POLITICS SHOULD INFLUENCE YOUR VOTE, NOT CONTROL YOUR DESTINY: WHY PERSONAL GROWTH, FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE, AND THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE OPPORTUNITIES MATTER MORE THAN ENDLESS POLITICAL ARGUMENTS
I already know many people will insult me after reading this post...
But if you read it with emotion, you will miss the biggest lesson.
A few hours ago, I asked Nigerians a very simple question.
I didn't ask who won the election.
I didn't ask which political party is better.
I simply asked:
"Between President Tinubu and Governor Francis Nwifuru... rate each of them from 1-10 based on performance."
The answers shocked me.
Not because people disagreed.
People will always disagree.
But...
What shocked me was that most people never judged performance.
They judged emotions.
And that...
...is one of the biggest reasons many Nigerians remain poor.
Yes.
I said it.
Sit down.
Let me explain.
Imagine two people enter the same market with ₦1 million each.
One person spends the whole day arguing about politics.
The other spends the whole day looking for opportunities.
By evening...
One returns home with anger.
The other returns home with profit.
Both lived in the same Nigeria.
Both woke up under the same government.
Both faced the same inflation.
But one searched for reasons to complain.
The other searched for opportunities to solve problems.
That is the difference.
Now let me tell you something many people don't like hearing.
Nigeria has serious problems.
YES.
Nobody can deny that.
Inflation is real.
The cost of living is real.
Insecurity is real.
Youth unemployment is real.
These are issues leaders should continue working to address.
But here's another question...
If absolutely nothing is working in Nigeria...
Why are thousands of businesses still being created every year?
Why are some companies reporting record revenues?
Why are many listed companies growing?
Why have land prices in many parts of the country multiplied over the years?
Why are some entrepreneurs expanding while others are shutting down?
Those questions deserve honest answers too.
Now think about the richest Nigerians you know.
Whether you like them or not...
Many of them became significantly wealthier in the last few years when the majority were complaining about economic hardship.
Why?
Did they relocate to another planet?
No.
They operated in the same Nigeria.
That doesn't mean the economy is easy.
It means opportunities and challenges can exist at the same time.
The people who recognise opportunities often benefit from them.
And....
The people who see only obstacles may miss them.
Let me tell you one of the secrets that changes my mindset.
Money has no emotions.
Opportunities have no emotions.
The market has no emotions.
Only human beings have emotions.
When everybody is shouting...
I start asking questions.
When everybody is running away...
I start observing.
Not because I'm smarter.
But because I've learned that reacting emotionally is rarely a good investment strategy.
When I made that post... Many Nigerians think is about politics.
No.
It's not... And This is why I tell people...
Don't build your entire future around politics.
Understand politics.
Vote wisely.
Hold leaders accountable.
Demand better governance.
But don't pause your own life while waiting for politicians to change it.
Learn a skill.
Build something.
Save.
Invest.
Keep improving yourself.
Because no politician can study for your exams.
No governor can build your business for you.
No president can make you financially disciplined.
Those decisions remain yours.
Whether you score Tinubu 2/10 or 8/10...
Whether you score Nwifuru 3/10 or 9/10...
One question matters more than all the arguments on Facebook.
What are YOU doing today that your future self will thank you for?
Because ten years from now...
Nobody will remember who won today's Facebook argument.
But you will remember whether you prepared for your future.
That is why I keep saying:
Financial freedom begins the day you stop making emotional decisions and start making informed decisions.
Yes, Nigeria is hard.
Nobody is denying that.
But don't become so obsessed with the bad news that you become blind to the opportunities around you.
One of the decisions that changed my life years ago is that:
I stopped waiting for somebody to come and save me.
Not the President. Not the Governor. Not any politician. Not anybody.
I simply accepted one truth:
Nobody is coming to rescue me.
The day I accepted that responsibility, my mindset changed completely.
Hold your leaders accountable.
Demand better governance.
But don't put your own life on hold while waiting for Nigeria to become perfect.
Don't hate a politician so much that you miss the opportunities available around you as a citizen.
Let me be honest with you....
bad news travels faster than good news. If all you consume every day is bad news, you will eventually believe that nothing is working, even when opportunities are staring you in the face.
Protect your peace. Stay informed. But train your eyes to also look for opportunities.
Because while millions of people are busy complaining... Someone else is quietly building wealth.
Don't let your emotions become more expensive than the problems you're complaining about. That is one financial mistake you cannot afford to make.
My name is Iking Ferry,
A Financial Literacy Advocate and Investment Strategist on a Mission to Build 10 million Financially Free Nigerians and Africans through Fokona with the right Knowledge.
