REPLICATING THE GAINS OF THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTION IN NIGERIA IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCIL ELECTION IN BENUE STATE.....Richard Akaan

Elections afford people the opportunity to elect or decide on those who would lead them in governance. In deciding, they firmly take charge of their destiny. In Nigeria however, elections are usually marred by all kinds of irregularities, sometimes resulting in the emergence of candidates who do not represent the popular mandate. This problem is made worse by the insincerity, dishonesty, and corruption of the electoral umpire that has over the years made a mockery of the electoral process, as a mere opportunity of making wealth and building empires, while betraying the confidence reposed in it by the people.
Under the very nose of the electoral body, politicians turn their personal homes into polling units where multiple voting is done under the supervision of the agents of the electoral umpire, even as deliberate attempts are made to omit the names of rival groups from electoral register; some communities are prevented from voting by either late arrival of electoral materials and officers or destruction of electoral materials; figures of the election results are altered in favour of the highest bidder. In some cases, election results are canceled in a number of polling units in order to prevent certain candidates from winning. All these are the manifestations of the conspiracies of the electoral body and the politicians for their selfish interests.
Consequently, the leaders that emerge from this kangaroo process may lack vision, commitment, discipline and mental resourcefulness, even as they pre-occupy themselves with the pursuit of wealth and acquisition of power. Most of the political crisis we have had in Nigeria are linked to the disagreements among individuals or groups seeking power, groups holding power and groups in the process of losing power, compelled by their rapacity and avarice, corruption in high and low places, selfishness and cynicism. Public officials thus, appeared to have forgotten what selfless service meant.
For us in Benue State, the leaders that emerged through such trickery, the mumble-jumble process is no doubt responsible for the marathon deterioration in the quality of life of the people due to their inability to translate their vision to reality. As a result, the people have become frustrated, disappointed and disillusioned with their conditions life, even as they are badly hit by extreme poverty. This is made worse several months of non-payment of workers’ salaries, lack of people-oriented programs; non-payment of pensioners’ salaries; corruption; a jaundice economy; institutional and infrastructural decay; the deepening youth unemployment and unfulfilled promises of the leaderships.
Generally in Nigeria, what appeared as the redeeming quality of the people was defined by the commitment and determination of Professor Attahiru Jega, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who along with the people emerged with an injured identity and became disenchanted with the spoilt system. They collectively, therefore, resolved to change and redefine their destiny in the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria. This dream became a reality with the electoral innovations made by the electoral umpire like the use of Card Readers for accreditation of voters during the elections; the use of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs); and above all, the integrity and commitment of the electoral umpire headed by Professor Jega.
Despite the efforts that were made to frustrate INEC’s commitment to credible, free and fair elections like objection to the use of the Card Readers when all arrangements had already being made for its use for accreditation of voters during the elections; and opposition to the use of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), which were authenticated against the Temporary Voters’ Cards (TVCs), the dogged commitment and determination of the INEC boss for credible and transparent elections rendered these sinister forces ineffective.
In the lee hours of 28th and 11th of March and April, 2015 for the Governorship and Presidential Elections respectively, the people trooped out of their homes, assembled themselves at the designated Polling Units with great enthusiasm and joy to exercise their civic rights. In spite of the minor hitches from the Card Readers, the people defied the rain and sun to queue up to vote for those who would lead them on the path to democracy and socio-economic and political progress. Through this process, Rtd. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari emerged at the national level as the peoples’ choice to lead the nation and its people as President. In Benue State, however, Samuel Ortom emerged the winner of the governorship election in the State. Like the President, the expectations of the people sequel to the inauguration of the governor-elect on 29th of May, 2015 were for the new leadership to redefine the State on the path of democratic consolidation and to offer the people a new lease of hope. Whether this promise has been fulfilled or not, remains to be seen as the administration unfolds in the time to come.
With Samuel Ortom’s determination to conduct credible and transparent elections to consolidate and reproduce based on the gains already recorded by the Attahiru Jega at the federal level, which also made possible for his victory (i.e. Samuel Ortom) in Benue State, the governor appointed and inaugurated members of the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC). In these appointments, analysts believe that high premium was attached to integrity and honesty in the appointment of Dr. John Tor Tsuwa (BSIEC Chairman) and the entire executive members of the Commission. For John Tor Tsuwa, the majority of Benue indigenes are of the opinion that, he is a man of timbre and caliber, and a man of integrity whose records of accomplishment have provided a veritable tool for his dependability and reliability. For this reason, out of several thousands of people, who would have wanted this responsibility, Tsuwa was God’s chosen. Thus, Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 explained that, “Again I looked throughout the earth and saw that the swiftest person does not always win the race, or the strongest man the battle, and those wise men are often poor, and skillful men are not necessarily famous; but it is all by chance, by happening to be at the right place at the right time.”
Dr. John Tor Tsuwa is therefore, God’s chosen one, a man of substance and a practical symbol of perseverance, a source of inspiration, an oasis of love and motivation, a man of uncommon ideas, wisdom and understanding, who was born from the family of late Tyoor Tsuwa Adaaku in Vandeikya Local Government Area. He is a PhD holder in Political Science, with specialization in Peace and Conflict Resolution from BSU Makurdi; Tsuwa also holds an M.Sc in International Relations and Strategic Studies. I can briefly say that, I am fortunate to have been one of the beneficiaries of his sound teachings in the Department of Political Science, BSU Makurdi.
Based on his precedence, Dr. John Tor Tsuwa could be trusted to deliver on the mandate of free and fair elections in Benue State, to replicate the gains recorded by Professor Attahiru Jega. However, like he said during his inaugural speech, he cannot do it alone, and that he needs the support of the people to deliver on this promise. It is therefore, the responsibility of all and sundry, including the government of Benue State to provide him and his team the requisite support that would help in the realization of this goal. It is also incumbent on all, especially the BSIEC Chairman to make it possible for it to be said that he was once here, by leaving lasting prints on the sand of time. May he be assured of God’s promise in Isaiah 60:20 that, “Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more, the lord will be your everlasting light and your days of sorrow will end.” And then, at your ripe old age and at the fullness of time, he may look forward to an everlasting life and communion with the saints in the heavenly abode; and then he may say with a great feeling of nostalgia that, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith” (Timothy, 4:7).
It is therefore, inappropriate for us, especially our leaders to concentrate all their resources and energy on the vain pursuit of power and wealth; may they lead us to the fear of God, as they commit themselves to the yearnings and aspirations of the people. May they not allow their decisions to have an adverse effect on the lives of the people. For us in Benue State, the expectations of the people is for the government of Dr. Samuel Ortom to re-establish hope in the minds of Benue people, adhering to the rule of law; political tolerance, peace and unity, and creating opportunities for the people to realize their potentials.
Long live Nigeria,
Long live Benue State,
Long live His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari,
Long live His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom,
Long live BSIEC Chairman, Dr. John Tor Tsuwa,
Long live the Youths of Benue State,
Long live believers in Democracy on whose ideals we continue to strive in this cold and cruel world.

AKAAN, RICHARD
MAKURDI

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