THE campaigns are over, and the gathering of multitudes for electioneering have come to an end. Now, it is time for the true participants in the voting process to emerge. We enjoin all eligible voters to troop out and cast the ballot for their most preferred candidates in the 2023 elections. Sitting on the fence at this crucial period of our history does much disservice to the nation, and is made worse by the fact that a wrong candidate may emerge as the winner at the polls because of the non-participation of the rational actors during the elections. While we canvass that the more than 90 million credible voters participate in this election, we also hold it a sacred duty to sound a passionate appeal to the stakeholders.
TO the electorate, we implore that all and sundry resist the temptation of vote that government’s policy of cash withdrawals and swap has pushed the people into levels of extreme hunger and want, yet we all have to show our resilience at this period by forsaking ‘Jacob’s porridge’ and voting in the right candidates who would not play politics with the people’s lives and well-being.
WE strongly appeal that now is the right time for Nigerians to show that their lives are worth more than a piece of bread. Furthermore, we appeal to the electorate to vote in the atmosphere of peace, eschew violence, and hate speeches on the day of elections. More than ever before, posting and or sharing of fake election results must be avoided so as not to push the nation into the crevice of unending inferno.
TO the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the hen has surely come to roost. As an umpire, it is not too late to identify rogue staff and deal with such. Rather than protecting erring staff, INEC should protect the votes of the people, by ensuring that this election is free, fair and just.
AT the end of the election come Saturday, the result must reflect the wishes of Nigerians. With regards to logistics, every form of hitches that may lead to late or non-arrival of materials, misplacement of materials as well as malfunctioning of electronic devices must be addressed before the D-day. It is often said that those who count and announce votes are the determinants of election results; we thus insist that this corrupt saying must end and that in this election, let the voters actually determine the winners of the secret ballot system we so much practice.
THE burden of being nonpartisan lays on the shoulders of INEC, and the Chairman and other staff must, in service to the nation, come clean at the throne of electoral justice. Therefore, the Federal Government must ensure that INEC staff are not subjected to undue hardship that could compromise the conduct of the elections. Adequate security, good welfare packages and the prompt payment of remunerations must be ensured. There is also the need for INEC to police its staff, and monitor all activities in order to ensure that it conforms to the expectation of law in the execution of this national assignment.
DURING the week, and in many state capitals, there were road shows of power by the nation’s security institutions. One wonders why these were not adequately utilized to ensure the safety of all Nigerians, and especially farmers. Anyway, the road show meant that the Federal Government is aware that elections and war are seemingly synonymous in Nigeria. However, The Hope insists that there is no better time for President Muhammadu Buhari to show that he ‘belongs to nobody, and he belongs to everybody’, by ensuring that security agencies are nonpartisan in this election.
RATHER, they should ensure the safety of all participants in the election and also secure the votes of the people. Hoodlums, ballot box snatchers, vote merchants and other miscreants must be brought to book in order to ensure sanity in our electoral activities. While on duty, the welfare of security agents must be adequately catered for, so as not to fall prey to crafty political agents. Their presence must therefore encourage innocent Nigerians to cast their votes rather than scaring them from the polling units. More than ever before, security agencies must understand that their primary allegiance is to the nation and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not to political gladiators.
TO the politicians and political parties, The Hope acknowledges your intense efforts at swaying the people to your side. While some of these strategies were noble, many were crude and condemnable. However, we implore you to take a back seat now, and allow the wishes of the people to prevail. In every election, there shall be losers and winners. In the spirit of true brotherliness, let the winners be congratulated and crowned, while the losers live to fight another day. In case of anomalies witnessed in the electoral process, rather than engaging and inciting violent reactions, politicians and political parties should embrace the windows of grievances as stipulated in the Electoral Act, and approach the court for redress.
NO political position is worth a drop of blood of any Nigerian. Therefore, all political campaigns, incitement along ethnic, party and religious lines must cease during and after the elections. Remember that if your party or candidates have a good report in the scales of the masses, the seat shall be legitimately handed over to you. So, may the best candidates, and the more acceptable party win by the thumbs of the people.
Elections> Ondo declares work-free days
The Ondo State Government has declared today and March 10, 2023 as work-free days for public servants.
This, according to a circular issued from the office of the state Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele, is to allow the workers travel to their various places they registered to cast their votes in the Presidential/National Assembly and the State House of Assembly elections respectively.
While stressing that the new full work-free days directive supersedes the half work-free days earlier announced, the transportation challenges occasioned by the current realities necessitated the change from half to full work-free days.
Ogundele therefore enjoined public servants to make good use of the period to exercise their franchise by voting candidates of their choice and put into consideration, the strategic interest of Ondo State.
‘Accounting Officers are to note the content of this Circular and disseminate same to all staff of their respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies,’ the circular read in part.
