Sunday, December 15, 2013

TOWARDS CREDIBLE, FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA


INTRODUCTION:

Good governance based on accountability and transparency has eluded Nigeria since independence due to the absence or lack of a truly representative system of government. This is so because a true government which is a result of a true election that is credible, free and fair has been a mirage in Nigeria. Most of our efforts at conducting a credible election have been a failure due to so many reasons.

Beginning from the first experiment at representative government for Nigeria in 1923 to the present day as can be seen in what transpired in Anambra State on November 17th 2013, elections in Nigeria have been marred by one irregularity or the other. There have been discrepancies in all, except the 1993 elections, no one has been adjudged by local and international observers as free and fair. This much was even acknowledged by the former president of Nigeria Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who admitted before the secretary general of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon, that the process through which he became president was faulty.

The intent of this discourse therefore, is to identify those factors that are responsible for our failure to conduct free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria and proffer solutions towards attaining a credible election based on international standards.


1.  Independence

Towards a credible poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission should not be independent just in name and on paper only. Presently as it stands, the President of the Federal republic appoints the chairman of the commission. It is a known fact that he, who pays the piper, dictates the tune. To avoid meddlesomeness therefore and guarantee absolute independence to the commission, there should be a body with the powers to appoint the chairman and directors of INEC and remove that burden from the executives. We can be assured after this that the commission will discharge their duties without fear or favour.


2.  Cap on Campaign Cost and Finance

The need to put a cap on the cost of running campaigns is long overdue. It is a known fact that Nigerian elections are capital intensive. Politicians spend lots in their campaigns because of too much cash at their disposal. This affects the conduct of elections as voters are wooed with monetary gifts, thugs are employed, security men are compromised and they in turn threaten, cajole and intimidate voters, electoral officers are bribed. All these happen because they have too much cash to throw around. In a situation where there is a cap on campaign financing, the politicians may not have much after they must have paid for jingles and other costs. Cap on campaign finance works in the United States and can work in Nigeria as well. This will help in reducing malpractices and electoral fraud.


3.  Corruption

Most of our problems as a nation are traceable to corruption. Until this hydra headed problem is removed from our body politic, free fair and credible elections in Nigeria may remain a mirage. How possibly can we have an election that is free and fair when the people charged with the conduct of the election take bribes and compromise their jobs? This happened recently in Idemili North in Anambra State on November 17th, when the INEC official who is supposed to deliver electoral materials to the area was compromised and did not bring the materials until late in the afternoon after elections have taken place in other areas of the state. To this end therefore, I advocate that there should be established, an electoral offenses tribunal to try electoral offenses with stiff penalties for defaulters who are taking the collective will of the people into play.


4.  Poverty

The Nigerian political elite have failed the people woefully in this regard. What with the attendant income that has accrued to the nation through oil since independence.

And since, people are hungry and poor; they can always be wooed with tokens during elections. A hungry man can always be influenced to vote against his conscience with money. A recent case of what poverty can do to a people is the recent report by Aljazeera international that many Greeks who are being affected by economic crisis now inject themselves with HIV so as to qualify for the government grant of $950 they give to people who are HIV positive. There is also a recent report by the BBC world news that sex workers in Kenya opt to use anti HIV drugs instead of condoms so as to collect higher pays. Such is what poverty can do. Now, come closer home, how wouldn’t a poor man in Nigeria collect money from a politician to vote against his will? A credible election in Nigeria is a long term goal and is not unachievable. Combating poverty will help also in getting there.


5.  Apathy and Illiteracy

There is a general apathy amongst Nigerians these in the partaking in the electoral process. This is due to the fact that many elections in the past have been hijacked by the politicians and have not reflected the true intentions of the voters. Many more therefore do not see the point in participating in elections in which their votes will not count. The government therefore should embark on a massive education and reorientation of the electorates. They should create an opportunity for an interactive session in mass media involving the citizenry and the entire populace regarding elections and electoral processes. This should not only be done during elections but should be a continuous activity both during elections and non election times. The National Orientation Agency should be involved in this and in educating Nigerians on the need to be a part of the system. Politics should not be left to politicians alone as their actions affect even non politicians and politicians alike.


