Post by Adedayo Oduwobi (@stopit)

EPISODE 3 OF 6: DON’T MAKE ENEMIES—BUT DON’T SURRENDER YOUR RIGHTS.

This is the part I want Nigerians to understand.

When someone says, “Don’t make enemies because of politics,” I agree, if it means don’t hate people merely because of their political choices.

But I disagree if it means citizens should stop challenging injustice, stop demanding accountability, stop defending their votes or stop asking leaders to do their jobs.

You can respect someone and still challenge their position.

You can love your country and still criticise its government.

You can remain friends with a person who supports a politician while insisting that the politician must answer for their decisions.

You can be peaceful without being passive.

You can be civil without being silent.

You can forgive a person without endorsing their actions.

And you can refuse to hate a politician while refusing to excuse misconduct.

CIVILITY IS NOT COMPLICITY.

AND PLEASE, LET US TALK ABOUT ELECTIONS.

If we truly want politics not to destroy relationships, then we must also insist that elections are conducted credibly.

Do not tell citizens to avoid political hostility while ignoring the importance of their votes.

Do not tell people to remain peaceful while dismissing legitimate questions about electoral transparency.

Do not tell people to accept any outcome without asking whether the process was fair.

Citizens should be able to campaign, debate, organise, observe elections, challenge irregularities through lawful means and demand that their votes count.

That is not making enemies.

That is participating in democracy.

A peaceful society is not one where nobody questions authority. It is one where people can question authority without being threatened, and where disputes can be resolved through lawful, fair institutions.

But what about the people in power? What responsibility do they have to stop politics from dividing us?

Continue to Part 4.

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