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From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The leadership of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) in the United States of America (USA) has charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigerian government on the need for the citizens to have the freedom to vote to achieve peaceful, free, fair, credible and transparent 2023 general elections.
In a statement signed by the MOSOP-USA, President, Augustine Kpuinen and the Public Relations Officer, Samuel Nweemuu, the group stated that the “election period is that time of the year and season when the Federal Government of Nigeria and INEC are called upon to stand up to its role to play enduring peace and safety of its citizens, thereby promoting a peaceful, credible, free and fair election, while guarding against any interference with the right to vote by citizens.”
The statement added that it is believed that voters are well-educated on their rights, to dispel myths and misinformation, and underscore the integrity of the voting process.
MOSOP-USA called on the three tiers of government, INEC as well as all its machinery, to clear the air on intimidation and harassment of citizens, and interference of voters, so that voters have the right to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.
The statement read: “We continue to insist that public trust is at the heart of public safety, as the Federal Government and INEC must ensure the protection and integrity of 2023 election outcomes. It should be remembered that public trust in democracy, the rule of law, and the integrity of our government is integral to public safety.
“Democracy is more likely to develop and endure when all segments of society are free to participate and influence political outcomes without suffering discrimination or retaliation as such democracy in Nigeria should be respected to repel the ambiguous characters and lopsided governances in the country.
“We advised that all roadblocks to a strong democracy at all levels of government be removed; and any conflict triggered by political competition and communal, ethnic, religious or resource allocation rivalries, posing a major threat to the election including corruption should be completely eliminated.”
MOSOP appealed to the Federal Government and the INEC to increase the participation of the less privileged citizens, so they could have a voice in the political process and achieve a greater level of equality.
The group noted, “that political participation becomes the fundamental means of addressing the social and economic inequities associated with the marginalisation in all ethnic nationalities and communities.”
The statement further charged all the critical actors to ensure they work to promote peace, safety and unity of the citizens in order to eliminate unconcealed barriers, and challenge negative stereotypes of marginalised populations while lending their voices in mainstream politics.
The statement revealed that MOSOP-USA is working tirelessly and directly with organisations and networks representing marginalised communities and populations to help address particular institutions, laws and processes that exclude these populations, particularly during this election period, where both internal machinery and external/international machinery would be on the ground to ensure a free and fair election in Nigeria.
The statement read: “It’s believed that targeted support might assist them with advocating for legal reforms, getting elected to political offices or pressuring governments to sign international agreements promising the peace and safety of its citizens. Any attempt of discomfort or improper behaviour will not be accepted, and it will draw the attention of the international community, including other experts that are already on the ground.
“Today’s youths need real opportunities to participate in political processes and contribute to practical solutions that can easily advance development. When they are given the opportunity to organise, voice their opinions and play meaningful roles in political decision-making, then they would consistently demonstrate their willingness and ability to foster positive lasting change. They also become more likely to demand and defend democracy, as they gain a greater sense of belonging.
“It’s been experienced for decades that marginalisation had taken over Nigeria and depicts her as uncivilised. The marginalised communities had experienced discrimination and exclusion (social, political, and economic), because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions.
“The cultural/racial minorities have suffered much, not allowed to have access to vote, and in some cases, if allowed their votes, would not be counted. These mostly occur in the South where greater population votes are eventually trashed.
“These specific groups that are disadvantaged later face inequality. As such states and local governments, and local leaders are under obligation to thoroughly understand the landscape of their particular communities so they can respond effectively.
“While the federal and state governments may have strived to help the marginalised communities, some elected people failed to tailor their efforts to the needs of these marginalised citizens. This happened because the needs of those who faced racial discrimination for instance differ significantly from those who are physically disabled.
“Therefore, MOSOP-USA is at this time calling on the federal and state governments to consider a multi-dimensional approach to effectively and comprehensively engage the disadvantaged citizens to determine which groups are marginalised and look for possible solutions.”
They expressed some worries that Nigeria is sharply divided about what to do to its economy.
“Everyone wants a stronger economy and improved security. The challenge is to bring greater unity on policy to get the needed economic reforms.”
