The second leg of the 2019 General elections in Nigeria holds in the Country on Saturday 9th March, 2019. In Kogi state, it will be time to elect only House of Assembly members.
If what happened on the 23rd March election is anything to refer to or recall, then there is much to be desired for a free, fair and credible election whereby people are allowed to exercise their franchise, civic responsibilities, their votes counts without intimidation, threat and harassment.
Election is not WAR, however, those in position of power, authority and control of resources, capitalize on such power with security operatives and INEC officers to alter the will of the people, through prevention of voting or destruction of ballot boxes whenever there are indications of a party in government losing.
Most often, agents are helpless or overwhelmed by connivance of umpires and security.
I am yet to hear, read or see where boxes where destroyed, the offenders were arrested or reported by the security forces for appropriate action. The security personnel in a good number of polling units, range from a mix of a police personnel and civil defense or just a police personnel alone or just civil defence or none at all in polling units with between 500 to over 1500 voters.
In some places even when people are on queue before 2pm, voting was forced to be stopped once it is 2pm. These are against electoral act and rule of engagement. It again bring to bear, that electoral peace accord should be for campaign, election and post election period and not just for declaration of winner.
However, in our country, those in authority are often presumed right and its government voice that is loudest. We cannot all be in government, but government must do as much as it can to build confidence in the people it was given the responsibility and opportunity to serve.
It is heartwarming that the Kogi State Police command has given out phone numbers of her officers to contact across the state capital, area commands and local government areas during the forthcoming election. It is hoped that there would be no overwhelming untoward needs to engage them. It is also hoped that the lines will be truly opened to calls or enquiries, and the officers and men would not look in other directions when approached before, during and after elections.
It is on record, that some senior citizens and personalities from the state were prevented from entering their state – Kogi a day before last general election, at Banda checkpoint by a mounted road block. These persons were not stopped because they had incriminating persons or materials with them, but from inexplicable order from above. This leaves much to be desired from the high security command.
Unfortunately, up till now, no statement has come from the expected high quarters. This surely is an infringement on peoples right and privileges. It must be condemned. We must be civil and keep to the dictates of our laws and rules of engagement.
It is our desire and expectation that this election in Kogi state will be devoid of abduction, destruction of election materials, prevention of election to hold in some units, destruction and burning of people’s property and election materials, maiming, elimination and killing of people and the non-use of dangerous weapons by all parties that had or would intend to indulge.
Let the voting begin and people’s wish and voice resonate.
Happy voting, happy victory where there will be no victor or vanquished as we are all but one.
– Dr Omede Idris
Gubernatorial Aspirant, Kogi State
Past President Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
Past President Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN).
Former Commissioner of Health, Kogi state.
