ME AND ELECTION

See how they exposed me.
Under trees, on a wooden bench, I slept.
Later, on a floor without a mat,
Waiting for the D day

After a humiliating night of restless sleep,
Came the “National Service”.
Scramble for electoral materials,
I did with mixed feeling.
As the sight of depreciated pickup van,
Heralded the danger ahead

INEC canned men and materials,
To transport both to Wards,
Where we were abandoned;
At the mercy of politicians

See how they exposed me.
Politicians whom I was told to avoid,
Became my messiah
They took me from ward to unit,
7km distance

Together with a potential eyewitness (POLICE)
Sent to report a possible incident,
Of my death, Or what?
How secure is he to secure me?
Thus, he turned to an observer
In the electoral drama



Yes, 8.45 AM announced my arrival.
Polling clerk, I met.
Polling agent withdrew, so I learned.
With 1146 registered voters,
And a shortage of personnel
The stage was set

Behold the multitude anxiously waiting,
Amidst intense pressure by party agents,
813 voters accredited.
Voting commenced 3.PM,
Ended 9.pm and the heat was on

As predicted, my supposed security man
Turned V.I.P Spectator,
It was a Free-for-all fighting.
Thank God for my neutrality
For Mr. Death would have visited

I took to my heel.
But nowhere to turn to,
I was kidnapped back to the stage
To complete my role

See how INEC exposed me.
The stronger group won.
But who will take me home?
The clock ticked 11.30pm

The same politicians
That I was told to avoid,
Delivered me to INEC official,
Waiting anxiously for my result,
But not my safety



 June 2011