The People and Electoral Reforms

The temptation to regard the proposed electoral reform as the magic wand to cure Nigeria of all its ills stands so tall and big, that it threatens to close our eyes to the reality of the need for the people of Nigeria to take ownership of their problems and solutions. Conversely, the temptation dismiss the proposed reforms as another exercise in futility akin to the numerous presidential commissions whose reports are gathering dust also stalks us.
True the electoral system is not perfect but we all knew that if the letters and sprint of the 2006 electoral Act was adhered to the 2007 elections would have been near perfect. Of course, there is the need to tighten up loose ends and ensure that the people of the country have a more say in the running of elections. The unbundling of INEC and implementation of policies which would have the INEC independent of partisan posturing would have helped to stabilise democracy.
Unfortunately, several key recommendations have been turned down by the members of the Federal Executive Council who have shown, rather sadly that persons appointed by the executive may not rise above partnership another reason why the recommendations should have been upheld in the first place.
Again, President Umaru Musa, inarguably, the greatest beneficiary of the 2007 electoral seam is unable to rise to the occasion, and show that, were he the captain, the game would have played differently.

Besides, the President was very in politic. He would have sent the commendations of the Committee to the National Assembly and if, in the likelihood of National washing its hands off the recommendations, he would have been like Pontius Pilate, at least, a shed better than King Herod who chopped off the head of John the Baptist. Now history has recorded Umaru Musa YarAdua as the beheader of the recommendations of the electoral reforms.
Thank God, you may say, the ball has again been sent back to the court of the Nigerian people. By now, it should be clear to all Nigerian people that good governance, (including electoral reforms cannot benevolent awards from beneficiaries of the bad governance.
The people have to rise up to the occasion and refuse to be cheated. No law permits a policeman or soldier to snatch away ballot boxes. Nothing in the law today allows Local Government officials to control voting materials. No provision of any law allowed, Sam Egwu former Ebonyi State Governor and present Education Minister to take charge of electoral materials and distributed them.
Nigerians are used to passivity. It is a second nature to them. Otherwise, why would people be disallowed from voting and they would simply keep quiet?
The ball is in the court of the people of Nigeria, only the people themselves can stop electoral fraud and this will happen when Nigerians make a connection between their welfare and good governance.