Election 2011: Patriotism, politician’s insincerity and the future of Nigeria.
An amazing poll by EMNnews.com has revealed that many politicians are putting personal gains before national interests as the nation gets prepared for next year’s very volatile election.
The internet poll had been set for the Nigerians across the world to respond to questions as to whether it is possible to hold a free and fair election come 2011 in the face of the current wobbling preparation and inadequate time provision for next year’s election, coming up in less than four months time.
While many people who feel genuinely concerned about the nation responded to the poll by putting across their reservations and otherwise, many political aspirants are quiet as they refuse to respond to our poll.
Many political aspirants who were approached refused to send back responses to the questions.
EMNnews delayed the poll’s result for more than four days to enable us collect more responses but to our amazement, no political office aspirant in waiting in the next dispensation sent back their responses -an indication of what a respondent said that the aspirants are more desperate for an election than the stability of the country irespective of what the result will turn out to be.
Our observers believe that political office holders are more interested in their personal political aspiration and ambition irrespective of what the election brings to the nation.
“This is an indication that many of our old and new politicians are despirate for political office rather than the future well being of our great country, that is to say, that, those aspirants approached are more interested personal gains as many may be harbouring the same pessimistic reservation as about next year election but are refusing to speak out about it fearing that they could be loosing out.
Less than four months to the election, the Federal government has just released a huge sum to INEC to carry out the election duties.
But questions are being asked as to weither the citizens are not signing a blank check for the ruling party which had claimed in the past to have attained office through rigged elections and illegal coordination of electioneering.
in the past voting.
With the time not on the nation’s side and with the huge amount just being released, how can the nation attain credible and free and fair election?
Many Nigerians across the world are expressing doubts about next year’s election which they claim could be seriously flawed with irregularities and massive rigging due to bad preparation and hush-hush plans.
Less than four months to the election, the Federal government has just released a huge sum to INEC to carry out the election duties.
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But questions are being asked as to weither the citizens are not signing a blank check for the ruling party which had claimed in the past to have attained office through rigged elections in the past voting.
With the time not on the nation’s side and with the huge amount just being released, how can the nation attain credible and rig free election.
According to the brief survey conducted on line, many Nigerians are expressing serious doubts about a free election holding in Nigeria next year as the current preparation may be holding impending dangers of serious irregularity and new selection exercise.
Many are cautioning that the election may be marred with serious manipulations, malpractices and doctoring due to bad planning as the nation January next year as the election time for the Presidency.
Many Nigerians are of the opinion that it is natural for politician to quote relevant sections from the nation’s constitution and claimed it had to be adhered to, but it is another thing for the nation to hold the election and trigger a big trouble across the nation.
“What is at stake is the future of the nation as we seem to be throwing reality into the sea. There will be gross consequences.” responded one of our interviewee, who claimed we seem to be sitting on the kegs of gun powder.
Many people are of the opinion that it would be impossible for the nation to get it’s hearts together between now and next January to conduct a free election when no proper plan had been put in place as regards voters register and purchase of relevant machinery and accompanied training of officials for the use of machineries for election purposes.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria recently expressed similar fear claiming that the time was ticking against the nation and that the air was ominous as we approach the election year.
Indirectly, the High Commissioner was passing the message that the time was short for the country to achieve successful free and fair election as preparations remained next to nothing from the Embassy’s points of view.
Many Nigerians who responded to EMNnews questions expressed pessimism that a nation without regular power supply and poor transportation links may be far away from a seriously election exercise as politicians are more interested in their dream of attaining their post through dubious means rather than facing reality and achieve success legally in the election if conducted with solid preparations.
There seem to be a serious impending danger in the face of a seeming hypocrisy towards next year’s election as violent reactions may result from allegations of malpractices especially with the current volatility in the air as the nation approaches 2011.
“ What we are saying is that free and fear election cannot be possible where no decisions have been made on the situation with the credibility of the voter’s register” , responded one of our readers.
Only days ago, the parliament approved the sum of N87.7billion towards the election.
“Why are we in a rush when we know it is not realistic”, a concerned Nigeria exploded while reacting to questions.
The atmosphere is that of anxiety and serious doubt even though desperation for change and the appalling welfare condition of majority of Nigerians are not setting the people on the right mood to think right as the situation on ground calls for a major review.
“Now as we approach the election year, the nation appears to be running when she is yet to walk or even crawl” the respondent continued.
Another respondent claimed:“ It is one thing for INEC to mean well and work towards a credible election and it is another for all the strategies put in place to be sabotaged and destroyed and overturned due to bad logistics resulting from lack of enough time.
It is being contended that the current situation may give way to serious irregularities as all plans are rushed to the detriment of a free and fair election conduct.
“We are on the verge of being drawn back once again” he continued.
As to what could be done at this point in time to forestall troubles and ensure free and fair election, many responded said that both the executive and legislative arms of the government should sit down to draw out an agreement as to what to do to avoid the nation sliding into anarchy.
”It is simple, let the nation be told that now any attempt to continue with the current deadline will be seriously regretted. Therefore, there should be an agreement that one full year plan should be given to the planning. Let the government pass a law that the current assembly should continue the current Assembly for another year to give way to a good achievable election plans and results.
But such plans should include the sacrificing of half salaries by every government official from the executive to the judicial arms.
If we are truly patriotic, the nation should tread through this sacrificial road to guarantee a future devoid of trouble for the nation.
“Nigeria legislators are the highest paid in the world, to sacrifice half wages will be a worthy effort as patriotic citizens”, a source said.The Nigeria bar Association recently warned the Federal government that it would go to court if the election was postponed.
“We are not being alarmist. We are just facing reality about what is on ground. We need more time for preparation and many eminent people who are calling for the election to go ahead are not facing realities as they are now overwhelmed with short-sightedness” a respondent warned
According to a source, the nation is not up for a trial election. We are going on continual experimentation in journey for a potent democracy and we cannot afford to fail. Therefore, we should be facing reality rather than showing desperation for the grabbing a post or just holding election without consideration for the nation’s security and future.
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