Despite the major postponement of the elections and the brickbats and innuendoes that had characterised electioneering today’s elections are expected to go down as the most tense and critical. The reason is simple: Nigerians and, indeed, the global community have had their attention fixated on these elections because of Nigeria’s strategic importance in world affairs. It is believed that Nigeria – as the largest economy in Africa – should get it right in these elections if democracy in Africa must thrive. The thinking also is that if anything untoward should happen to Nigeria it would have far-reaching repercussions on other countries – not only in Africa, but the world at large.
For this singular reason, the elections have attracted more than a cursory interest from the entire world. The United States, in particular, is in the forefront of the mobilization to ensure that the elections go well. In fact, the United Nations and its agencies have continued to offer all forms of assistance, including sending its personnel, to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the organization of the elections.
Interestingly, security, which was at the centre of the postponement of the elections from February 14 to March 28, has now reasonably been addressed, paving the way for elections to hold even in the hotspot of the current insurgency – northeast geopolitical zone.
With the establishment of some semblance of security in the zone, the elections can now go ahead despite the initial skepticisms and opposition. Those opposed to the staging of the elections on February 14 were quite right, because the extra time has afforded INEC the opportunity to put its house in order. It also eliminated the bad blood that would have arisen if the elections had been allowed to go on as planned.
It is therefore very absurd to hear some people refer to the shift in date as a political ploy to favour some persons and a particular political party. How mean could some people be? Must they sow seeds of discord before they can find solace in their hearts? Why must Nigerian politicians supplant the truth to gain cheap political points? There was no way, considering the precarious state of insecurity in the northeast zone, the elections would have held on February 14. Doing so would have amounted to sheer suicide.
Again, the forces of destruction, waiting in the wings, would have capitalized on the situation to foment trouble and truncate our fledgling democracy. So, it was the proper thing to do when the security chiefs summoned courage to ask for the shift.
It is also gratifying to note that the shift allowed the military fighting insurgency in the north east the opportunity to restock their armoury and take the fight to the insurgents. Contrary to the initial inertia that greeted the operations in the areas under emergency rule, there has been a renewed vigour among the soldiers and other security forces to prove their mettle. The past three weeks have seen the military gaining more grounds and recovering some towns and communities earlier lost to the Boko Haram sect.
The consequence of the present developments, in terms of security in the northeast zone, is a safer environment for voters to discharge their constitutional duty of voting and be voted for. This is why I expect the elections in the zone to be unique. Already there are speculations that despite the insurgency residents came out in large numbers to register. The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are not left out in the frenzy to vote.
Across the country, those that have just attained eighteen years and slightly above are gearing up to make an impact. Because they are voting for the first time, there is some enthusiasm on their part to vote and contribute to the advancement of democracy in Nigeria. The high concentration of persons in these age brackets makes them a very important factor in this election.
Even the youths generally, have always been known to make meaningful impacts on any election. This is why politicians have been courting them. I am quite sure that they will wield the same influence in today’s elections. From my own assessment they hold the ace in the elections. I arrived at this position having deeply considered the role the more elderly voters had played in elections. It is not controvertible that many of those who grace the television screens and speak big grammar are not the real voters. The real voters are the youth and the rural poor. The rich and mighty lock themselves up in the comfort of their luxurious homes for fear of violence and, even, death. But the youth, ever beaming with energy and vitality, take the bull by the horns to come out and vote.
It is for this reason that I have always supported any programmes that will inspire the youth and save them from unnecessary dangers and afflictions. The Nigerian youth have shown a rare sense of dignity and courage, especially in the face of endless adversity. And I am confident they will demonstrate these valiant and patriotic qualities in today’s election.
For those that hole themselves up in their rooms until elections are over, I admonish them to shake off their lethargy and come out and vote. Voting in today’s election is the greatest service any Nigerian of voting age can do to our nation. It will amount to a tragedy of epic proportion if anybody opts not to come out and vote. Imagine what would happen if everybody refused to come out and vote. Who will make things happen then?
No matter on which side of the divide any of us may choose to be, what is paramount at this time is to move Nigeria forward. The interest of Nigeria supersedes our selfish, parochial interests. We have reached a very critical stage in our national life – a point of no return – when all hands should be on the plough to save Nigeria from the doomsday prophecies of some people.
The days of politicking, casting aspersions on one another, placing salacious and rapacious television and radio advertisements are over. What we have on our hands is a very sensitive national assignment of electing the President, Senators and members of the House of Representatives. I see this assignment as a noble cause that demands the active participation of every Nigerian of voting age.
For the political class, I call specially on them to guide their loins and work for peace and tranquility. We must shun violence in any form by ensuring that we play the game according to the rules. The rules of the game have already been outlined by INEC. It is our duty to educate our supporters on the need to embrace peace, and vote according to the dictates of our conscience. We must desist from fanning the embers of hate, and constantly bear in mind that we have no other country except Nigeria. If we vote in accordance with the rules and guidelines then we are working in tandem with the vision of our forbears who sacrificed everything to make Nigeria the envy of the global world.
