Why Nigerians should not lose interest in elections

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The conduct of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria by the Independent National Electoral Commission was a big blow to many Nigerians. It was not the result that was devastating but the process of arriving at the result. It got many people, especially the young ones who decided to vote for the first time, disillusioned. Consequently, many vowed never to vote again, as INEC had proved that change is not possible through the electoral ballot. Some publicly burnt their permanent voter cards.

The reason for the disillusionment was that after INEC had repeatedly raised the hopes of Nigerians that it would conduct an election that would be free from human manipulation because of the deployment of technology, it brazenly breached its own rules, employing the manual process of collation of results, which can be manipulated.

In a democracy, the people are constantly told to eschew violence and take legal means in any demand for a change of any form. The people are told that the ballot is the silver bullet for expressing any dissatisfaction against the system. However, INEC’s U-turn made some voters conclude that there is no possibility for the people’s wish to reign through the electoral process.

The effect is that many who excitedly trooped out on February 25 to cast their vote may never bother to do so again. Their conclusion is that whether they vote or not, INEC will announce a winner and then give them the arrogant and pregnant message to go to court. And in a country where the judiciary is unpredictable and has never overturned a presidential election, it is difficult to convince most people to place their trust in the judiciary. The consequence is that the people may relapse into despair.

In developed democracies, the law courts don’t determine the winners of elections. Voters do. Nigeria is big enough to join that club.

But rather than relapsing into despair, there is a need for the 2023 election to be seen as a sign that it is possible to change Nigeria to the country of our dream. Sometimes when I want to give up on Nigeria, I compare and contrast what happened in some other countries with what is happening in Nigeria and I see that Nigerians have not even passed through worse situations.

Imagine how it was for people of African ancestry in the United States some decades ago. From being slaves to being supposedly free people who faced the worst form of discrimination and inhumanity backed by law, the American Blacks reached where they are today through peaceful protests, civil disobedience, court judgments, perseverance and patience. There was a time Blacks could not vote in the United States. There was a time when Blacks could not attend the same school with Whites or enter the same restaurants or sit down on a bus when there was a White person standing.

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PDP will not stop protesting, says Atiku

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The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the just concluded February 25 elections, said the protest embarked upon by the party would continue for a long time.

“In fact, this protest will continue for a very long time, either every day or any other day,” Atiku told Arise TV reporter in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, during the Monday protest.

The PUNCH reports that Atiku led the PDP leaders as well as supporters to storm the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, wearing black clothes in protest against the just concluded presidential election that saw the All progressives Congress candidate, Bola Tinubu, declared winner of the presidential poll.

Reacting to the protest, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the just concluded February 25 polls, Omoyele Sowore lauded the action.

Sowore, who many referred to as an activist said activism was not different from politics.

“After all, activism is not different from politics. Good to see @atiku @OfficialPDPNig fight for electoral justice, everyone must engage in civil disobedience to extinguish the monumental injustice perpetrated by @inecnigeria, except that for us revolutionaries we don’t get the privilege to have the Department of State Services and police bodyguards to protect us during protests like this, they usually unleash the police, soldiers and the DSS on us with absolute cruelty!”

Buhari Igbo contribute immensely to Lagos prosperity — Jandor

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The governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Abdul-Azeez Adediran also known as Jandor, has said that Igbo people in the state deserve respect and protection for their immense contribution to the development of the state.

Adediran, in company of his running mate, Funke Akindele and other PDP leaders, made the remark at a town hall meeting with an Igbo group, Ndigbo Na Lagos Bu Otu, in Surulere on Sunday.

“Everytime I have the opportunity to speak with our brothers and sisters of Igbo extraction in Lagos, I always remember to express our appreciation.

“Appreciation of Lagosians of the first order who understand that all Igbo people in Lagos are one of those who have contributed immensely to our prosperity in the state of Lagos.

“Your investments in our major markets in Aspanda, Ladipo, Trade Fair, Alaba International Market and every Igbo dominated market contributes immensely to the status of Lagos of being the richest state in Nigeria today.

“It behoves every sensible owner of the Lagos to protect and respect those who have come to add to the prosperity but unfortunately what we have in Lagos today is not like that,” he said.

According to Adediran, if elected, he would not treat Igbos and other ethnic nationalities without respect but protect them and create an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.

Buhari congratulates new Abuja Methodist Archbishop Akinwale

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The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has congratulated Reverend Michael Akinwale as he assumes office as the new Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese of the Methodist Church Nigeria.

Buhari, while commending Akinwale for his services to the Church, expresses confidence that the Archbishop will deploy his wealth of experience to do greater exploits in his new post in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement released by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

The statement partly read, “President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates most warmly, His Grace, the Most Revd Michael Olusegun Akinwale as he officially assumes office as the new Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese of the Methodist Church Nigeria.

“The President wishes the Archbishop a successful enthronement ceremony on Sunday, March 5, 2023, to be performed by the Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Oliver Ali Aba.

Osoba to Lagosians: vote Sanwo-Olu

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Former Ogun Governor Olusegun Osoba has urged Lagosians to choose wisely by voting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday.

He described the Governor as a performer, hardworking and humbly public servant who has served the State diligently in the last four years.

Osoba, who featured on Television Continental’Journalist Hangout, reflected on the recent presidential election.

He described the poll won by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a peaceful and transparent exercise.

Osoba, a veteran journalist and APC elder, said the election was full of surprises, stressing that the Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was the game changer.

Justifying Tinubu’s victory, the elder statesman said the President-elect defiled all odds to achieve the greatest electoral spread, winning majority votes in the Southwest, Northwest and Northcentral states of Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Niger.

Stressing that the poll was most peaceful and reasonably transparent, Osoba recalled that the turnout was huge while the use of BVAS sanitised the process.

The APC stalwart said BVAS also preventing rigging, dismissing the allegations of electoral malpractices by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi.

He said the votes by the South and North that made Tinubu president underscored the contributions of the regions to national unity.

Osoba, who insisted that the poll was not manipulated, pointed out that Tinubu achieved the mandatory 25 percent in 29 of 36 states.

The former governor recalled that Atiku’s running mate, Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, lost his state to Obi while APC installed two senators in the state.

He queried:”Atiku won in Osun. I was born in Osogbo. Did he rigged in Osun?

pushes woman to death

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Ateenager, Opeyemi Adudu, has been arrested for allegedly pushing a 52-year- old woman, Medinat Aliu, to death.

The 16-year-old teenager was arrested by tives of the Ondo State Police Command.

It was learnt that the incident happened at No 107, Isolo road in Akure South local government area of Ondo State.

Witnesses said the suspect had a scuffle with the suspect while fetching water from a well.

The witnesses said the deceased cautioned that water from the suspects hair was dripping back into the well.

It was gathered that the move by the deceased to stop the suspect from further fetching water water led to a scuffle.

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