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By Ejiofor Toochi Cynthia
Political parties in the country have presented candidates for the 2023 presidential election. This is the season of electioneering and many citizens have registered for the voter’s card and have started campaigning for candidates they deem competent.
Traders are not left out of too. Like everyone else, they are hoping for a better Nigeria.
A few traders at the Onigbongbo Market in Maryland, Lagos expressed different emotions towards the forthcoming elections.
Toyin, a paint trader, has her PVC just like many others. Being a Nigerian, she considers it her responsibility to vote in the election.
When asked her preferred candidate, she said: “I am Yoruba and will vote for a Yoruba.”
While Toyin may be inclined to ethnicity, Marta is bound by religion. She said:
“I believe God will do wonders and come to our aid because we have suffered a lot. And I will vote for whoever God pushes me to vote for. “
She equally hopes that it will be a free and fair election.
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Awele who sells chicken feed however does not have a voter’s card.
Due to the large crowd at the Independent National Electoral Commission registration centres, he was discouraged from getting his Permanent Voter’s Card and is not looking forward to the experience.
“I am not really anticipating the election, because I do not have my voter’s card. But based on what I have heard, the candidates with higher chances of winning are Tinubu and Peter Obi. Although Obi is not under a major party, he stands a major chance among the non regulars. So for once, the South believes they have hope,” he said.
A corn seller believes that even if the candidate cannot change everything, he should be able to make great improvements. She does not want anything that will prevent her or others from serving God, citing the recent massacre of worshippers at Owo, Ondo State.
“Everyone will carry his/ her cross and Nigeria’s cross. We are one and we want peace,” she added Mohammed, a jeweller, has no interest in getting the PVC and voting in the election.
Others are looking forward to it because there appears to be hope for change. They have their voter’s card and intend to vote for their preferred candidate whether it is shaped by ethnicity or not.
Ethnicity shouldn’t be a basis for making such an important decision. It’s about the competence of the candidate.
Tribalism shouldn’t be a thing in the forthcoming elections. I love the fact that the traders are willing to cast their votes as patriotic Nigerians but we should all vote not because of tribe but we should vote for the right person
May God help us
People should just be reasonable, that’s just it.
If you’re reasonable, you’ll definitely do the right thing.
A candidate’s competency shouldn’t be based on their tribe or religion. Nice article, keep up the good work.
I simply feel people shouldn’t be political apathetic during the forthcoming election. It doesn’t matter the tribe or religion people should just vote for the best candidate.