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…Storm Nigeria with 250 observers
From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission to Nigeria, has raised concerns over the fuel crisis and cash crunch in the country.
The leader of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to Nigeria, and former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, who raised the concerns in Abuja, said the situation may have negative effect on the 2023 elections.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Koroma called on the Federal Government to address the lingering issues.
“So far, we have had some concerns that have been raised that bother on the availability of fuel, as its limitation will affect the movement of everybody, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“Another concern is that of the scarcity of cash, limited liquidity in the system. This has been a concern that has been raised by our observers and also the political parties that we have met,” Koroma said.
While also raising security concerns in some parts of the country, Koroma added that although there were isolated incidents of violence, the government should take steps to address them before of the commencement of the elections.
Koroma hailed Nigeria’s tireless efforts and sacrifices in strengthening democracy in West Africa sub-region, even as he said the world attached so much importance to the success of the 2023 elections in the country.
“We are very pleased to be here. We are here with great expectations, we are here as an observer mission of ECOWAS. Before now, we have deployed long term observers who have been involved in the early observation of the process and we are here with a total deployment of about 250 observers that will be deployed all over the country to observe the process.
“This election is critical because Nigeria is the biggest economy in the sub-region. It is Nigeria because anything that succeeds here will send the right signal to the rest of ECOWAS and even to the AU and beyond,” Koroma also said.
On his part, Onyeama said the Federal Government has taken steps to address the issues of fuel scarcity and cash crunch through the ordering of the circulation of the old N200 notes to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Onyeama appreciated Koroma for his sacrifices for democracy in the sub-region, while also expressing optimism that Nigerians will gain from his bountiful experience.
“President Buhari has made it absolutely clear that he wants to leave a legacy of peaceful transfer of power and he has put in place all the mechanisms to ensure peaceful, free, fair and transparent elections and this is really a wonderful legacy for us,” Onyeama said.
