Bayelsa 2019 Election: Let's Talk About Common Sense | Pokovirtuousblog | Editorial

Bayelsa's news and media website, Pokovirtuousblog writes an editorial about her state's Nov. 16th gubernatorial election.

The Publisher, Poko Virtuous shows electorates reasons they have to be more thoughtful before they cast their votes come Nov. 16th 2019.

As the Bayelsa state gubernatorial election draw closer, Poko Virtuous the Publisher of one of the state's leading online news site, has seen it necessary to write an article that can help guide electorates in their voting decision. The article points out five (5) reasons you [voter] have to vote for the state's success and not your personal interest.

The article begins

As the state's 2019 gubernatorial election draw closer, the need for you (electorate) to understand that the guber aspirant you vote for November 16th decides the fate of Bayelsa in the next four years (likely 8 years) is key. In view of this, it is important that you think through your decisions, looking beyond the moment's benefit and ask yourself,

'Who deserves my vote?'

'What are his selling points based on the good things he's done ?

Keep in mind that parties guber aspirants from the All Progressive Congress's (APC), David Lyon to People's Democratic Party's (PDP), Douye Diri and others are all out to get your vote so they emerge Bayelsa state Governor.

Dear Bayelsan, highly esteemed electorates, you have the ultimate power - you can decide who will become Bayelsa's next governor. To ensure that you reach a more beneficial decision as you'd always like to, we would that you treat these points with utmost importance and digilence.

• Vote Character And Integrity

Character and integrity is everything - if you think it's not, let me ask you a question,

'When you wanted to buy that goods the other day, why didn't you ask that man who likes getting inferior products to help you buy it?

The importance of character and integrity cannot be overemphasized, it is the vehicle to take society to a great height. When an individual has good character and his integrity is unwavering, it only shows the state has gotten someone it can entrust her seat to. As the state's guber poll draw closer, it behooves on voters to ask themselves,

'What percentage is this candidate on the scale of integrity?'

'What is his past record on keeping to promises?'

It's key we realize that, politicians can make great promises just to get your vote, hence voters should make intensive research before they cast their votes. Your state belongs to you - if it is ruined, you lose. If it is transformed like Dubai, that is the beginning of your success.

• Speaking From The Cave

Last week I was in my office when I overheard someone saying,

'One boss warned his employee never to place sticker of his party on his car anymore, if he doesn't want to see the bad side of him - but the staff own it!

Wow! it has gotten to such a level; where bosses, employers, elderly ones now threaten should they find their juniors campaigning for a party they do not belong to. But, what would you do as an adult Bayelsan who believe in the state's success above personal interests, bribery and injustice?

Here's what you have to do: I call it speaking from the cave. If you must keep your job and move forward in this guber season, then you must learn to speak as if you're neutral and tell everyone that you are after any candidate that has something valuable to offer for the success of our dear state - while in your mind you've already chosen your candidate. It doesn't add up engaging in 'my-candidate-is-better-than-yours' debate. That would only help him think of how best to make you come over to his party willy-nilly.

To have your choice candidate get your vote at the polling unit November 16th 2019, I would that you watch your tongue and speak from the cave. In the closet, where your superiors aren't around, share your thoughts - for if you should argue where your superiors are present - you don't know their level of mentality on political campaign.

• #432,000 In Four Years!

It's important that we grasp this, so that we do not become prey over one minute error at the poll unit Nov. 16th 2019. I did a calculation about money (if it's given at such a rate at all) offered to voters - if you're given #432,000 to vote for a particular candidate in order that he rules for 4 years (your know many do go for a second tenure), if you're to divide that amount into your daily spending, that would be #300 daily. Questions to ask yourself are:

'Can they give me (single voter) such a whooping amount?'

In view of this, it's important you answer this one:

'Why would you chose to starve your future because of 'peanut' change - #5,000, #10,000 or at the peak of their best #25,000?

I hear someone saying, 'but I have a job - I just want to use that one for the moment, I don't rely on their money. Hmmm, you've forgotten so soon that, voting the wrong leader can affect the economy negatively, and ultimately see you lose your job - what would you do then? Do your research before you argue yourself and your countrymen into economic crunch.

I would you realize that, you are more valuable than mundane stuffs. It's time you grasp the truth that your kinsmen are more important than the selfish ambition of one politician.

• He Spends - He'll Recover All Before Anything Else

So, you think after spending a fortune in his campaign, buying your votes his sponsors wouldn't like to get back their money with interest?

Ooops! You got it all wrong - he'll pay his sponsors with interest not forgetting he has himself to also pay before you (citizens) - afterall, that's exactly what you did - never wanted to vote him, but for his money - you played the selfish game.

The most economically devastating mistake electorates can ever make is to collect money before casting vote, and not expect the politician to get back his money before rendering service when in power. If you're looking to see the Bayelsa we'd all be proud to show to the world, the onus is on you to shun their offers and cast your vote base on conscience and well researched facts about the candidate.

Refuse to be deceived! He has sponsors - they want back their money! The #3,000 you received multiplied by 40,000 persons is what makes your state become a puppet dancing to their tune of underdevelopment. It's time you take control of what belongs to you as you reject any form of offer targeted at persuading you to vote such candidate into power.  Whoever spends money in an investment hope to get returns, expend your time to research and find the right candidate, vote for him so you can have a good return called economic development.

• It's A Cinch Violence Will Take Your Life - Not Theirs

I have been privileged to see some of these 'eyo-eyo' boys who campaign for their party's candidate. The way and manner they go about it shows they're in for violence - and you think that is the way to go, huh? Far from that, one thing I would you grasp is that, if you tread that path, you're likely to get injured or killed - and when that happens, who is the loser? You or your preferred candidate?

Violence has never been a better strategy - what you can't get without violence is not worth dying for. There are other good ways for you to campaign for your candidate so that you convert more voters for him, rather than taking to arms. If you love your life, you'll shun violence, if your guber candidate loves you, he would never ask you to go violent. To prove that his love for you and the state at large is all lies, that's the reason he's taken to violence. The choice is always yours to make - to choose the way of peace or increase your chances of death through violence.

Poko Virtuous (Publisher, Pokovirtuousblog)

Finally, to reduce your life to mere #100,000 is a slap on humans worth. To crave for personal interest at the detriment of your country men and women is genocidal! You [voter] can make Bayelsa great and better because you use your Personal Voters Card (PVC) to vote character and integrity as against someone who doesn't wish our dear state well.