6.  Greed and Avaricious Quest for Power

Politics in Nigeria has now become a do or die affair. Nigerian politicians are ready to do anything; commit any crime, pay whatever price, kill any opposition in order maintain hold on power.

This continues to happen because offenders in the past have always found a way of escaping punishment. The establishment of an electoral crimes tribunal as has been suggested before will help in dealing with this issue. Judges of impeccable character should be appointed to make sure that offenders are fished and brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.


7.Process and Procedures of Election

Every conceivable mode of conducting elections in Nigeria has been tried even with the latest technology. Biometrics data compilation as well has been tried. Money has been budgeted to get things done right. The Electoral Act has also covered a wide range of issues to get things done right as well. So the answer does not lie in the process nor the procedure but in our sincerity in getting things done right. The answer lies in the above issues enumerated.


CONCLUSION:

To counter issues raised in numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 above, there should be a proper rebranding, reformation and reorganization of the police force to equip and enable them to do their jobs no matter whose ox is gored, without fear or favour, let or hindrance and to discharge their duties to friends and foes alike in the manner prescribed by the law.

Our educational institutions should also be strengthened and supported so that our people will know their rights, duties and obligations. Educated populace who are gainfully employed will not involve in thuggery and electoral malpractices. Only these will lead to a true reformation of the people.

Ability to organize a credible, free and fair election in Nigeria may not be achievable in a day, a month, a year or a decade. But it can be achieved. It is a process that needs our collective effort. We can do it if we want. Like Cassius told Brutus in JULIUS CEASER “the fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, for we are underlings”. It is for us to do it. And YES WE CAN.

Finally, to counter issue number 1, the commission should be manned by retired civil servants of unquestionable character and civil society organizations. Training of officials both permanent and ad hoc should be well planned. The era of quick fix arrangements should be discarded as regards to training. It is not only when elections are at hand that the trainings should be organized. It is should be a process.

We should not be advocating for more laws in Nigeria. There are relevant and competent laws already to deal with every conceivable number of issues in the country. The Electoral Act of 2010 as amended has covered every part of the problem. We have the laws in place. What we do not have seems to be lacking in Nigeria is the sincerity of purpose. We will get there only if we want and when we want.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

RANDOM MUSINGS ON 2015

RANDOM MUSINGS ON 2015 ELECTIONS......

FACTORS/ISSUES:
1. Religion...With the threat of Boko Haram, religious crisis...there is a distrust in the electorates of the two major religions in Nigeria. Many southerners will not be disposed to vote Buhari or the APC whom they view as sentimental to religious bigots. As well many Northerners feel they or someone of their faith deserves the Presidency since Yar'Adua did not spend his time fully after Obasanjo. Nigeria unfortunately, in this age and time, is still divided alongside religious lines.

2. Ethinicism: Just like Religion, this plays a major role in the psyche of the electorates. Denying the existence of ethnic politics in Nigeria will be like denying the existence of water in the Atlantic ocean. Before and after the elections of 2011, many of the arguments centered on whether or not the Northerners should be allowed to complete their tenure after Yar'Adua's death. That issue is still open and the North will want to reclaim the Presidency. The South Easterners voted en bloc for Jonathan in 2011, expect a repeat in 2015

3. Corruption: Many Nigerians are aware that the main issue with Nigeria's little or no development is the cancerous effect of corruption. Jonathan's government has not helped matters in this regard and Buhari is going to make a big issue of it. A lot of people in this twittering and Facebooking generation will listen to them, should they focus on zero tolerance of corruption.

4. Geopolitical configuration of Nigeria: At present, Nigeria has 36 states, and to win the Presidency, a candidate must have won at least 25% in 2/3 of the states in Nigeria according to the Electoral Act as amended. Jonathan did well in the North in 2011 but who knows how well he will fare in 2015 considering the issues above. Now, the North East and the North West have six and seven respectively. North Central has six as well. Should the North East and North West decide to Vote for APC, they would have gotten 13/19, with 17 to go. Now shift to the South West where the alliance under the APC may or may not give them the six states in that region too. The main battle ground is the South East which played a dominant role in the election of 2011. Should the APC field an Igbo VP, it may go either way. This is why it may be important to PDP that APC or Ngige does not win the Anambra state guber election. Already, the APC has a governor in Imo state. PDP should say Bye Bye to 2015 should Ngige win or should any other Governor in the South East joins Amechi and Okorocha.

