Permit me to say that Eugene Nwosu’s view is in line with the view held by some Nigerians. And as a person he has the right for freedom of expression and owes no one any apology; this is a democracy in action, something we are totally denied of in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa. We must live democratically.
However, I distance myself from his view and share with Mazi Odera’s, because if we believe that Nigeria is a democratic country we must be democratic in election, judicial, media and administrative processes.
Changes in human ways of thinking begin by one asking oneself questions and not accepting things as they come. Could we judge the Nigerian election against that of France? One could say France by nationhood is older. But what of the recent election in East Timor, just five years as a nation? How many people died in France and East Timor? None – but we have nearly a thousand death in Nigeria.
The problem with Nigeria is that the people inhabiting it have not seen it as a home to build for future generations. The election of Yar’Adua was through an undemocratic charade of an electoral process which has not only brought shame on the country worldwide, but taken us hundreds of kilometres backwards in democratisation.
My support is with many Nigerians like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, who have called for a truly democratic election. My suggestion is that Nigeria should ask East Timor to send someone to take over Maurice Iwu’s position as chairman of the election commission.
Changes in human ways of thinking begin by one asking oneself questions and not accepting things as they come. Could we judge the Nigerian election against that of France? One could say France by nationhood is older. But what of the recent election in East Timor, just five years as a nation? How many people died in France and East Timor? None – but we have nearly a thousand death in Nigeria.
The problem with Nigeria is that the people inhabiting it have not seen it as a home to build for future generations. The election of Yar’Adua was through an undemocratic charade of an electoral process which has not only brought shame on the country worldwide, but taken us hundreds of kilometres backwards in democratisation.
My support is with many Nigerians like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, who have called for a truly democratic election. My suggestion is that Nigeria should ask East Timor to send someone to take over Maurice Iwu’s position as chairman of the election commission.
