Tribalism: Trump card that won the 2023 elections

The just concluded election can at best be regarded as an abysmal failure or a theatrical  reenactment of the decadence and corruption in the Nigerian society despite the assurances and hope held by many that this year election will be the game changer.

 Prior to the conduction of both the presidential and gubernatorial elections, there was a lot of fanfare, speeches and promises by political parties and other neutral bodies.  

The 2023 election year started on a very hopeful and peaceful note; INEC exorbitant budget and convincing promises,  different celebrities supporting candidates of their choice without spite, the parties putting extra effort to best one another.

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Young and old seem to be unified in performing their civic duty, “Your vote counts” became a nationwide mantra.

Things suddenly took a negative turn and a cause that once unified the country turned into the cause of tribalist and political outbursts.

Most Nigerians are still bewildered at how fast it deteriorated to this state.

At the root of the problem were the insulting and inciting comments by celebrities, politicians and their lackeys.

From Nigeria’s inception, our cultural diversity has made administration difficult. Rotation of power in the country has its own challenges and the exclusion of minorities leaving power with just two of the over 350 tribes has left much to be desired and room for spite.

This brewing issue was deployed as a stumbling block for the success of the elections

Tribe consciousness into a nation already regarded as one had adverse effects.

This was a strategy used to disrupt the election process and cause a tiff between the tribes so as to tribally brainwash Nigerians, for them to lose focus on what is important . This led to assault on different people in different states.

The effectiveness of the tribal discrimination card in ruining the election just because of manipulation by a few is very alarming and the issue need be addressed. For a nation with inter-tribal marriages to become a cultural war zone is a disaster slowly brewing.

 Amidst all these were other issues ravaging the country and gradually making the situation dire.

While life have gone back o normal, cash is gradually flowing and INEC giving empty promises of making things right .

Those with little hope look forward to may 29, while other resign themselves to whatever. we must not forget in a hurry total disappointment the election turned out to be and how we were so close to declaring a tribal war. And although we can argue and deny it, there is need for the restructuring of Nigeria political system.