BY JOSEPHINE AGBONKHESE

Nigerian men are concerned about the postponement of the much anticipated February 14 election, and that’s for a different set of reasons altogether. The economics of postponement really seems to be causing a headache as they are now hard-pressed to perform today, Valentine’s Day. How will they cope? The women are laughing but will they have the last laugh?

“Why didn’t INEC decide long ago? Why did they have to wait until last Saturday before postponing the election? I had boycotted a lot of things and made no concrete plans for Valentine because I felt I’d have a reason to stay indoor today.”  That was Ade. One of those Nigerian men whose wrath the Independent National Electoral Commission- INEC may incur if their Valentine’s Day celebration turns messy due to last minute preparation.

Hopes of spending less

Hopes of spending less over Valentine’s Day Celebrations had been raised and suddenly dashed by INEC for most men who had resolved to be a bit thriftier this year. “Outdoor celebrations won’t be safe due to imminent election violence,” therefore became their slogan.

As such, do-it-yourself tips such as: cook your Val a special delicacy, call or text her(if not close by), give her a message, spend uninterrupted time in bed, make a home-made card and more gained popularity and were in fact already in top gear for ‘indoor’ Valentine celebrations which of course would have cost far less.

‘My plan is to fall sick’ 

“The plan now is to fall sick today because with the expected elections, I made no special plan for Valentine. In fact, my plan was to fill my power generating set with fuel and stay indoor because I also wasn’t going to vote since I am no longer residing around the polling unit where I registered years back,” Eshe, a young man who says INEC indecisiveness has dealt miserably with him, said.

Shola, an Oyo-based businessman, has a slightly different view and plan.

“How much will it cost me to give my woman a treat? As soon as INEC rescheduled the election, I went shopping for a few clothes because I hadn’t planned going out. Already, I had taken care of my woman’s Valentine’s Day wear even though indoor was the plan. Now, I will simply take her out to a fast food restaurant and we will return home to catch some fun indoor. I also got her a beautiful bracelet because she means a lot to me,” Shola said.

‘I’m very broke’

For Fashanu Bashir, however, one week was too short to prepare for Valentine. “My employer has not paid salaries in two months so there was no way I could plan in one week. I’m extremely broke.

“If Jonathan can move Valentine celebration to March 28 as well, he will have my vote. Valentine cannot be resurrected just like that at the last minute. No warning, no hint, nothing at all. That’s terrible. Unless they want the day to go unnoticed for some of us,” Fashanu cried out, leaving Woman to Woman wondering when Nigerian government became responsible for declaring Valentines Day.

‘Val must be shifted to March 28 too’ 

Also humorously campaigning for the postponement of Valentine’s Day to March 28 is an amazing body which identifies itself as Association of Loving Nigerian Men, ALNM. Obviously, the February 14 poll was really going to be a cover up.

“It has become glaring that some unknown persons in high places want to put us to shame at all costs. They want our wives, spouses, girlfriends, love interests and/or side chicks to say we are incompetent men. Whoever these faceless people are, you will not give our women mouth to talk.

“We were in high spirits when INEC chose February 14, 2015, for the Presidential election because Valentines Day in Nigeria was beginning to milk us dry. But INEC suddenly messed things up. The truth is, we are sad and totally anguished in our hearts.

“Anyway, we have met and concluded that our own Val Day will hold March 28 and on that day, we will stay at home and be with our women because of the election. We won’t be going out to any dinner or spending money. For our single men, they will stay away from their lovers’ houses as the election day requires little movement around town,” a statement presently going viral and signed by Osagie Alonge, General Secretary of the association, read in parts.