‘The future of this vast country must depend, in the main, on the efforts of ourselves to help ourselves.’ – Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s First Prime Minister

A year ago on February 6, 2017, citizens took to the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Ibadan, Uyo, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Benin and London to protest the failings of the Buhari administration around 10 key areas of concern: security, education, health, power, unemployment, high cost of living, social justice, transparency, cost of government and patriotism.

Demands were made on 5 of these 10 issues, namely:

1. Transparency in all tiers of government
2. Security
3. Cost of Government
4. Social Justice & Corruption
5. Power

One year later, on February 16, 2018, instead of protesting against the government, EnoughisEnough (EiE) Nigeria alongside its partners across the country – Reclaim Naija, Connected Development (CODE), 2baba Foundation, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Nigeria First, Afterschool Centre for Career Development (ACCD), Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development (PIBCID) and Journalists Initiative for Youth Empowerment (Ji4Ye) – will be coordinating a mass voter mobilisation drive to encourage citizens to protest at all tiers of government (federal, state, local) with their votes.

One can not engage political parties on candidate selection or participate in the electoral process if one does not have a voter’s card! Therefore, we will educate citizens on the process of registering to select credible candidates, voting on election day and protecting their votes! The reason is not far-fetched: Our voice is in our votes and our vote is our voice!

The march will also highlight the www.govote.ng website that was built with support from Co-Creation Hub (CcHub) to make information on INEC’s website more accessible to citizens.

In Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Cross River, Imo, Borno and in at least 11 other locations, EiE and her partners will educate unregistered voters about the process: where to register; how to resolve problems if you’ve lost your card or moved since the 2015 elections; and how to engage INEC officials to resolve issues.

Below are the take-off point for each location by 8am:

1. Abuja: Unity Fountain
2. Akwa Ibom: University of Uyo Main Gate
3. Adamawa: Welcome to Yola
4. Bauchi: CiTAD office Ahmadu Bello Way, Bauchi
5. Benue: Mr Biggs Roundabout, Makurdi
6. Borno: Ramat square, Borno
7. Cross River: Millennium Park, Calabar
8. Imo: Wetheral Junction, Owerri
9. Kano: Kano Zoological Garden, Kano
10. Kogi: Ganaja Junction, Lokoja
11. Lagos: National Stadium, Surulere
12. Nassarawa: Jigwada, Keffi Bridge, Lafia
13. Niger: To be decided
14. Ogun: Freedom Park, opposite Post Office, Panseke Abeokuta
15. Ondo: Cathedral, Oba Adesida Road Akure
16. Plateau: Secretariat Junction, Jos
17. Yobe: August 27 Stadium, Damaturu

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

www.onevoice.ng

Editor