BE A VOICE by Reuben Georgeana

Fellow Nigerians please read through; I hope you all are staying safe? I believe this will soon be over. In view of the current happening in our Motherland; Nigeria, I write to you as an active citizen who has freedom of speech. Firstly, sometimes ago, Senator Mohammed Sanni Musa sponsored a bill titled, "Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulation Bill 2019" also called, "The Social Media Bill." I'm amazed some people are ignorant of this bill. Please note that the bill is different from the hate speech bill sponsored by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi. You know what, of all the insecurities and other things facing our country, our senators are busy sponsoring bills regarding speech. To an extent, this bill, if passed into law will be an infringement on free speech so if our voice is gone what else? We are doomed! Second, another bill was sponsored by Senator Ibrahim Geidam titled, "Foreign education for Repentant Boko- Haram." Maybe you don't understand, I mean ex-Boko Haram members will have access to quality education abroad. Wait, what happens to the victims and their families, our Chibok girls are forgotten, innocent Leah Sharibu is now a wife to a terrorist and a mother. Please who killed our rulers' conscience? Yet the Senator who sponsored this bill justified himself by saying Boko-Haram members are willing to lay down their arms but are afraid of the consequences of their actions. Isn't it ridiculous? Do not forget that there are over 13 million children who are out of school in this same country Nigeria. Here is the banger, 13% of these children are in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Please hear the truth, we pay NEPA bills and the bills get to our doorsteps monthly, it is, therefore, logical to say the government can reach out to the citizens through the local governments but what are we seeing? Now, I remember the words of Falz, "This is Nigeria, see how we are living now." We will continue living this way if we refuse to speak up. Next, in a bid to fight coronavirus which started from China and spread to our country, the federal government still allowed Chinese doctors into our country. You see, sometimes I shake my head for Nigeria because she is always in a state of dilemma turning to the left where nothing is right and sometimes turning to the right where nothing is left. We pay virtually on everything we buy, in fact, on the call you placed to tell your friend "please stay safe", a VAT has been imposed on it. You see then that we give to the government but the government refuses to give back to us. I am grateful for religious institutions and NGOs reaching to the populace - you are doing well, I must confess. God bless you all. Please don't stop blessing us, I am are proud of you. Finally, let me tell you the food items, money, drugs they refuse to share now will be brought in abundance to your doorsteps in 2023 to buy your vote. Please say no to stomach infrastructure and vote wisely. We need LEADERS and not rulers. Now, the government is planning to extend the lockdown with no provision for the citizens. Coronavirus is real, hunger is more real. Please imagine those children who have to hawk to put food on the table for their parents. I plead with the government to be considerate. I have just exercised my right to freedom of expression according to the Universal Declaration of Human Right and I hope I am safe. I am Reuben Georgeana. Thank you for reading. re-edited by Oladipo Kayode