Finally the moment has come.......and we are all geared up to choose our leaders to help pilot Nagaland to the future. We have seen opinions, criticisms, assurances and a lot of similar discourse in different media ever since the announcement of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Election. As we prepare to cast our votes, it is imperative for us to mull over our past decisions and evaluate the performance of our leaders. Each of us must take time to not only hear what our current leadership is saying, but look at their track record as well. Do our representatives truly represent the will of the people, or are they blindly beholden to “the party” and their individual selfish greed?
We have seen enough of the false promises and poor implementation by our leaders. There are constituencies where many incumbents although in the ruling (elite) party (interestingly none of them is in the opposition!) yet have not delivered at all. It will not be (at all) wrong to assume that they are incapable, unrealistic, irresponsible leaders who only think of their own selfish interest of looting and amassing money, position, popularity and self promotion and are least bothered about the pitiful state of affairs of our state. The ultimate upshot of all these years, as is clearly evident to all, is the downfall of our beautiful state due to craze for money and power.
Dear fellow Nagas let us stand up strong and say “Enough is enough”. The time is fully ripen to wake up from our slumber and choose the right leaders, those who can rescue us from the present pathetic condition, irrespective of party, religion, tribe, clan, village or the amount of money received from parties for votes. Some may argue that it’s not worth making the effort “to vote”, either because they don’t like any of the candidates or no matter which party comes to be in the helm, they don’t trust the system. Some might even feel that the candidates are the same old wine and that it is just new bottles. One may have thousands of reasons to justify for not participating in the electoral process. But there are larger consequences in our choice to vote or not vote. In the first place, voting is both a right and a responsibility as a citizen. Our democracy is established upon the principle of free and fair elections in which every eligible citizen casts a vote. We must therefore work to ensure that our electoral process is conducted in harmony with this principle and that those who seek to disrupt the process do not win the day. It is our responsibility also to protect the process itself, and that does not happen by withdrawing our participation. No matter how muddled and unpleasant it may be, our participation is required. Let us also consider that good candidates, if not supported, will not generally stand again. Also in the words of John Quincy Adams - “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
Let us wake up to the call of our conscious mind and cast our precious vote intelligently. This is the right time to come out and join hands in order to bring a change for our state by using our right to vote. Let us say NO to the candidates who lures with money and choose the right leader with integrity. Let us remind ourselves that the trademark of our forefathers was honesty, hardworking and truthfulness and that the true Christian principles inculcate and endorses this.
This 27th February 2018 will be a date with destiny, of deliverance, of renovation and the beginning of the dawn of a new future. Yet, unless we come to our senses and act now, our future is doomed. After years of misrule, mismanagement, neglect of our state and the worst manifestation of poor governance ever witnessed in the history of modern day Nagaland politics, we have another chance to salvage our government, set a new shape and possibly draw a new picture of the kind of state that we want for ourselves, our children and for the future generation. This polling day will be another opportunity to prove ourselves and to God of correcting our mistakes and that we are determined to make a better choice this time around.
We sincerely desire a positive change, a change that will bring about peace, prosperity and all round development in the state which we so deserve but are so deprived. We are therefore sincerely making this clarion call to our entire dear fellow Nagas to come out, vote and invest in the future by casting your precious vote wisely to elect those leaders who can stand strong and fight against the deep rooted corruption of our society . God Bless.
