Cynicism is the Coward's Suicide

Cynicism is the bastion of the defeated. It is the breastplate of the conquered. It is the shield of the fearful. It is the bravado of those who feel powerless. Cynicism is the coward’s suicide.

Cynicism is the oppressor’s best friend because s/he already knows you believe the worst of them so why make the effort to change your mind?

The cynic says “what’s the point?” when asked to take positive action. The cynic looks away and pretends s/he isn’t bothered by atrocity after atrocity. The cynic refuses to try again because he’s sure that failure is waiting in the wings. The cynic believes nothing, hopes in nothing and tries desperately to feel nothing.

In this very political season in Nigeria, I’ve come across a great deal of cynicism; I’ve heard people say February 14 2015 will just be another opportunity to rest from the previous week’s toil. I’ve heard people say things like “wetin my vote go do?” I’ve seen people who are resigned to ‘fate’; people who have decided to ‘siddon look’. Please don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a campaign for anybody, this is an appeal to drag people out of the shadows. We have more than ten presidential aspirants though for all intents and purposes, it’s just between 2 people; whatever the case may be, each one of us has an opportunity to influence something momentous by casting a vote.

For those who may not be able to vote because of TVC and PVC issues, I sympathize because I’m affected too but for those who have cards and still live in the locality, there is just no excuse for not voting. I know we have been disappointed over and over by leadership, I know that some of the people we enthusiastically voted into office have become vampires operating in daylight but still…

We may not know it but people power has worked in the past. After the scuttled 1993 elections, people power put an end to Military rule in Nigeria; people power is what has ensured that we are not yet paying N200/litre for petrol because many Government pundits believe we should be paying the same rate as the US. People power has reduced the number of accidental discharges from police guns on our streets and it has made police checkpoints less menacing.

There’s something different about these elections; the two major parties have never had to campaign like this. They know that there’s something at stake; they know that we count. They’ve heard the anger, they’ve seen the countless tweets and posts. They know. There’s a lot happening on social media but I fear that most of us just think it’s a lot of hot air that will soon blow over.

Cynicism doesn’t change any situation, it just perpetuates the undesirable. Cynicism is like the silencer on a pistol, it mutes the noise of the shot but doesn’t minimize the damage. We need to be heard on February 14; we need to show Nigeria some love by voting.

To my Christian brethren who say things like “let God’s will be done” I’d like to let you know that God executes His will through people. God’s will is not isolated from His people’s actions. It is God’s will for me to be in good health but it is my responsibility to make healthy choices. It is God’s will for me to prosper materially but it is my responsibility to go out and work and give value to get value. It is God’s will for Nigeria to have good leadership, it is up to us to choose those leaders. Inaction isn’t faith, it is spiritual laziness.

Let those of us who have the statutory requirements make it a date with the ballot box. Let’s show Nigeria some love on Valentine’s Day.

“No democracy that stands in enviable heights ever rose on the back of acquiescing, lethargic and kowtowing citizens. Every voice counts…”Oby Ezekwesili