It will be a big shame if we, politicians and voters alike, allowed our narrow political interests to jeopardise the growth and development of Nigeria. The violent disposition of some politicians has continued to threaten the peace and stability of this great nation. I wish to advise those politicians that have perfected the act of rigging in today’s election to perish the idea, because it will amount to an exercise in futility to attempt to do so. Nigeria has reached a stage in her life that rigging and similar ills should no longer be condoned. INEC has worked rigorously and painstakingly to organize today’s elections to meet international standards. We should not allow greed and desperation to taint it.
It is our duty as Nigerians to enlighten one another on what should be done to ensure hitch-free elections today. From what I was able to glean from INEC’s publicity materials accreditation of voters will commence as early as 8 am and last till 1 pm, after which actual voting will follow. Accreditation will be done with the help of the card readers, which have been deployed across the country. Each polling unit will have two card readers in case of malfunctioning of one. There are also extra batteries to back them up. Each voter is expected to present his permanent voter’s card for verification. If the card passes the authenticity test (which also requires the voter to place his thumb on the card reader) then the voter’s name is checked in the voters’ register. If his or her name is found in the register, he or she is then cleared to vote.
At 1 pm (after the close of accreditation) each cleared voter is issued three ballot papers to cast his vote. One ballot is for the President, the second one is for the Senator and the third is for the House of Representatives. After thumb-printing each of the three ballot papers the voter now turns them into the 3 ballot boxes – one at a time for each of the three positions being voted for. There will be an assistant electoral officer at each polling booth whose duty it is to guide the voter, especially the not-too-literate, on which ballot box to place each of the ballot papers. This will be done in the full glare of the other voters.
I have heard the arguments about whether it is proper for a voter to cast his vote and wait for the ballots to be counted. I wonder why anybody should kick against this. It is not only proper to vote and wait for your vote to be counted it is the surest way to do away with any doubts and suspicion. I will never advise any voter to cast his vote and go home. You should cast your vote and ensure your vote counts in this election. Let nobody intimidate you to do otherwise. What probably the security agents should be concerned about is the security of each of the polling units and the voters. They should also not forget that the presence of voters is an added security.
What about the use of soldiers on the day of election? I have nothing against that. What I am vehemently against is the use of any security man or woman to intimidate voters or do things that run contrary to the laws guiding the elections. I was a victim of soldiers’ intimidation during the 2011 National Assembly elections, when the entrance to my country home was barricaded with armoured cars by solders. I have implicit confidence in the current leadership of the army. I am convinced they would not repeat such a disgraceful act.
It will be totally unacceptable to Nigerians should anybody use the security forces in such a way as to confer an undue advantage on him. The security agents should be given the latitude to discharge their duties without let or hindrance. Abia State presents a very curious case maybe because of the notoriety it enjoys currently. This is one state INEC and security agents should watch very closely. I am aware that some politicians in the state have shown morbid desperation in recent times, which poses a threat to the peace and security of voters in today’s election. But there is nothing to worry about as adequate measures have been taken to forestall any disruption of the elections or intimidation of any voter.
The Nigerian voters have a duty to vote wisely and courageously. It is needless endlessly complaining about bad leadership. This is an opportunity to vote out anybody that has not performed. For those that have performed it is morally obligatory that we vote for them to continue the good works they are doing.
The recent tour of my Senatorial Zone has opened my eyes to the rot in the system and the urgent need to work to redress it. There are boundless opportunities in the zone, but nothing has been done of recent to develop the zone. I saw some able-bodied youth and men whiling away their time playing draft, snooker and other forms of games when they should be busy working. I find this intolerable. We must harness the rich potentialities of the zone and its people and integrate them into the global economy for the betterment of our nation and state.
The much we did as a government some eight years ago is all they have been living on. There is hope for better days ahead if they would do the needful to turn their fate around.
On the part of INEC, I urge it to stick to its gun and not change the post in the middle of the match. They must conduct the elections in accordance with the arrangements it had put in place. There is no doubt that it is under intense pressure by politicians and other subterranean forces bent on manipulating the system for their self-aggrandizement. They must not give in to their threats and offer of filthy lucre. The interest of Nigeria surpasses the interests of a few disgruntled elements.
The outcome of these elections will make or mar our nation. It will also give credence or not to the doomsday prophecies that the days of Nigeria as a united nation are numbered. Nobody else can determine the fate of Nigeria other than Nigerians themselves.
This is why we have to conduct ourselves decorously and avoid any act capable of breaching the peace and stability of our nation.
I thank God for the gift of one another and the grace to continue to exist as one, indivisible nation in spite of our manifest differences.
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