The Nigerian Factor and 2011 elections
NaijaRock
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Posted by Felix Okoli on April 24, 2010 at 05:17:56:
What do I mean by Nigerian factor? I mean those things that influence the way we live in Nigeria. It influences the way we interact with our neighbours, friends or family. It is what makes us to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night.
It is those things that make us Nigerian - Different, unique and set apart from the rest of the world. It is seen in the kinds of food we eat, the way we speak and how we make money.
I would like to talk about the 2011 elections. Elections come and go but how we vote matters or is influenced by the Nigerian factor. One of these factors that influences the way we vote for political parties during the presidential elections is Money - The party that spend the highest amount of money on people eventually carries the highest votes.
When would we start voting for people not because they are rich or poor? When would we start voting for candidates who are honourable and not just too rich? I like the governorship elections in Edo state through which Adams Oshiomhole became the governor, not because he belonged to the so-called ruling class but because he was the people's choice.
Second is the issue of Old face or name
Why do most Nigerians just vote for people just because they can remember their names and not because they could recall one good thing that the person has done in the past. The truth is that a lot of Nigerians are uneducated politically and can not be able to read into a person's history before voting for that person. For instance If an election was held in Lagos between someone called Jakande and a new person called Anthony, Jakande will probably win jut because the name is popular in Lagos and belongs to the ruling class rather than giving Anthony the chance - We tend to be afraid of change that is why we feel at peace with older people ruling us rather that the youth.
Another Nigerian factor I want to point to that will probably affect the 2011 elections is African Time. it is most probable that INEC would not keep to time just as many Nigerian voters too, in coming out for elections once it's time to vote. Chances are that they would probably come 2 hours later. I would like Courts to in the future, cancel elections that were not held at the appropriate time. This would help ensure that the final outcome reflects the true will of the Nigerian people.
Comments:
What do I mean by Nigerian factor? I mean those things that influence the way we live in Nigeria. It influences the way we interact with our neighbours, friends or family. It is what makes us to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night.
It is those things that make us Nigerian - Different, unique and set apart from the rest of the world. It is seen in the kinds of food we eat, the way we speak and how we make money.
I would like to talk about the 2011 elections. Elections come and go but how we vote matters or is influenced by the Nigerian factor. One of these factors that influences the way we vote for political parties during the presidential elections is Money - The party that spend the highest amount of money on people eventually carries the highest votes.
When would we start voting for people not because they are rich or poor? When would we start voting for candidates who are honourable and not just too rich? I like the governorship elections in Edo state through which Adams Oshiomhole became the governor, not because he belonged to the so-called ruling class but because he was the people's choice.
Second is the issue of Old face or name
Why do most Nigerians just vote for people just because they can remember their names and not because they could recall one good thing that the person has done in the past. The truth is that a lot of Nigerians are uneducated politically and can not be able to read into a person's history before voting for that person. For instance If an election was held in Lagos between someone called Jakande and a new person called Anthony, Jakande will probably win jut because the name is popular in Lagos and belongs to the ruling class rather than giving Anthony the chance - We tend to be afraid of change that is why we feel at peace with older people ruling us rather that the youth.
Another Nigerian factor I want to point to that will probably affect the 2011 elections is African Time. it is most probable that INEC would not keep to time just as many Nigerian voters too, in coming out for elections once it's time to vote. Chances are that they would probably come 2 hours later. I would like Courts to in the future, cancel elections that were not held at the appropriate time. This would help ensure that the final outcome reflects the true will of the Nigerian people.
Comments:
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Re: The Nigerian Factor and 2011 elections
Posted by Garbiel
on May 28, 2010 at 05:00:37:
This is a nice write-up. I hope the elections in 2011 will be an improvement over 2009. We need to be moving forward and not backward