Epidemic Atychiphobia In Bauchi State -Al’amin Abdulkadir Aliyu

I used to think highly of Bauchi State people especially in their capacity to decisively choose their leaders based on merit. The people of Bauchi State have shown during the preceding elections that whom they vote depended on his political ideologies and what he offers as a candidate rather than his political party; a character Nigeria, the giant of Africa, ought to be characterised with in this democratic dispensation.

However, this upcoming 2023 gubernatorial election has explicitly proved that the political stance of the People of Bauchi is marred with the fear of failure to the extent that many people have resigned to rather elect what they perceive as a proven failure than a potential failure. This raising atychiphobia, if not addressed properly and on time, it would be the cankerworm that would destroy the very fabric of political superiority Bauchi State have over many other states in Nigeria. It has the potential to cause an irreversible damage to us that would continue to haunt us for generations to come.

I am writing this neither to condemn or endorse any candidate, nor to pronounce my choice. I am writing this to address those people with no clear conscious in their choice; those people that see fault in a certain candidate but are afraid to turn over to another direction in fear of what they may find in this new direction.

To those that sincerely find any administration to be inefficient, showing your dissatisfaction through the ballot is the most effective and efficient way to impact positively to the system. Because when you vote someone into power in such a manner, he knows that his assumption into office is as a result of failure of his immediate predecessor to deliver up to your standard. He would also know that the electorates have their eyes on him with their voters’ cards still in their possession. This would stimulate him to improve his strategies so as to meet your demands for fear of meeting the same fate as his predecessor. Such person is sure to dance to your tune.

To those that are truly confident in the leadership style they are witnessing, the ballot is also the most effective way to show your satisfaction and confidence. Voting someone for another term is the ultimate testimony of your confidence in his course and a mark of your approval of his leadership style. If truly, you hold such confidence, your vote would serve as the green light for him to continue on the current path.

We must learn to see our votes as the means to effect changes in the system rather than a mere change in leadership. Let’s look at it as our way of bringing a system where leaders move in the interest of the masses, because you have shown those in power that you are not afraid anymore to use your PVCs should they ever fail to deliver up to your beliefs and standards.

Our God-given right to vote is something that we should make those with our mandates fear. It should be the dread of unworthy leaders as well as the confidence of the worthy ones.

I therefore, ask you to exercise your God-given power according to your best judgement and patriotic conscience by electing people you have confidence in and make sure your vote counts. Whatever your decision is, make it with confidence to show the people to whom you entrusted your mandate the authority of your votes. Never allow yourselves to be governed by fear or be governed because of it.