By Dickson Okafor
Chief Ernest Elochukwu, a former Aspirant for the House of Representatives for Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency of Anambra State said if there is no assurance that the votes will count, majority of Nigerians won’t come out to vote in 2027.
The former President of Association of Nigeria Customs License Agents (ANLCA) and Chairman/CEO Nestello Gateways Group said this can be done through enactment of effective Electoral Reforms, which will give the people assurance that they will not go and stand in the sun for nothing.
Excerpts:
What is your assessment of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government within two years under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?
First and foremost, is there any target set by this government in terms of what they want to achieve within the period under review? To me, I can’t say I know of any target set by this government. The truth is that inflation has run haywire and the exchange rate has gone from the bad situation it was to something else right now. Generally, other areas like security challenge we thought is in the past, has suddenly resurfaced. There is actually nothing to asses about this government as far as I’m concern because the situation has gone from bad to worse. It appears like nobody is thinking of how to solve Nigeria’s problems.
With the recent revelation by President Bola Tinubu while marking his 73rd birthday that he almost quit the 2023 presidential race due to personal doubts, external pressures and frustration, could it be that Tinubu was not prepared for the job?
It might be better for us to confine everything to history because Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as President of Nigeria. In his speech during his 73rd birthday that he almost quit the 2023 Presidential race due to personal doubts, I think it is merely academic. I believe that in his declaration in the popular ‘Emilokan’ (it is my time) because he did everything to get there. Whatever may be seen as things not done well or procedures that are not followed, as far as I’m concern, they are immaterial now. Whether he is prepared or not for the job, he is there as President and ordinary people like us expect him to act as Nigerian President and not sectional leader. He should tackle the problems facing the nation, improve the standard of living of the people and adhere to constitution which is the basis upon which the country should be run. The constitution stated clearly that the primary objective of government is to protect lives and property and ensure the welfare of the people. So, anybody who occupy the position should see himself as the servant of the people and that is what should be upper most in the person’s mind.
Again, with the recent hunger protests in Lagos and Abuja isn’t it glaring that Nigerians may not re-elect APC in 2027 if the level hunger and hardship is not tackled?
Nigerians are not willing to go out to vote in 2027 with the state of affairs in the country, judging from what has happened and from experience we have had. Meanwhile, the reasons for acute hunger and hardship is best known to the perpetrators of such illegal act which appears that our votes don’t count. Because we all are aware of what happened in 2023 general elections and I can tell you that unless effective Electoral Reform is done which will give people assurance that they will not go and stand in the sun for nothing, they won’t come out to vote in 2027. Also, if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary fails to regain their lost glory and restore the hope of Nigerians in the electoral system and in the judiciary, Nigerians won’t come out to vote in next election. I can assure you, most people are not going to go out there to vote in 2027. Because to them it doesn’t make any sense because whether they vote or not the desired result will be declared. So, the issue is not whether the people are going to return this government, is whether majority of registered voters are going to participate in whatever process that is called election. Because I for one cannot unless I see a new Electoral Reform not just INEC or other institutions or the presidency, but including the judiciary up to the Supreme Court with assurance that the vote of the people will count. Again, we should be asking ourselves, how many Nigerians will be remaining or be alive in 2027? Because the rate at which people are dying you can be sure that the population of Nigeria may have depleted by 2027. To some people, it doesn’t matter because whether is it two or three persons that voted for them. However, I think we should be thinking about how Nigerians will survive and not about who will win the presidential election in 2027.
With the rejection of PDP governors to be part of coalition led by Atiku Abubakar and Nasir El-Rufai to wrestle power from APC in 2027, Isn’t that a setback for some political gladiators warming up to dethrone APC in 2027?
Nobody has ever succeeded without trying. So, what they are doing in order to wrestle from APC is commendable because that is a way our thought should be. The refusal of the PDP governors to join coalition is because of issues of political differences or diverse interests, but if truly the political gladiators are serious they can manage it. Yes, there are moves to unseat the present government in 2027, but some of the persons and key politicians planning the merger are also having different agenda. But with the backing out of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors from the merger, it is a setback. For instance, somebody is inviting people to come and merge with him to enable him achieve his political interest. You know that there is going to be problem if they were going to be open minded about it. And those people who are going to be put forward should know that they are not going there for their personal interest, but for a strategic mission to salvage this country. Therefore, if they have a consensus about it then every one of them will be willing to sacrifice his personal ego, ambition and pride in order to achieve collective interest and salvage the country, and that will be better.