The Election Theft

The atmosphere was far from peaceful and the legs scampering towards safety was enough evidence to prove that trouble had once again escape from the tight grip of peace and the people not suspicious of its arrival and unprepared for its menace were now the victims too far from salvation. Then came the announcement that everyone had expected, feared and prayed against. The gunshots were mean and terrible and every sound boasted 'i am above all' as youths whose concern at their age, which should be tied to their books were now the happy fingers playing with that dangerous trigger as their demand for the ballot box is swiftly attended to. This is the scenario of a typical election day in Nigeria as many people would come to remember it for a long time to come. While others practice their democracy, take their time to cast their votes and decide with good judgment who to become their leaders, others groomed by these same political leaders who by their real intentions are undoubtedly hypocrites pick up arms against their fellow country men and create very dark moments of fear and oppressions at polling centers all for the price of financial benefits. The election that brought Chief Timipre Sylva into power as the governor of Bayelsa State is a perfect example of a well staged electoral malpractice that is almost magical to the senses for never before had electoral thievery looked so righteous and peaceful unlike those in the past in which violence is the hallmark but despite the calmness we were certain the thieving and creation of illegal votes in the secret chambers was seriously thriving even at that moment. That morning was so quite and it was so obvious for all to see that it has been designed to be a very special day because it would be the only day until the next four years before Bayelsians would have the chance to vote in another corrupt leader to lead them to no where. I walked through the streets, i saw the police van stationed at strategic places, i felt the quietness and could count every breathing being around me, it was like the hours charged by curfew. I moved from here to there in search of a polling center and behold as i moved the more i came closer to the reality that Bayelsians rather than vote were feeling more inclined to remain inside their houses watching home videos than waste their time with another display of dishonesty. The polling centers were all empty but in our hearts we knew a new leader would emerge without our votes, in fact it is a shared view that in Bayelsa and Nigeria at large President, Governors and local government heads are hand picked by the mighty few, weeks before the election day but still we are curious until the last minute when our suspicion is confirmed and another corruption installed. I waited for the news and when it arrived all i could say like the many others was 'WHY THE CORRUPTION, WHY THE ELECTORAL THEFT'