5. Division in PDP...with the emergence of the new PDP and all the court cases and battles, it will be a difficult election if the PDP does not put its house in order before middle of 2014. A house that is divided amongst itself cannot stand. The new PDP now has a G7 which is the group of governors that has recognized the Baraje led faction. Though the matter is now settled in court, but has it been settled within the minds of the feuding factions?

6. Governors' Forum: The governors played an important role in 2011 and their influence in 2015 should not be underestimated. Currently, there are two factions in the Governors' forum. Governor Amechi leads 19 while Governor Jang leads 16. Of the 19 with Amechi, 7 of the total of 9 from PDP are already in the G7 and all of them are tilting towards the opposition. If the tide is not stemmed, there may be further drifting unless many of them are not going to run for another term in office.

7. Issue of sovereign national conference: Should the Jonathanian government goes ahead to organize this conference before the 2015 elections, it will create so many uproars, divisions and distractions that may affect the general elections. And nobody knows to whose advantage the effects may tilt.

For the sake of history and posterity, Jonathan should do all he can to make sure that his government does not preside over the disintegration of Nigeria.

Depending on how the electorates react in 2015, the issues above will have an effect. Jonathan however should know that no incumbent president has lost a re-election in Nigeria before. Is he going to make history as the first?

CHIKE OKUEFUNA.
 ROME
 21.11.2013

PS. This post was written over a year ago.

Dr. Chris Ngige did not win the Anambra Guber elections therefore leaving Anambra in the hands of the PDP.

The Speaker of the House of Reps crossing over to the APC and thr uproar that greeted it has furthered strengthened the APC in the Northwest. Also the meddlesomeness of the Presidency in the National Assembly affairs didn't help matters. The enthronement of Sanusi, whom the Presidency, disengaged unceremoniously from the CBN, as the Emir of Kano and with the Kwankwaso too, the APC seems sure of Northwest.

The war in the North East intensified and should that continue, there might not be elections in the troubled states as allowed by the constitution.

The National conference has come and gone but does not seem to affect the political permutations in any way.

APC has further grown in strength making the 2015 elections somewhat of a tight race unlike what happened in 2011

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Did you marry your 3 wives Virgins?

Your right to freedom of speech stops where another person's right to private life begins. The federal government of Nigeria should arrest and restrain Femi Fani Kayode now for all the hate speeches he is making against the Igbos.

We have fought a bitter civil war and the Igbos were at the recieving end of all the brutalities, injustices and war crimes that came from that war. Femi Fani Kayode should not take this country back to the dark days.

The current cyber war between the yorubas and Igbos that is a fallout of the deportation saga by the LASG is getting out of hand with people like Fani Kayode on the loose.

He should be restrained.


Where will hatred of Igbos take you Femi?

For.........FEMI FANI KAYODE.....

I thought a child speaks like a child and a man speaks like a man. But when a full grown man, has the body of a man with the brain of a child, it becomes a problem. There is no English lexicon to describe such a creature. Femi kayode can thus only be referred as an adulchild.

Education is not educasense nor educawisdom. Education does not confer class nor deco...rum. And age unfortunately is not corterminous with wisdom. I feel sorry for you cause Rudlph Okonkwo, Okey Ndibe, Levi Obijiofor, Uche Nworah and a host of other writers of Igbo extraction have better things to do than spewing ethnic hatred on the internet. The Igbos are busy making money front and back, left, right and center. Chinedu Echeruo just sold an application to Apple Inc. USA for $ 1 billion dollars. We are busy people.

Public service comes with a lot of responsibilities. One needs to be objective and balanced in his utterances. For a 52 year old to go onto the cyber and begin to roll out names of women he dated before they married is the highest point of irresponsibility. That you dated Bianca Ojukwu doesn't come as a surprise, afterall she is a woman. What could have surprised me is if she married you. I am sure you didnt marry any of your 3 ex wives a virgin. So what's the big deal?

