SIR: Yes,the postponement of the elections has really put Nigeria in a peculiar mess as it was a national embarrassment and brought us global condemnation! The two major contenders PDP and APC have been throwing banters at each other over the postponement. The media,civil societies, public commentators, general public and President Muhammadu Buhari himself have all condemned the heinous postponement.
My own initial reaction was also that of shock, bewilderment and disillusionment! Indeed, I compared it with postponement of a world cup event or Olympic Games after four years of preparation that had gulped billions from the organisers and countries around the world. It is simply unfathomable/unimaginable in any sane society!
But we here in a sick country called Nigeria where any good thing happens accidentally but wrong things are fast becoming the norm!
Having said that, I wish to appeal to the electorate to show understanding with INEC at this trying period. Elections postponement is not cancellation…. According to INEC, the action was taken to prevent a national tragedy due to logistical issues and pockets of violence across the country.
For example, about 5000 card readers were reportedly burnt in Anambra State. Also, INEC offices in Plateau and Abia bwere urnt down just as over a thousands voters cards were allegedly recovered from thugs in Kwara State.
Let the infiltrators in the INEC offices be cleared out first, then you can have a clean free poll.
I urge Nigerians to be patient and come out en masse to vote at the new dates and also warn INEC to ensure that the new dates are kept and avoid a future occurrence of such dastardly postponement in order not to erode the people’s trust in the entire electoral processes in Nigeria.
- Dr Soji Oyeranmi, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.
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