Political weather
In a recent conversation with an acquaintance, I mentioned that February is my least favourite month of the year to be based in London. My comment was not well received. I explained that the weather conditions in these parts are usually miserable at this time of the year, but she still wasn’t happy with my attitude toward her birth month.
I face each day in February thinking of how to avoid catching a cold, which can easily be passed on through being seated next to someone else in public. One evening last week, I ventured out into freezing, drizzling weather to attend an event. Battling with nasal congestion and other ailments tends to be the price of being gregarious when I make choices of this sort.
If I was near the equator or in the Southern hemisphere, I’m sure I would have a different feeling about February. It was interesting spending time in Australia many years ago, only to return to London in the middle of winter. It is a known fact that weather conditions can have a significant impact on the way a person feels about life
I can imagine that the mood in a country such a Nigeria would be feverish at present, but for very different reasons to those I experience in the UK. The temperature is probably sizzling hot, due to the weather, but also due to the forthcoming Presidential elections.
It is important to take the opportunity to express political opinions, canvass for support and to vote for candidates if one is eligible to participate in that process. But it is also useful to bear in mind that each of us can take personal responsibility for the changes we want to see. Would it be helpful if Nigerians could learn to be more detached in their mindsets during the election season?
