By Shina Orodele
Discussing on a forum this evening, one of my senior comrades asked of our role in tomorrow's election and what have we done to sensitise the public especially towards a peaceful election, I pondered on his question and decided that I would rather not give an honest answer to that question or perhaps rather not answer the question.
As an individual, to ponder too much on his question or try to answer it is to put myself in a position of guilt. Guilt of what I should have done as a good citizen of the nation but couldn't. One good one can always do as a good citizen, especially one who is well informed of his environment is to try to orientate one's fellow citizens, especially those who have eyes but cannot see, those who have ears but cannot hear and those whose reasoning have not grown beyond the ethnic and religious sentiments when deciding on national issues. One's duty is to make them see the light and hear the word so that they can be saved.
The feeling of guilt is not for the strong, so I was told a long time ago by someone I can no longer remember. Unfortunately, I am not strong and I still feel guilt, perhaps not guilt, maybe bad about somethings. However, I always find ways to fix the blame on something and make recompense or find solution.
So please, before you assist me to feel guilty - some people help in everything - kindly note that I blame my inability to sensitise my fellow citizens on what it is going on on the Yoruba proverb that says: aja ti o ma sonu, ko ni gbo fere ode (a dog that is bent on getting lost will not listen to the whistle of the hunter). Almost all the people around me are educated and at least know what is right. Some of these people, while education has not been able to cure them of the disease of ethnic and religious sentiments, on no condition will you find them disrupting the peace of the society save on the internet. These are people with visions and missions, though I fear, selfish visions and missions.
Yes, aja ti o ma sonu, ko ni gbo fere ode, I believe for those who are bent towards destruction, no amount of words of hope and peace that can make them change their minds. However, like my friend Simon Archibong, who preaches to me always on the need to have Jesus Christ in my life and go to church like every good christian and despite ignoring his messages, believes he shouldn't give up on me as it could be a word that he will say that would make me believe in his teaching or belief - funny. And in the staunch belief of my Senior Comrade, 'Niyi Rufai, who believes that a simple word of peace could change a mind or two of those bent on destruction, I have just few words to say:
I do not want you to remember Aregbesola and Oyinlola and those people that lost their lives in their political conflicts.
I do not want you to remember Obasanjo and Tinubu and the words of insults they exchanged when they were sworn enemies.
I do not want you to remember all the former political enemies now kori kosun (close friends) and many people that died during their political enmity.
But please remember me, Shina Orodele, an unknown young man, living in a lungu (corner) of Lagos State who doesn't believe GEJ or GMB hold more stake than him in the business called Nigeria or by the condition of their positions are more important than him and hence cannot sacrifice his life for their desires.
Please remember me, a still unknown young man who finds it foolish to lose or destroy himself or his ambition in the process of fulfilling the ambition of another man.
Remember Shina who tries to be factual and sees things as they are. One who will listen to your arguments on the need to support your candidate but filters it with the sieve of reality and make a logical conclusion and decision.
Remember me, one who will, God willing, cast his vote tomorrow for the betterment of Nigeria and allows the political parties' agents to guard the votes while he goes back to his room to watch television and probably play video games.
Comrade Shina Orodele
Lagos, Nigeria
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