Date Published: 04/28/09
EKITI STATE RE-RUN ELECTION A TRUE REBRANDING OF NIGERIA
By Tega Oghenovo
The recent election in Ekiti state has helped exposed the need for a well rebranded Nigeria from the state and local government level before thinking of spending huge amount of money on international advertorials. The recent election in Ekiti state is a total failure and a shame to a country whose leaders make proposals almost everyday on political reform and their internal motive is absolutely different from what is published or discussed
The electoral reform being proposed for Nigerians is aimed at ensuring free, fair and credible elections come 2011. The country has been subjected to its first major electoral text after the proposed electoral reform with the election in Ekiti state. With about 10, 000 police men deployed to the state to monitor the election, as well as members of the Nigeria Bar Association and other observers, the election in Ekiti could not be completed in a day. With serving senators caught in the act of ballot snatching, serving local government chairmen and women sponsoring the killing of their fellow brothers and sisters in different political parties because of their quest for power, what hope do we have in the Nigeria electoral system? INEC on its own part has proven that it is not an independent body rather it is subjected to instructions from the presidency, police force, or rich politicians having funds to spend. How can INEC send a different commissioner who was not present during an election to go to Ekiti state to announce results? This is a complete shame on the Nigeria electoral system
Just recently, South Africa just concluded its election and there where no report of violence, gun shorts or what so ever over electoral issues. Ghana which is just our next door neighbour successfully completed their own elections without any violence, ballot snatching and just a single state in Nigeria and just in 10 local government area, election could not be held successfully. Where then is the political reform and why then do we have to spend much money on publicity to rebrand Nigeria when our leaders themselves have not been properly rebranded.
This election of Ekiti State is a true text to the president of Nigeria as well as the police force. We should not allow this to continue as it smells our political image internationally. When a country is built around a destroyed electoral system, the country is never positively recognised internationally. As a concerned Nigerian, I do wish to appreciate the point blank news, Sahara reporters as well as other Nigerian newspapers and public media that are bold enough to publish the true unscripted stories happening around Nigeria. This in a long way will help change the mind of our leaders to at least do the right thing at the right time.
I am calling on the president of Nigeria to immediately remove from office the present INEC chairman in person of Murice Iwu because is mindset is on profit making and not on a successful electoral system in Nigeria. The president should give specific instructions and code of conduct to the police so they should no longer be used as ballot snatchers instead of election watchers and peace makers. Mr President, the whole world is watching and looking forward to your contribution and stand on the elections in Ekiti State. Please inform your minister for information that this election is a better way of proving to the world that Nigeria has been positively rebranded rather than spending time and money on international and local advertorial rebranding Nigeria.
Tega Oghenovo
Warri
