Top officials of the National Electoral Commission [INEC] must have heaved a partial sigh of relief after crossing the Rubicon last Saturday. This is because the public outrage, which greeted the botched Assembly poll earlier fixed for April 2, seems to have fizzled out. Instead, the euphoria over the apparent success of the rescheduled poll last Saturday, is phenomenal, because the election was a sort of leveler.The poll gave the low, who in this case, was voter, and the high, that is, the contenders and pretenders, the privilege of coming together to elect a new set of public officers. And judging from the outcome of the election, a few of the big and mighty are crashing heavily from the firing powers of the electorate.A number of political heavyweights have been cut to size, given an impression that some of them had lived a false life politically. The juggernauts have kissed the dust for so many other reasons, some of which are already known to the public. Honourable Dimeji Bankole came from the blues and became the fourth most powerful citizen in the country. But his political miscalculation, which predated the circumstances that led to the change of guard at the presidency in 2010, among other factors, has caused him his seat as the Number 4. The 2011 NASS election became a sort of payback time from his constituents.Former President Olusegun Obasanjo must be pondering over what has befallen his political empire.The election has left his ego bruised and deflated; making his towering political stature appear a figment of imagination. He has fallen from an Olympian height to the valley of Olumo Rock to have enough to recover the pieces and fragment of his seeming promising political dynasty.Obasanjos condition is a big lesson for students of history. It is unthinkable that his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, would have lost an election, if the Ota farmer was still in charge in Aso Rock, where he held sway for eight years like an all- conquering emperor. All reporters, who once had an encounter with her, either in her capacity as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or a commissioner in Ogun state, have different tales to narrate.Pundits had predicted the political upset before the elections commenced. More surprises should be expected, as voters make bold statements to right the wrongs of the past through the ballot box, barring any unorthodox practice by the stakeholders.However, it is too early to start jubilating. We had put our confidence in many other politicians in the past to bring change. What we got in return was disappointment and near frustration. So, we need to be cautious by seeing those who now won elections assume office from May 29, 2011 and perform their rightful duties before shouting hurrah! By then, they would have had the full aura of powers around themselves. We must remember that a few of those sacred cows, who had now fallen by the way side, did not begin as terror. They pretended and cajoled the populace to obtain their mandate, but marginalised them after taking their oath of office. The aroma of power around them, coupled with their association with persons with strange characters ensured their ugly transformation. The game may be over for them, but at what costIt was painful that on the eve of the National Assembly election some youths had to pay dearly with their lives at the INEC office in Suleija, Niger State, owing to the activities of the few kill-joys in our midst. Most of the victims, who were on the call of duty, were sacrificed for standing to be counted among other patriotic citizens desirous of a New Nigeria. My heart bleeds for the nation, particularly the parents of the youths, who had made enormous sacrifices in order to bring them up as responsible and patriotic citizens. The parents of these martyrs have been thrown into an everlasting sorrow by bigots, using a weapon of mass destruction such as bombs.Those youths have died with their varied dreams; dream of being part of that unique team out to reinvent Nigeria; dream of networking with like minds to champion, nurture and entrench democratic ethos in their fatherland. We have lost many people, mostly youths since the beginning of the year.Many have been maimed for life. No fewer than 30 people were feared dead on New Year in a bomb blast that ripped open the Mogadishu Barracks in Abuja. At least 10 persons were killed when a bomb blast rocked the political rally of the Niger state governor, Babangida Aliyu on March 4, this year in Suleija.The latest carnage, however, is too big a price to be paid by the youths, who constitute the major victims of bad governance. We need to ask ourselves: who are these bombers What exactly are their grievances Do they appreciate the niceties of democracy, that is, that there are several legitimate and decent ways of expressing grievances and getting redress unhindered without being violent Who are their godfathers Why should they resort to unorthodox means of settling matters and make helpless and harmless youths like corps members their targetWe have belaboured intelligence failure as one of the main reasons for such carnage and many other violent acts consistently ravage our landscape lately. The authorities have been able to achieve little in curbing the menace. The callous killing is becoming a stubborn growth, which cannot be eliminated by mere graft, which the current salutary approach represents.The challenge posed by security has created so many ripple effects, which if not nipped in the bud, could make our democracy, free and fair elections, less meaningful. Because of the kind of federalism we practise, we tend to be too emotive on who becomes president. People are paying more attention to triviality than core issues that should determine who occupies the powerful office. We hardly factor in the primary functions and responsibilities that go with the exalted office. The electorate must vote wisely on Saturday against the background of the multifaceted problems facing the country. We should not compromise experience, integrity and trust in giving out our mandate, so that the death of those patriotic youth corps members or better still, martyrs would not be in vain.Oderemi, 0802301874 (SMS Only).
Click here to read full news..