Nobody wins a price Kayode for randiness but vulgarity reduces you before estimable and estimeed people.

You 've lost clouth. Sorry once again. This seed of discord you are sowing in Nigeria and fanning the embers of ethnic hatred will forever haunt you.

Those who felt you have a brain, have now seen that yours came without a sense.
 

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

CONCEPT AND PROCESSES OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IN IGBO LAND

CONCEPT AND PROCESSES OF TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE IN IGBO LAND
CHIKE OKUEFUNA




The people of Igbo land inhabit the Niger delta area of southeastern Nigeria. Igbo land is one of the major ethnic groups that make up Nigeria in the western region of Africa.


Marriage in Igbo land is an age old institution and has a respectable place in the socio economic life of the people. This is evidenced in the regard and belief that an unmarried man is viewed as an OSE AKA (social delinquent), AKO OGHELLI (social nuisance) et al. one major preoccupation of an Igbo adolescent male therefore is marriage so as to remove the social stigma usually associated with the Ose aka and Ako Oghelli. Indeed an unmarried Igbo man is seldom entrusted with any political position and is never considered for leadership for if he cannot manage a family, he can never manage the society.


IGBA NKWU, IBU MMANYA NWANYI, INU NWANYI (traditional marriage) is a function that awaits every Igbo male after reaching puberty and must be carried out with as little delay as possible. Igbos are a patriarchal people. Marriage therefore is an indispensable factor for the continuation of family lineage. Begetting children occupies the central point in Igbo marriage. So every Igbo man looks forward to marriage and when asked why he or she wants to get married, the answer comes handily “so I can have my own children” so as to carry on my lineage. Couples and their parents long for this and pray for it always and in the morning when praying over the kola nut. Little wonder then why some Igbos name their children – Nwaka Ego (child out values money), Nwa bu ugwu (Child brings respect), Nwakasi or Nwakacha (child is greatest) Nwa ka Aku (child is greater than wealth), Nwakanma (child is best) Nwa di aguu (child is desirable). This love for children therefore is the core point in Igbo marriage.


A woman’s fertility is very important in the consideration of marriage by a suitor. Although there is no yardstick to measure productivity but the potential suitor considers if there is any form of bareness in the woman’s kindred or extended family before making his first move. A childless marriage is regarded as chi ojoo and is a serious disappointment for the couples.




Traditional marriage in Igbo land is procedural. It begins with IKU AKA N’ UZOR (first visit). Literally this means knocking on the door of the would-be in-laws by the groom’s family. When a man comes of age to marry, he informs his family of his intentions and the search begins. In selecting a bride, care is taken so as to select somebody who will be very much acceptable not only to the family but the kindred in general. A wife is not just for the husband alone but for the entire family thus Nwunye anyi (our wife). When a bride is selected, investigations are then carried out by the groom’s family into the history and lifestyle of the bride’s family i.e.

(1) is there a history of madness

(2) is there a history of leprosy (considered as incurable)

(3) has there been cases of divorce ( does the mother live with her husband)

if the groom’s family is satisfied, then the first visit (Iku aka n’ Uzor) comes in. the groom’s family sends about three representatives to the bride’s family. They take with them kola nut and palm wine for this customary visit even if they will succeed or not for okwu di nma, nze ataa orji, okwu di njo, nze ataa orji (the titled man will break kola nut whether good or bad). Each family of course has a speaker on both sides to represent them in this case. They all mostly talk in proverbs so that the Ofeke (tout) will not understand. The groom’s family may start by saying they saw a bird fly pass them and finally perched in this house. There intention is to catch the bird. If this first meeting ends well, the bride’s family will ask their visitors to go home, that subsequently they will pass a message across to them. Finally they ask their daughter for her opinion. Point of note here is that no suitor is outrightly rejected by saying no our daughter is not interested in you. He may be informed that she wants to further her education first or that she is still young or any other subtle and cogent reason is given. When they get message of the success of their first visit, the suitors may now prepare for their second visit, Ime Ego.


