Nigerian Presidential Elections: 16-04-11 #NigeriaDecides

Agbowo Polling Unit

Nwachukwu Egbunike outlines his day at the Polling Unit in Agbowo, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Photo credits: Damisi Pikuda.

10:05am

I walked to the polling station near my neighborhood. There were seven officials present. A lady accredits me in less than a minute. She took my Voters Card, and went through their list. Ticks against my name and picture; then hands it over to the second official who assigns a number to me.The third official (standing) inflicts an indelible blue ink on my left thumb and tells me to come back by 12:00 noon to vote. Behind these three INEC staff, were two police officers (male and female) and another guy, sharing the same bench with them.

On the left is a cubicle that is not so closed to induce suspicion and not so open to assure privacy of voters. Just in front of this white cubicle, is the ‘Voters Bag’. The officials are sheltered under a fairly large canopy.

I cracked jokes with the officials but frankly there were quite courteous and I left the polling station in less than a minute after my arrival. All is quiet and serene.

11.57 am

standing on the queue

I went back to my Pulling Unit (PU), long queues already. Voting is yet to start. There are two separate lines; one for men and another for women. I think the reason is obvious, this neighborhood is thickly Muslim.

12.05 pm

“Pretending” reading a novel because I can’t in this world concentrate. The noise around is amazing, people talking about many things to each other. I can’t understand much, since they speak in Yoruba. However, a guy around me helps by translating.

12.10

A Catholic Priest arrives to vote. He walks and takes his place in the long line behind. What an example!

12.12 pm

A fellow – I doubt if he is an official, explains the voting procedure. The people are quite attentive.

12:16 pm

INEC staff addresses crowd. Seems the elections are about to commence. He says, ‘no campaigning, no bribery.’ The crowd are inpatient, they shout him down. No need explaining the procedure to them again, someone has already done so, besides they voted last week.

12.20 pm

The male policeman goes down the queue and calls out the Catholic Priest to join the group of the elderly already seated under the INEC canopy. Surprisingly nobody protests although majority there are Muslims.Methinks both –  the priest for not assuming a place of honor without being called to it, and the crowd, for respecting one who is not of their faith – deserves commendation.

12:30 pm

An agadi ‘elderly’ woman, she should be above 70 and bent over by arthritis just finished voting. She is lead out by two young women, probably her grandchildren.

12:45 pm

INEC POLLS CLERK

The Assistant Presiding Officer (Polls Clerk) alerts the two policemen about two suspicious looking young guys. The policemen take the lead and confront the two fellows. Overheard the o/c telling the guys that, ‘no discussion or persuasion during voting’.

12.50 pm

An umbrella sprouts before me. Two guys who had not been there when I came, arrive and said that they had been on the queue. I asked from the elderly man standing before me and he confirmed their claims. However I am grateful for the shade of this branded umbrella of a beer ad – “one people, one beer!” Other umbrella’s carry are marked with different logos, like the one in the picture below.

under the umbrella

1:10 pm

It’s my turn and I move up to the INEC canopy. I am given the ballot paper and move into the cubicle to ‘press my thumb’. Prior to that, I asked the INEC staff, to identify a lady standing nearby, she was wearing a branded shirt but I could not read the prints. He responds that’s she is from Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).

I cast my vote and then had a chat with the TMG madam.

4.45 pm

Return to the PU, collation of results in progress.

4.47 pm

Presiding Clerk dismantles the cubicle used by voters to thumbing their ballot papers.

4.48 pm

Party agents sign Result Sheet. ANPP signs first, followed by that of PDP and others do likewise.

4.50 pm

Presiding officer signs and stamps Result Sheet in the presence of all – party agents, election observers, police, civil defense corp and some voters.

4.52 pm

Presiding officer gives duplicate of signed forms to party agents, election observers and policewoman. Afterwards TMG staff leaves, the party agents follow suit.

5.00 pm

INEC officials and police also depart.

SOME INFORMATION ON THE RESULT SHEET

No of voters in register:                                                     690

Accredited Voters:                                                              255

No in queue before voting commenced:                    245

No of ballot papers:                                                             600

No of total valid votes (sum total of all parties)      245

ELECTION RESULTS

Party                      No of Votes

ACN                          26

ANPP                        2

APS                            1

CPC                            67

PDC                            2

PDP                            144

PPP                             1

SDMP                          1

Competent Candidates with Character Please!

