still vote for Buhari.

But what does this say about us? And more importantly what does it say about Nigeria?

 

Segun Akande