Note Before You Vote

We're very aware of the rapidly approaching Nigerian elections. There are posters on every stationary surface and a few mobile ones too. Presidential elections are scheduled for February 14th with another round for senate etc and state a fortnight later. Yesterday my whole schedule was thrown into disarray as President Goodluck Jonathan decided to come electioneering in Jos. Roads were closed, security was obvious and the city of Jos was chaotic from about 6am. Our journey to school which can take 30 minutes took an hour with detours; some students couldn't make it at all as their roads were closed.  I had intended to spend most of the day at the BRiCC office but found my way blocked by soldiers as Jonathan was due to speak at the nearby stadium.  I could've used the back streets but would probably have been trapped there all day so decided to avoid the area. The whole day was disrupted but he didn't actually turn up until we had left Jos at 4pm.

Nigerian elections do not have the reputation of being particularly free and fair.  Often there's violence with tribal, regional and religious factors playing a much more important role than which candidate is more suited to the job.  Jos in particular is vulnerable to sparks igniting a huge conflagration. 
In an attempt to mitigate this BRiCC (Building Relationships in City Centre:www.briccjos.com ) has produced Note Before You Vote. 

We've also been offering workshops to vigilante groups around Jos and other local hotspots.  The vigilantes are official unofficial security groups, mainly made up of young men who are very appreciative of the peace education training they've received from BRiCC.  We train them and give them lots of the posters to distribute around their area.  It's a small thing but we hope it will have some effect.  Sometimes it's easy to think that nothing will change but that doesn't give us the right not to try.
 
One of the first vigilante groups to go through the BRiCC training.

“The training was very good and I am very happy about it.  My boys are doing a fine job in the Vigilante group.  God bless BRICC and this training we’ve had.”

Alhaji Yakubu – Chairman of Neighbourhood Watch