Nwachukwu Egbunike

“Give me a lever long enough, a fulcrum strong enough and I’ll move the world” – Archimedes

While the ping-pong on the 2011 general elections continues, is it not nauseating that critical questions are not addressed while the preposterous are indecently embroidered? The dominant spice in the nation’s political soup has been to zone or not to zone. Zoning has become a myth peddled as fact. A recent poll by NOI debunks this falsehood: 38% thought that a politician’s competence mattered most. Just 2% considered ethnicity as criterion for electing a candidate.

Unfortunately, the chefs intend to serve a highly constipating diet – incompetent candidates, without honour. Can it be that in a country with 150 million people, a decade into the 21st century, we are so impoverished of ideas? That while other members of the global community head on the slope of resolving issues, we are still held captive by dishonourable politicians? Why in heaven’s name should the PDP make ethnicity the crux of nominating her presidential candidate?

The recent mid-term elections in US saw the Republicans “shellacking” the Democrats out of Congress. Even with a charismatic Obama – Americans made it clear that they really want a change. While I have no intention of peering into the intricacies of this ‘change’, one thing is certain: the voters had their way while politicians had their say. At least, the Democrats did not rig their way through with their ‘power of incumbency’ nor did the voters reject them based on the race of the present occupant of the White House. They only voted either to protest or for those who they think can solve their complex national algebra.

Sadly enough, in Nigeria, the opposite is just the case. Those who intend to rule us have no agenda. They mouth oft-recycled electoral promises. It is obvious that their only love lies in the looting of the public till. The political parties – PDP, ACN or ANPP – are no different save for their names. They all lack any distinct ideology but only similar in their insatiable appetite for power. Once power is grabbed, every other good thing comes. If the parties are no different, who will expect our politicians to take any other hue?

In this depressing clime, something refreshing happened weeks ago: citizens took to the streets to demand their rights to determine who leads them. Nigerians are coming round to see that politics is too serious a business to be left in the hands of politicians alone. It’s time for Nigerians to say no to continual insult of our collective ego. Our votes must count in 2011 and enough of recycled agadi’s (old men) who are both spent and shamed.

It is not enough to hurl insults on the ‘god fathers and mothers’ from the safety of one’s sitting room; or more pitiably at newsstands or in bars, when high on liquor. We have to actively make our votes count this time around. Nigerians seem to have an annoying capacity to docilely accept all forms of injustice. Voting is no privilege but a right. A right we have to exercise and protect in 2011.

We must participate – from the voters’ registration to the collation of votes at the polling centres. Besides it was done in 1993 and we can do it again. If IBB really craves for Aso Rock, then let him plead for votes and not ethnic sympathies. Enough of all this illogical zoning nonsense!

Archimedes asked for lever and fulcrum to move the world; I only seek credible candidates and courageous voters who will ensure that their votes count!

ATTAHIRU JEGA: THE NEW INEC CHAIR

As soon it became public knowledge that Professor Attahiru Jega, has been officially endorsed by the Council of State as the new electoral umpire in Nigeria, the traffic to my blog spiked dramatically. It’s amazing that in less than twenty-four hours, I had more than 500 visitors.  They had one purpose, which was to read a book review: Attahiru Jega on Democracy in Nigeria.

Although I have no intention of self-incensing, nonetheless, it shows that the political consciousness of Nigerians have increased dramatically. After the dismal outing of Maurice Iwu as INEC chair, Nigerians seem to be particularly interested in who mounts the saddle as the electoral umpire.

This is particularly evident in the clamour for credible elections in 2011. And usually the person who heads the electoral agency must be seen to be guileless, with an integrity that is transparent and also unbiased. It is not just enough to allude to the qualities listed above, it is absolutely essential that the perception matches reality.

Although I do not know Jega personally, however it is obvious that Lucky Jo (Goodluck Jonathan) has proved himself a worthy statesman with the guts to keep to the promises he made. Having read the authors submission (as contained in his book), I have no doubt that he is the best man for the job.

While some may argue that is still early in the day to canonise Jega, nonetheless it is trite to note that a person’s past actions tell a lot about his disposition. If the new INEC boss, had been the typical Nigerian – who loves fame and wealth above his good name, I see no reason why he would have remained unbending to antics of the military dictatorship as ASUU president.

