Write about your first experience with something significant
VOTING!
As a Nigerian, we all know what happened and transpired during the last presidential election
The hope we had especially the youths that finally a change was coming and we would soon discover what it's like to be led and ruled by a younger person sitting as the president of the country
We hope, wished and prayed for this miracle but to our greatest disappointment, the did was still done and everyone went back into their shell with pain, anger and more hatred for the country and it's government.
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This was my first time ever to participate in an election. I wasn't the politically concerned type, I am still not a fan of politics but for the first time in my life I wanted to do my part by casting my votes, the least I could do, if ever it was gonna count. So on hearing the news about the candidates we had running for the presidential seat, we got interested, the youth got interested, words were spread, news were everywhere both offline and online. So that faithful day, I went to INEC office with a few of my friends to register and get the card. After registering for the Voter's Card, we were to wait for two weeks or more, I can't remember how long it took, perhaps a month, but aftwrwhat I and my friend decided to check in om them, if our cards were ready. Fast forward to the election day, having encouraged the youth to not waste their Voter's Card and go out to vote, a lot of them, I mean a good number of the youths adhere to this and went to vote. In some unit and branch, fatal accident, fight and killing occured because some parties were trying to force people to vote a particular candidate against their will, while most of them bribed people with money to choose their candidates. Generally after the election, we weren't happy about the manipulation and rigging that took place overall. This is my Entry to #Hive-naija weekly prompt
23 May, 2024
The Experience!
The struggle started from when I wanted to get my voter's card done. I never had one cause like I mentioned, I am not a huge fan of political matters, in other words, I am politically apathetic, nothing bothers me about politics or its games cause like they say that politics is a dirty game so why bother was always my thoughts.
Campaign were held, awareness was created, young, old, children were all earnestly praying for a change in the country so because of this, those who never issued their Voter's Card had to do so, so that they will be able to cast their votes when the time comes.
I was among these people that needed to do this, the getting of voter's card.
The crowd was crazy, people were all out for that year's election.
After much struggle, we couldn't get it done that day so we had to go back the next day.
Day two of trying to get our voter's card, we were drenched by the rain.
It suddenly started pouring and there was no shades around and the INEC staff didn't allow anyone to go into their offices, well,that could be understood, so a few person that stood where there was little roof over their heads were the luckiest.
Still with this disaster, we refused to go, we stood there until we were successfully registered before wee went home with our soaked dress, although at some point it got dried somehow but you know how itchy it will get being soaked and then the wet clothes drying on your body.
Yet again, the first time we went there, we were directed to the INEC office and we were told our cards weren't ready so we should come back in two weeks time.
We went back home and in two weeks time we were back to fetch our cards, thankfully this time it was ready, so we picked our cards and went back home ready for the election day to vote.
This usually happens in every election if you ask me but this time, it was alarming although some still collected the bribe and voted who they had in mind to vote, while some rejected the bribe and went ahead to vote for their candidates.
I was in a particular unit far away from my home, so I had to rise early in the morning to get to the village where my unit was to vote.
It wasn't a very nice experience because I stood in the queue for almost 4 hours I was so tired that I couldn't feel my legs anymore but I had to persevere because I wanted to do this, voting for the first time in my entire life.
In the long run, I successfully casted my vote, the result in my unit was announced, my candidate topped the list but they later manipulated the result according to them.
I left the location immediately I voted because of the chaos that usually occur after an election, and also after already witnessing the fight that happened there, so to be safe I hurried home immediately after voting.
But we had no say in it because government will always have a way of deciding for their citizens, and they already picked the candidate they wanted to win the election through fabrication and rigging.
We were all sad, the youths were sad, angry and devastated but we couldn't do anything about it.
And till this moment, we are still going through this suffering in the country because of the wrong decision and choice the country made.
This was my first time ever to vote in an election and like every other years of experience for others, it was really disappointing.
The struggles and everything seemed to have gone to waste, none counted, and we didn't like that experience at all.
But like they always say, let God's will be done, we only prayed for a better Nigeria but every day it's getting worse and we just don't know if there is hope for the country ever getting better again.
I will say yet again, May God's will be done
