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The Ticket to Soar Photo Credit: https://aviaryrecoverycenter.com/let-it-go/ Blue sky above, grey clouds below, Yet I feel trapped in a place where I do not want to go. Dry sky above, jagged rocks below, I am falling to a place where I do not want to go. How do I break free? How do I grow? How do I transcend this now and glow? Their reflexes have forced us to our knees. Warmth and peace has faded to a place that isn’t is. They lie all day, no sign of going back, Right has rotted to the point of being one - same with left. How do we break free? How do we grow? How do we transcend this now and glow o? Basic things are ignored. They’re losing easy grounds. So, we’re free-falling, sinking to a place of no sensation. Choices must be made; the right action must be taken. So, we know right now, présent we would have done our all and all. How do you break free? How do you grow? How do you transcend this now and glow o o? Let your conscience remain your l...

Green or Grey Nigeria Photo Credit: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-tree-growing-old-dead-dying-rotted-tree-image-symbolizes-rebirth-reborn-new-birth-overcoming-obstacles-image68357891 She was once proud, the home of gods and royalty. Now, people under her care depend on charity. If they are not displaced, they live in fear. Conflict up North, robbery down South. Terrorism coated with religious biases, And armed with ethnic prejudices. Who will paint her vibrant green white and green? True peace will not remain an elusive dream. Nightmares will not hunt me if I stay awake. I may be slow but I am far from weak. She has become drier than the Atacama Desert. Water and life only appear as mirages. She has become like quicksand. Struggle and go down faster. Fight the wind at your peril. To your ever-sure doom. Who will paint her vibrant green white and green? Poverty cannot continue to reign supreme. To me, 'dawn' is but minutes away. Alive! ...

Democracy, Elections and Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward (1) Continued from previous post on democracy and elections Can cosmetics help me to hide my ulterior intents? Everyone sees right through me. Domage! Maybe, I need a better make-up kit. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that as at 2015, the proportion of Nigerian children (aged 15 and lower) was more than twice the percentage of adults and elderly combined [7] . Children and youths make a significant chunk of the population, as such, the impact of manipulations of under-aged voting is astronomical. During the 2015 general elections, it was argued that under-aged voters participated and cast votes. Recently in Kano, there were complaints that under-aged voters (voters below the 18-year-old cut off), participated in elections and skewed the outcome of the State’s council elections. Some persons even insisted that INEC officials colluded to escalate this illegal practice. This is being investigate...

Democracy, Elections and Nigeria: Problems and Way Forward (1) You have given me the power to make and unmake.  Go to sleep, I will decide on your behalf.  The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (now amended), states that “the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice... It … declared that: (a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority; (b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government: and (c) the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution” [1] . Building on this knowledge, can citizens confidently say that their intentions would naturally shape their leadership in Nigeria? Has Nigeria been experiencing true democracy only on paper? Has our form of democracy been diluted to emasculate citizens...

Strengthening the Electoral System #ReviewConstitution  series on the constitutional amendment continued. Click  here  to see the status as at 10th October, 2017 Reduction of Age for Election This amendment seeks to review downwards age restrictions when standing in elections. The required age for citizens to stand in the presidential election will be reduced from the current 40 to 35 years. Similarly, the current 30 years condition to contest as members of the National Assembly and State Houses of Assemblies will be reduced to 25 years. It allows younger persons to compete for political offices. It is popularly known as the #NotTooYoungToRun bill. Independent Candidacy This amendment allows independent candidacy in elections at the national, sub-national and local levels. It allows citizens to contest elections without being sponsored by a political party. If passed, it will help deepen internal party democracy through transparent and acceptable primaries. ...