A legal adult is a person who has attained the age of majority and is therefore regarded as independent, self-sufficient, and responsible. The typical age of attaining adulthood is 18, although this definition may vary by legal rights, country, and psychological development.~ In some countries like Scotland, Cambodia and Vietnam, it's 16.
In Nigeria, it is 18. At this age, it is expected by law that you should be able to take rational decisions, be responsible for your actions, be responsible for yourself as well as others. Internationally, it is required that to fly a plane or learn how to fly, you should be at least 17 years old. Flying a plane puts the life of others in your hands and not just yours. So if at 17, you can be expected to make decisions to guarantee the safety of tens or a few hundred people, then at 18 and older, we can be capable and responsible for a whole lot more. At 18, we are handed the right to vote and select out leaders who are responsible for the safety and welfare of millions of people.
That being said, it becomes an insult that a person who's over 18 will allow themselves belittled to the point of being brainwashed on who to vote for. Like this is your life we're talking about here and the factors that determine your future and the conditions your unborn children will be born into. If you can't think of the future generation as a generation, at least think of your own children who will definitely come because as parents, it is by nature your responsibility to protect and provide for your kids.
Often times, you hear people say, "We're waiting for our leader to give us directions on who to vote for", oshey! lost sheep, agbaya oshi. May you not lose your direction in life.
Some will say, "My pastor said we should vote for. . . ". It is surprising and even more appalling that the educated amongst us are guilty of this. Quite recently, I tried engaging a neighbour on my street who's over 50 years old and a PDP faithful on the forthcoming elections and his response was, "We never know who to vote o. Them never tell us", after which, he tried convincing me against supporting Obi by playing the ethnic card. "Peter Obi na Igbo man o and you no go fit ever trust Igbo man for anything, not to talk of President. Igbo people na very bad people". Taaaaaah! Get out! 😁 You no fit vote on your own but you sabi say Igbo man no suppose be President. Of course, I said this in my mind. There's no way, I'd have said that to him.
If you're in any of the above categories, shame on you. You're a disgrace to the rights you've been given and you don't deserve them. If you're educated, then your education is a total waste. You should have just gone to Oluwole to buy your certificate.
Worse still are those who sell their votes. They collect #5k, some, as low as #1k and #500 in exchange for 4 years of retrogression, societal degradation and poverty. Some sell their votes for a pack of Maggi, some for a packet of salt. Haaaaa! What an insult. 🤦🏽♂️
Not to digress, I would leave these ones for another time.
18 and Responsible
By
Tari Ogbowei