NigeriaPolitiks

The general election in Nigeria to usher in the next civilian administration into all tiers of goverment has been concluded except for the few bye-elections taking place in some states of the federation this weekend, however, it is worthy to note the hues and cries over the conduct of the election.
From the north to the south, east to west, there had been huge noise about rigging, thuggery and disenfranchisement. Many political oppostion complained of mass rigging especially in Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Anambra and so many others. But its really an irony that the main opposition figure who had fought tooth and nail to be allowed to contest the presidential election, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, incumbent vice president (AC flagbearer) lost the election in his ward to ANPP's Muhammadu Buhari, the state gubernatorial ticket eventually went to the ruling PDP.
The Independent National Electoral Commision's activities from the pre-election, during and post-election period had been on the suspect. Its inadequacy in terms of logistics, training of staffs and ad-hoc staffs, disemmination of information had been a widely known fact, there was no proper orientation as regards who is contesting in each processes of election, the area where elections are suppose to take place, actual timing of the processes were flawed.
In Anambra state, the executive governor, Peter Obi actually could not exercise his fundamental right of choosing the next governor of the state, so were many other eligible voters across the country. Peter Obi actually stated that there was no election in the state based on independent assessment of the process in the state, the electoral body in preparing for the shaddy job had actually banned the erstwhile governor of the state, Chris Ngige from contesting against the court ruling that his name should be included on the ballot paper, paving way for Andy Uba, the president's errand boy in Aso rock.
International observers watched with unbelief the state of our affairs concerning the conduct of the electoral officers, the abstract nature of the process of election termed free and fair by the standard of our so-called leaders. It is really a dissappointment that politicians in the name of win at al cost will stoop so low and take the nation back into the woods by their acts of rigging, vandalisation and flagrant disregard for fairplay.
A report in one of the dailies in Nigeria, unveil the massive fraud behind the concluded presidential election where ballot papers meant for the election were actually left behind at destination to create artificial scarcity in furtherance of their plans to rig the election.
Overall, it was observed that there was no aspect of the election that rigging did not take place, even in the strong domain of AC and APP, voting ballots were bought and thumb printed in the full glare of party members. Its unbelievable how much of state resources the governors expended on the electoral process in their constituencies, the state vault was virtually opened and used for the sole purpose of winning the seat for their party.
To every peace loving Nigerian, it is desirable that any aggreieve party should thread the part of caution and follow the due process of the rule of law in claiming back their mandate if actually it was theirs. Innocent people should not be sacrificed for the selfish interest of few politicians who will never remember their promises when they get to power. What took place in some cities in the country like Ilesa, Oshogbo, Akure and others were uncalled for, true leaders of the masses should discourage such acts if really they are for the masses.
Lives were lost but whose lives, that of the artisans, market women, youths who are the leaders of tomorrow, but you will never find any politicians' family in the struggle. Its a pity that innocent souls are sent to an early grave because of the circumstances they decide to put themselves just to have a meal, its true the Yoruba saying, "The road through the throat, the road to heaven (death)". Poverty has pervaded the land so much that people go the distance to do anything for the meagre stipends that they are offered to commit all sorts of attrocities in the name of politics.
Let the rule of law prevail in all that we decide to do at the aftermath of the elections, dont be pushed to acts which lawless. We desire peace, or leaders should create that atmosphere with their utterances, actions and examples, we want peace!