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126
The Ballot And The Borehole
<p><br/></p><p>_A story on Politics_</p><p><br/></p><p>In *Oju-Ore Community, Lagos*, there was one big problem: *Water*. </p><p>For 8 years, women trekked 30 minutes to fetch water from a dirty stream. Children missed school. People fell sick.</p><p><br/></p><p>Every election year, politicians would come. </p><p>White SUVs. Big speakers. Rice and ₦2000. </p><p>"Vote for me and I will bring water," they’d say. </p><p>After election? Silence. Dry taps. Empty promises.</p><p><br/></p><p>People got tired. "Politics is scam," they said.</p><p><br/></p><p>*Then came Aisha*</p><p>Aisha was 29. She grew up in Oju-Ore. She was a teacher. No big party. No godfather. Just anger + vision.</p><p><br/></p><p>She didn’t share rice. She shared a notebook. </p><p>For 6 months, she went house to house. "What is your biggest problem?" </p><p>200 houses said: "Water."</p><p><br/></p><p>She called a meeting. No money to rent hall. They met under the mango tree. </p><p>50 people came. Then 100. Then the whole street.</p><p><br/></p><p>Aisha said, "Politics is not only in Abuja. Politics is who decides if we have water. </p><p>If we don’t choose, someone else will choose for us."</p><p><br/></p><p>She taught them 3 things:</p><p>1. *Register to vote* - She helped 400 youths get PVC</p><p>2. *Ask questions* - "Candidate, where is your borehole plan? Show us the budget"</p><p>3. *Hold people accountable* - "After election, we will visit your office every month"</p><p><br/></p><p>Election came. Aisha didn’t win. The "big man" won with rice and money.</p><p><br/></p><p>But something changed. </p><p>Because 400 people voted with sense, not stomach, the margin was small. The winner got scared.</p><p><br/></p><p>3 months later, the new chairman called Aisha. "Madam, come. Let’s talk about this water matter before they protest."</p><p><br/></p><p>*1 year later*</p><p>Aisha’s committee and the chairman built 2 boreholes. </p><p>Solar-powered. With a maintenance plan. With a community account.</p><p><br/></p><p>Women now fetch water in 5 minutes. School attendance went up 40%.</p><p><br/></p><p>Aisha still didn’t become chairman. </p><p>But she became something bigger: *The reason politics started working in Oju-Ore.*</p><p><br/></p><p><br/></p>
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