Nigeria: Beyond ember months and general elections

By Obiotika Toochukwu

**There **is something unsettling about the human heart because it can nurture kindness in the morning and harbour resentment by evening; it can demonstrate courage in one circumstance and surrender to fear in another. Our experiences in relationships, workplaces, families and public service often reveal how selfishness, disobedience and personal interests influence human behaviour. Yet, these imperfections should not become sufficient reasons to abandon our collective aspirations as Nigerians.

It was the Greek philosopher Aristotle who said that there is no good in humanity. Philosophers and psychologists of 19th century and early 20th century believe that man is the helpless victim of his environment. Nevertheless, experience suggests that neither our circumstances nor our inherited dispositions must determine every decision we make. The human capacity for reflection, adaptation and moral responsibility remains essential to our survival.

This is particularly important as Nigeria navigates another period of economic uncertainty, political anxiety and social tension. The approaching ember months, traditionally associated in popular Nigerian consciousness with road accidents, fires, insecurity, financial pressures and other misfortunes, can intensify existing fears.

Families worry about feeding, school fees, rent, transportation and medical expenses. Traders calculate their losses, workers struggle with insufficient incomes, and young people contemplate opportunities abroad. For many citizens, the future seems less like a promise than an examination without guaranteed success.

The economic and political questions confronting Nigeria are substantial. Will the naira regain its purchasing power? Will inflation ease sufficiently for ordinary households to breathe again? Will taxation become more transparent, equitable and supportive of productive enterprise? Will economic recovery translate into jobs, improved wages, reliable electricity and affordable food? Can insecurity be contained sufficiently to protect lives, farms, businesses and communities?

These questions deserve honest answers rather than political slogans. As the country looks beyond 2027, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political actors must demonstrate accountability through verifiable results. Nigerians deserve clear explanations of policy objectives, measurable targets, implementation timelines and the practical consequences of government decisions. Promises of prosperity cannot substitute for evidence that living standards are improving. Citizens should assess public leadership through outcomes, not merely through party loyalty, propaganda or the emotional appeal of political personalities.

Political disappointment should sharpen public scrutiny, not extinguish civic responsibility. Democracy requires more than voting during elections; it demands informed participation, peaceful advocacy, community engagement and the willingness to hold elected officials accountable. Refusing to participate because previous efforts appeared unsuccessful only makes it easier for those in power to operate without sufficient public pressure. To give up also risks exposing the very weaknesses in human nature that difficult circumstances tend to reveal.

When hardship becomes an excuse for dishonesty, exploitation, tribal prejudice, corruption or indifference to another person’s suffering, we surrender part of our moral independence to our environment. Poverty may explain desperation, but it does not automatically justify every harmful decision. Likewise, privilege does not guarantee integrity, and adversity does not eliminate the possibility of compassion.

This is not an argument that Nigerians should romanticise suffering. No citizen should be expected to accept preventable hunger, unemployment, insecurity or administrative failure with a smile. Hope must never become an instrument for silencing legitimate complaints. Rather, it should provide the courage to confront injustice without becoming consumed by bitterness. We can criticise failed policies and still contribute to solutions; we can demand better leadership while refusing to destroy the trust and solidarity that hold communities together.The ember months therefore call for practical vigilance as much as psychological resilience.

Motorists should avoid dangerous speeding, maintain their vehicles and refuse to drive under the influence of alcohol. Households and businesses should inspect electrical installations, handle cooking fuels carefully and keep fire extinguishers where possible. Travellers should plan journeys responsibly, verify security information and avoid unnecessary exposure to danger. Families should budget cautiously, resist fraudulent investment schemes and exercise restraint against the pressure to spend beyond their means during the festive season.

Equally important is our response to global uncertainty as international conflicts, economic disruptions, migration restrictions and increasingly difficult immigration procedures can affect Nigerians seeking education, employment or refuge abroad.

Those who aspire to migrate should pursue lawful channels, verify documentation requirements and beware of fraudulent agents promising effortless entry into foreign countries. At the same time, Nigeria must create conditions that make remaining at home a viable and dignified choice. A nation cannot indefinitely depend on the departure of its most ambitious citizens while neglecting the opportunities that might persuade them to stay.The challenges before us are neither imaginary nor insignificant to those who bear their consequences.

Nevertheless, their ultimate impact will depend partly on the quality of our collective response. Governments must govern responsibly, businesses must operate ethically, communities must protect vulnerable members, and citizens must cultivate discipline, creativity and mutual assistance. Individual resilience cannot replace competent public institutions, but neither can institutional reform succeed without citizens willing to participate in national renewal.

Nigeria possesses human talent, cultural diversity, agricultural potential, entrepreneurial energy and a population capable of remarkable ingenuity. These assets do not guarantee prosperity; they require investment, sound policies, security, education and responsible leadership. But it would be equally unfounded to declare the nation hopeless simply because its potential has not yet been fully realised.

As the ember months unfold, Nigerians must neither surrender to panic nor retreat into complacency. We must acknowledge our difficulties, question our leaders, protect our families and continue building what remains within our power to improve. The heart of humanity may be vulnerable to selfishness, but it is also capable of courage, repentance, cooperation and sacrifice.

Beyond 2027, our national future will not be determined by fear alone, or by political promises alone. It will be shaped by decisions, institutions, accountability and the everyday choices of millions of people. Nigeria must not confuse a difficult season with a permanent destiny. We have reasons to demand more, reasons to work harder and reasons to hope. Above all, we must refuse to let disappointment become the final verdict on who we are or what we can become as a nation.

• Toochukwu writes from Awka, Anambra State

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