Nigeria: Voice of the people

Nigeria: Voice of the people

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Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation was scheduled to vote in presidential elections on Saturday, but the poll has been postponed by six weeks due to security concerns.

Reuters photographer Akintunde Akinleye captured portraits of Nigerians and asked them about their views on the upcoming elections as well as their hopes and concerns for the country.

. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

The decision to delay this week's election on the advice of security forces creates a worrying echo for some of the annulment of 1993's democratic vote by a military government.

The election in Africa's biggest economy was set to be the closest fought since the end of military dictatorship in 1999.

President Goodluck Jonathan is seeking re-election in a contest with main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari, himself a former military ruler.

Garuba Musa, 27, an ethnic Hausa Muslim is from the north of Nigeria and hopes the upcoming Presidential election is peaceful but fears Boko Haram may hamper the process.

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Fashion designer Omobola Omowunmi is a 43-year-old ethnic Yoruba Christian, she said: “The people at the helm are playing with our lives … I pray for a good outcome”.
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Fashion designer Omobola Omowunmi is a 43-year-old ethnic Yoruba Christian, she said: “The people at the helm are playing with our lives … I pray for a good outcome”.

Mutiu Sabitiu is a 40-year-old shoe mender and an ethnic Yoruba Muslim who says he is indifferent towards the elections. He hopes the best man wins, however.
. Ibadan, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Mutiu Sabitiu is a 40-year-old shoe mender and an ethnic Yoruba Muslim who says he is indifferent towards the elections. He hopes the best man wins, however.

Afrobeat musician Seun Anikulapo-Kuti, 32, is an ethnic Yoruba and son of music legend Fela Kuti. He believes Boko Haram is not a new kind of revolutionary group but an entity created for some kind of political disturbances.
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Afrobeat musician Seun Anikulapo-Kuti, 32, is an ethnic Yoruba and son of music legend Fela Kuti. He believes Boko Haram is not a new kind of revolutionary group but an entity created for some kind of political disturbances.

Wunika Mukan, 31, brand director of the African Artists Foundation said: “We are on the verge of something great, however I feel that we have to get through the storm to get there”.
. LAGOS, NIGERIA. REUTERS

Wunika Mukan, 31, brand director of the African Artists Foundation said: “We are on the verge of something great, however I feel that we have to get through the storm to get there”.

Latefat Alao, a 56-year-old Yoruba Muslim trader, waits for customers. Much of the grains and wheat traders like Alao sell comes from the north and Boko Haram’s campaign has negatively affected farmers and food markets.
. Ibadan, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Latefat Alao, a 56-year-old Yoruba Muslim trader, waits for customers. Much of the grains and wheat traders like Alao sell comes from the north and Boko Haram’s campaign has negatively affected farmers and food markets.

Entrepreneur Bankole Cardoso, 26, a Christian Yoruba, said that fears of kidnappings increase during elections.
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Entrepreneur Bankole Cardoso, 26, a Christian Yoruba, said that fears of kidnappings increase during elections.

Abubakar Kadakinguda, 30, an ethnic Hausa Muslim from the north believes political challenges in Nigeria, including security issues, will be solved if Buhari wins the elections.
. Ibadan, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Abubakar Kadakinguda, 30, an ethnic Hausa Muslim from the north believes political challenges in Nigeria, including security issues, will be solved if Buhari wins the elections.

Television producer Dan Ikpoyi is a 32-year-old Christian from Nigeria's delta region he said: “The fact that the election was postponed casts a big question mark on the credibility of the election itself”.
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Television producer Dan Ikpoyi is a 32-year-old Christian from Nigeria's delta region he said: “The fact that the election was postponed casts a big question mark on the credibility of the election itself”.

Vulcanizer, Gabriel Taiwo is a 42-year-old ethnic Yoruba Christian man. “I feel so bad that the election was postponed but there is nothing we can do now, we have to wait for the new dates … but I pray everything goes well,” he said.
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Vulcanizer, Gabriel Taiwo is a 42-year-old ethnic Yoruba Christian man. “I feel so bad that the election was postponed but there is nothing we can do now, we have to wait for the new dates … but I pray everything goes well,” he said.

Adepate Mustapher-Koiki, a 43-year-old Yoruba ethnic Muslim, is a university lecturer, she said: “Whoever, emerges should look at the issue of security ... the whole scenario is disturbing our economic growth,” she said.
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Adepate Mustapher-Koiki, a 43-year-old Yoruba ethnic Muslim, is a university lecturer, she said: “Whoever, emerges should look at the issue of security ... the whole scenario is disturbing our economic growth,” she said.

Ogwezzy-Ndisika, a Christian professor from Nigeria's delta region said: “The Boko Haram insurgency did not start today. We have already given out a timetable to the whole world [for] the election. Why postpone it now?”
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Ogwezzy-Ndisika, a Christian professor from Nigeria's delta region said: “The Boko Haram insurgency did not start today. We have already given out a timetable to the whole world [for] the election. Why postpone it now?”

Michael Chijoke Ano is a 21-year-old student and an ethnic Igbo from Nigeria's eastern region.  Ano hopes that the election is devoid of violence so that his future plans for education are not affected.
. Lagos, Nigeria. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Michael Chijoke Ano is a 21-year-old student and an ethnic Igbo from Nigeria's eastern region. Ano hopes that the election is devoid of violence so that his future plans for education are not affected.

Omolade Ogunlusi, 20, a student at the University of Lagos and a ethnic Yoruba Christian said: “I do not like the election postponement. I am just afraid of everything’’.
. LAGOS, NIGERIA. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye

Omolade Ogunlusi, 20, a student at the University of Lagos and a ethnic Yoruba Christian said: “I do not like the election postponement. I am just afraid of everything’’.