BY LAJU IREN, MAXMILLAN ANOSIKE & DAMILOLA AKINGBADE

Today is Election Day. Today, Nigerians will decide who will be at helm of the nation’s affairs for the next four years. Nigerian youths, who form a major part of the nation’s population, are a great determinant in the outcome of the elections.

Although for now, no one can say for sure whether President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, or General Muhammadu Buhari will win the elections, Saturday School Life, SSL, sought the views of Nigerian students to find out what they expect from the next President as well as whether they will play an active role in deciding who he will be.

While some seemed very enthusiastic about their preferred candidate, others opted to stay home and enjoy the day. Julius Amaike falls in the former category, he told our reporters that he was not ready to stay at home and expect things to change in this country. His words: ‘‘I am going to vote because it is my right and also my vote will determine the fate of the country and I know that the person I have in mind will be able to make more changes.

If not due to the security challenges in the country I would have loved to be at the polling unit till the votes are counted but since I can’t do that, I would rather go home and wait to hear the outcome on television. My expectations for the next President is on youth empowerment and a better life for the less privileged.’’

Evans Atulomah is also leaving nothing to chance. He said: ‘‘I am definitely going to vote because this is another chance for us as citizens of this country to take our destinies into our own hands. I will definitely take advantage of this right. After I cast my vote, I will be there till all the votes are counted. Unfortunately I don’t have car, I would have followed the officials of the Independent National Electoral Committee, INEC and stayed there until the winner is announced.’’

Onu Prisca, who studies in the eastern part of the country is undecided about a candidate, and as a result, will stay home today. She told our reporters: ‘‘ I am not going to vote because I don’t have any candidate in mind. On the day of the elections, movement is quite restricted, so I’ll just stay home and follow the news.’’ She however has demands on whoever wins the race. Her words: ‘‘Whoever becomes President must be someone who will not leave the people behind, and be able to defend the country in any circumstance.

Olalere Adeola, another student who attends a tertiary institution in the South West, says that he has been disenfranchised because he was unable to collect his Permanent Voters Card, PVC. He however looks on the bright side and adds: ‘‘At least, I will be at home to get some rest rather than be under the sun stressing myself. In the end, whoever God has confirmed will take over. I just pray that whoever it is has the interest of the masses at heart.

Taire Odafe-Bernd is yet another university student who is not voting. She says she would have loved to, but could not get her voters card because she was out of town during registration. Although she has a preferred candidate in mind, she says her plans are ‘‘to watch movies all day, and listen for the results later.’’