IME EGO (bride price or dowry) is another ceremony of its own. It involves a kind of drama between the two speakers on both sides haggling and haggling on the price or amount of dowry. When this is done usually after some hours, the dowry is paid. Another day is fixed for the celebration or drinking to the dowry. On this third visit, the little drama of dowry is enacted again between the speakers in public view but Ofeke will not know that already the dowry has been concluded and paid during the second visit. There is some merry making and a little feasting on this occasion.

The bride is considered customarily as the groom’s wife when the dowry is paid and she must carry herself thenceforth in a manner befitting a married woman and visit to the groom’s house is prohibited still. After the dowry, (in some villages though),


there comes another visit IMA OGODO. On this occasion, gifts are presented to the youths of the bride’s kindred (umu okolobia), the maidens (umu agboghobia) and the female members already married outside (umu okpu).


The suitor decides by himself the day of Igba Nkwu (traditional marriage). This is a very special occasion and day for both families and their friends and relatives. It is a great day with music and fanfare. Different kinds of music and musicians are invited and different dishes prepared. It is festivity indeed. Thereafter the bride is taken amidst drums and music and is escorted to her new home.


IDU UNO is the process where the bride’s father and family present her with gifts as they deem fit and depending on their own capacity and ability.

IMALU BE OGO. The bride’s family will decide on their own date when to visit the groom’s family to know where their daughter stays. On this occasion, food, drinks and wines are served also.

IKPOLU UNO. Some days after the Igbo Nkwu (traditional marriage) the bride is also escorted back to her father’s home with gifts for her mother who trained her.


All these processes and stages that are attendant to the traditional marriage ceremony in Igbo land are accomplished and done depending on the ability of the suitor. Some villages are cutting costs these days to encourage people to get married and make marriage cost less.
Finally it is understood that marriage is an institution ordained and no matter the amount of money you spend in marriage, you cannot effectively and efficiently recompense for the value of the woman you took away from her family

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN NIGERIA

Any wonder why most of the rich stay rich and most of the poor still struggle to keep up? They found a need and are filling it!

Wealth in most cases in the 21st century is created. For the money to start flocking and coming in, one must find an area where you can attract a lot of interests and the need of others. You must appeal to thier needs, check out what they are not getting, what someone else is not offering and get into it. That way you would have created a situation whereby you become very well sought out. Money comes when every one requires your services or your skills or your products.

Firstly, therefore, look around you.

1. What is it that people around you are lacking which you think you can do
2. What are you very passionate about. Something you like doing.
3. Who else is already offering what you intend doing.
4. How is he doing his and which area do you think in the business that you can add something new. An innovation perhaps

Having known all these, then you should take your time to recreate and rexamine your ideas. There are always needs in human life waiting for someone else to fill. This is where you strike.

In the Nigerian context though, which is the topic of this post, there are a lot of areas prospective investors can go into which I will enumerate here. Depending on your pocket, there are always areas to invest. Initial capital should not scare a potential investor. There is so much money in circulation that one should not be complaining about money. Your target customers hold your capital. If you are really convinced about your idea, talk to people, go to various offices whom you know will need your product or services. They are having the money and before you know they will part with it. A friend of mine began an industrial cleaning company with absolutely nothing. She knew what she wanted and she went round to the industries that needed her services, conivinced them to give her the job. She did one and then another and now, she employs eight people and have gotten all the equipments she needs. She has a contract with about six companies and firms to be cleaning them. Was she bemoaning about capital to start up? Of course she will not be where she is now. Let us see some areas asking for investments now


(a) Fish Farming
(b) Snail farming
(c) Poultry
(d)Industrial cleaning and fumigation
(e) lunch distribution with caterers
(f) event planning and management
(g) real estate
(h) food processing and packaging
(i) consultancy in training , seminars and workshops
(j) employment agencies
(k) IT (computers and repairs)
(l) beauty parlour
(m) laundry and dry cleaning services
(n) power generation and distribution.

I will develop on these sub topics for investment in my next post with information on start up and how-to-do. I will give you a feasibility studies of all and the opportunities of making your money while doing what you love - serving people


See you soon.