Nigeria, April 15 -- In every election season across our nation, a familiar ritual unfolds. Politicians, suddenly aware of the people they claim to serve, descend upon communities with bags of rice, bottles of cooking oil, and envelopes stuffed with a few crumpled notes. They smile, shake hands, and promise heaven on earth. And many of us, weary from hardship, accept these tokens as though they were gifts of salvation. But let us pause and reflect: is this truly what democracy should mean? Is our vote worth no more than a plate of rice that vanishes in a day, while the consequences of our choices linger for years?

This piece is not a sermon, but a heartfelt appeal. It is a call to conscience, a plea to my fellow citizens: for once, let ...