RE:NIGERIAN ELECTIONS:IDEALISM, FACTS & REPORTAGE

This is a response to the article posted on the Nigeriaworld page on 26th April 2007, by Leonard Karshima Shilga an Asst. Prof at the ABTI University. It would be ideal if you peruse that article as it will give you a better understanding of this posting.

http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/publication/shilgba/042607.html

I will start off by stating that someone like Umaru Yar´Adua winning the election is not the question, he stands among the few whose credibility and integrity leaves little for questions. Buhari sold out when he tried to play the muslims against the Christians (a true leader unifies) and Atiku has personally not been able to proffer convincing explanations for his massive wealth just like many other Nigerian politicians.

However, the problem comes down to how the elections (Presidential and otherwise) were conducted. Prof. Shilga seems to be of the opinion that Nigerians are unintelligent and immature to make informed and independent decisions of theirs thus suggesting that we have been brainwashed to believe what is fed to us by the international community or the local press without our own critical assessment of the reality.

He stated, " Neo-colonialism simply means mental colonization. Many Africans are still suffering from this. Self-doubt and foreign-reliance even for littlest of processes like democratization, is a symptom of mental colonization."

I STRONGLY disagree with his stand. If the truth be told, We do not need any foreign body or political analyst to tell us that the strategies to sabotage and tilt the scales in the last elections was preplanned, rehearsed and executed by PDP. Even the least informed Nigerian knows that. OBJ personally accepted that the elections was flawed, so did ASUU, Gani and many other Nigerians (organisations and individuals alike). Are all these people and organisations wrong?

How would Prof. Shilga explain the situation in Ondo state where PDP won a seat in a constituency in which they never fielded a candidate, the announcement of a victor in Delta when some of the electorates were still in the queue to satisfy one of their most important civic duties? How would the Prof. explain the outright snatching of ballot boxes or the announcement of a winner where elections never took place...?

Shilga also stated that "Violence in a handful of places does not mean "elections in Nigeria have been marred". Both domestic and international media should stop misinforming readers about Nigeria."

I do not know the source of his information but reports from across Nigeria originating from Nigerians and witnessed by Nigerians clearly prove otherwise. More than 250 lives were wasted during the last elections, serious harassment of candidates and voters took place, properties worth millions were destroyed apart from the electoral fraud outlined above and yet it beats my reasoning why Prof. Shilga would want to make Nigerians believe that it is the International community that is prompting us to believe that the elections did not go well.

Sir, "have you followed the French elections or the just concluded Finnish elections?" These countries both make electioneering process very alluring and beautiful, not the sham elections we had. It made you feel proud to be a part of the electorate in these places because your vote COUNTED. No one can tell you "whether you vote or not, I will get the ticket."

Justifying the results of the elections by the fact that it was accepted by SA election commission and the governors forum does not in any way hold water. Most of the governors in Nigeria in the first instance lack any credibility and as such have become "YES MEN" in an attempt to protect themselves from the onslaught of OBJ. The fact that Nnamani said that the elections were rigged was nothing but the obvious truth, though one would say it was a "diplomatic mistake" but he did have the guts to come out and say in unequivocal terms that our elections was dubious.He can´t be crucified for that.

We seem to be quick to blame all our problems on the colonial masters. When leaders steal money, it is colonial masters that takes the buck, when there is religious crisis it is the colonial masters...... it is time we wake-up and accept responsibility for our irresponsibility, poor leadership and total squander of opportunities. We have had our independence for over 45 years , we need to grow up. I can´t even imagine why we could not even print our own ballot papers and have to contract it to a SA firm!!!!!!!!! I am ashamed that Malaysia we assisted in setting up some its oil plantations, as an example, has long made a head way while we continue to grapple with the very basics. It is time we stopped deceiving ourselves. We are our problem.