Fasten seat belt!

During takeoff and landing a warning sign illuminates instructing all passengers to fasten their seatbelts. Under normal circumstances, once the flight is fully airborne and at cruising altitude, the “fasten seat belt” sign switches off and passengers may walk around in the aircraft. However the warning sign may come back on at any time. Modern […]

During takeoff and landing a warning sign illuminates instructing all passengers to fasten their seatbelts. Under normal circumstances, once the flight is fully airborne and at cruising altitude, the “fasten seat belt” sign switches off and passengers may walk around in the aircraft. However the warning sign may come back on at any time. Modern aircraft are fitted with advanced weather detecting systems so whenever there is bad weather ahead and the pilot is expecting discomfiting turbulence the “fasten seat belt sigh illuminates and everyone returns to their seats and brace themselves. In the aftermath of our recently “concluded” presidential elections, perhaps the best ad vice to give Nigerians is to fasten their seat belts, and brace themselves. It’s evident turbulent times are ahead. There are several reasons why everyone must exercise restraint in the aftermath of the voting. Chief amongst them is the manner in which voting was handled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Their routine lapses in logistics and distribution management, coupled with the card reader fiasco, underage voting using Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and unconscionable actions by Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC’s) provides ample grounds for contesting the “fairness” of the election. The Courts will definitely be busy with all sorts of avoidable litigation. INEC has a penchant for squandering billions on ineffective Information Technology (IT) equipment. Last time round it was the so-called “Electronic Data-Capture” (EDC) machine.
This time it was card readers which were so embarrassingly ineffective that the President himself and at least three other Governors couldn’t be accredited by the machines.  Even though INEC claims only 0.25% of the machines malfunctioned, this percentage represents hundreds of units in real terms. Our nation apparently never ties of flooding our markets with substandard malfunctioning Chinese products and investigation into quality control standards of imported items is urgently required. Importing thousands of machines from China almost led to catastrophe. The relatively reasonable voting was due to the resilience of the general public who put up with all sorts of inconveniences and delays in order to exercise their rights peacefully.
Apart from conti-nuously squandering money INEC’s biggest failure was their inability to recognize and cope with potential flash points.  It was evident in advance that elections in Rivers, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom States would be contentious, yet Asari Dukubo was on television expressing his frustration at being prevented from voting, and promising not to abide by any result if the situation is not rectified.
 Meanwhile the all Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states have called for cancellation of elections based upon inexplicable lack of result sheets. Despite these avoidable lapses INEC must be commended for sanitizing the voters register. Even without an official declaration of results it’s evident that the number of voters will seriously decrease from 2011. That year with the usual average voter turnout of less than 50%, President Jonathan alone polled 22.5 million votes, and Buhari 12.25 million.
If the percentage turnout remains the same then there might not be up to 25 million votes cast nationwide this time round. This is expected to harm the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which long ago realized the implications of using the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) and card readers. Another major cause for concern is the manner in which the PDP carried out its campaign. Their unbridled viciousness, lack of respect for their main opponent; lack of decorum in campaigning, and sheer vulgarity were astounding. Spokespersons for the presidential re-election campaign descended into depths previously not experienced in our nation. If this is the way and manner in which Nigerian elections are to be won then it doesn’t forbode well for the future. Healing the wounds of this divisive campaign won’t be easy.
 In the unlikely event that President Jonathan records a landslide victory his errand boys would further inflame passions by gloating rather than publicly apologizing and attempting reconciliation. In the more likely event that Genral Buhari wins the vote, it will require a monumental effort for him to maintain his stoic and resolute focus on the main goal of national reformation, and not seek to take revenge for all the insults.
In Nigeria there is an adage that you do not insult a man in public, and then apologize in private. However Buhari would be well advised as Martin Luther King said to forget the words of his enemies, and remember the silence of his new found friends. The PDP should not be afraid of the wind of change because it blows both ways. In Edo State, turbulent times are expected ahead as the unpopularity of the once idolized “Comrade Governor” has become apparent. The PDP swept the elections and are expected to repeat the feat in the upcoming State House of Assembly polls. Once this is achieved we should all expect impeachment proceedings and political brinkmanship to become the order of the day.
The only thing permanent in life is change. Accepting the outcome of the elections and moving forward peacefully is the true test of our democracy, not simply conducting relatively peaceful voting. If we all fasten our seatbelts, brace ourselves and stay calm then we shall survive the upcoming turbulence which threatens so much discomfiture.