Besides, a closer look at his essays reveals a passion for the Nigerian project. “One other striking aspect is the fact that Jega’s critical essays provoke a feeling of déjà vu. It seems that things hardly change or better put that our political leaders never learn from history. Otherwise how can one explain the fact the mistakes of the past are nearly always repeated. Jega knowing his turf can be better described as a political prophet. This is because after reading this book, I could only conclude that if our political elites would only listen, Nigeria would be a much better place.”

Nonetheless, Jega should be mindful that INEC is an institution and it takes much more for a person to change things. As such, he should not see this as an opportunity to validate or refute theories on political science. As much as an intellectual abstraction of the problems are welcome, he should have his feet on the ground. Need I state that Nigerian politics and politicians have defied all know political theories?

I will sign off by wishing him well on his new job. Nonetheless, Jega should be aware that many eyes (within and across the Atlantic) are watching and would be prompt to keep him on his toes. Nigerians want their vote to count and Jega should do just that and nothing more. Please do not disappoint many who have placed their trust in your pedigree!

Lucky Jo and the 2011 Presidential Sprint

Nwachukwu Egbunike

Obj - Lucky Jo (Photo Credit: http://www.punchng.com)

The debate persists about Jonathan Goodluck’s (Lucky Jo) interest (or non-interest) in the 2011 presidential elections. The political anxiety was heaped up with the claimed ‘gentleman’ rotational arrangement within the Peoples Democratic Party between northern and southern Nigeria. While the national conversation continues, the recent nod by Olusegun Obasanjo and Isa Yuguda calling on Lucky Jo to contest does Jonathan no good.

Jonathan has every right as a Nigerian to vote and be voted for, irrespective of any deal to the contrary. Besides the PDP’s illicit arrangement is unreasonable and contradicts the nation’s constitution. Moreover, who are these faceless politicians who dare to decide for Nigerians who will rule them? The reality is that the man on the streets cares less if the president is from Mars, as long as the common good is ensured. In other words, the anachronistic bias of tribe, nationality or religion is irrelevant in deciding who occupies Aso Rock.

Mr Obasanjo with his over-bloated ego as the ‘father of modern’ Nigeria still dreams of dominating the political space even after losing an attempt to rule forever via the third term bid. He foisted a sickly Umaru Yar’Adua on Nigeria, and shouted to all who cared to listen that this was the best a nation of 150 million people could have as a leader. While Yar’Adua became critically ill, Obj severed the umbilical cord and attempted to rewrite history by ever denying knowledge of the poor man’s ill health.

And now the same Obj wants to cruise on the public sympathy for lucky Jo to anoint him president. This is rather excruciating. Nigerians are no morons. As much as Jonathan has carried himself with some dignity and shown by his actions that he can bring about the change we all crave for, nonetheless, he should distance himself from Obasanjo. This is not a matter for flowery words, the moment public perception tilts towards an Obj-Jo joint presidency that is the beginning of the end. In that regard, Jo’s former boss, Yar’Adua asserted himself and made it obvious that he was no one’s puppet.

In addition, it is difficult to understand the way Nigerian politicians’ reason. The Governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, who until recently was the heir to the throne has made a 360 degrees mutation. Hear Yuguda, “every qualified Nigerian, including President Goodluck Jonathan, has every right to contest the presidential election; we must go by the constitution. We want acceptable and reputable person.  That is the leader Nigerians currently want.”

Pray, is this a joke? What happened to the not long cry that Yar’Adua can rule forever! I am shocked that people can be so unprincipled and move with any available current as long as their personal ambition is protected. While it may seem heroic that the in-law of the late president is trumpeting Lucky Jo’s credentials, this is only superficial. It validates ones again the overbeaten maxim that in politics there is no permanent friendship only permanent interests. What keeps me wondering is that our politicians think we are chronically demented. What seems to matter is that Nigerians forget a lot and as such no one keeps tag on their past actions and inactions.

This romance is becoming too close for comfort and the earlier Jonathan disassociates himself from the Otta farmer, the better for him. Same goes with Yaguda. A free counsel; take it and you be better for it, ignore same and you’ve just invited the vultures for a feast.