Opinion

By Celsus Ohain

NO one really goes into a keen contest to lose; the prime objective is to win and win handsomely. Even in the event of failure, there is hope that you could still find something to gain.

This optimism fires everyone on in any endeavour and sure it did to all the key flag bearers, their parties and spokesmen in tomorrow’s presidential election. I heard every of them say with oceanic confidence that they will win the coveted prize – optimism that is as boundless as the sky!

However, the reality is that only one person will win the prize – the presidency; and others will simply have to wait till another season or simply retire into oblivion as many did before them. 

Their list is endless. Yesterday’s big players become today’s non-entities, losing relevance on the scale of the personal integrity the brought into the game at first instance.

The campaign has been gruesome and tasking, taking heavy tolls on the candidate’s pockets and their physical strength. It is nonetheless salutary that they all had to inevitably traverse at first-hand, all nooks and crannies of the land to get a fair assessment of the people’s needs, plight and challenges.

Turnout in this election is expected to be the highest ever in the history of elections in the land, with the youth segment of population also expected to stamp their electoral identity.

Sure, tomorrow’s race is too close to call because of certain variables that have ceaselessly unfolded in the past few months, defying traditional drawbacks in our general election process.

It’s important not to see the election as a ‘war’ but a fair contest by patriotic candidates desirous to serve the people selflessly. Political parties must rein in their supporters to abstain from violence as there is life after election.

Goodluck to Nigeria and all her citizen of goodwill.

***Celsus Ohain is a Benin City-based journalist, historian and diplomatist.

A.I

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