The
last time I checked, we were at the peak of the pre-electioneering era that
everyone needed not to be told or reminded that he/she was meant to fasten the seat-belt towards averting any form of carnage.
Here
in Imo, the Eastern Heartland, the story isn’t different. This is the reason
you would observe that every dick and harry has inadvertently become perturbed
as regards what the next second entails.
In every facet of the state, even in the
market arena, the story remains the same. One may ask; what is the story in
question? It is nothing but the fact that we are fast approaching yet another
set of general elections, which is expected to take place across the
federation.
Constitutionally,
in any democratic terrain, elections can never be overridden by anything
whatsoever. This implies that such a factor is invariably regarded as supreme
by any sane and rational citizen, be it a leader or follower.
In
the same vein, traditionally, it’s pertinent to acknowledge that there is a
scenario that usually heralds any electioneering period. The preliminary era
remains registration for, and collection of, voter’s card by every eligible
citizen of the affected country or state, as the case may be.
But, who is an ‘eligible citizen’ as mentioned
above? An eligible citizen in this case is no other than someone who is
constitutionally empowered to vote or be voted for. As it is enshrined in the
1999 Nigeria’s Constitution, as amended, any Nigerian citizen who has attained
the age of eighteen (18) has the power to cast a vote for any contestant and
equally possess the right to aspire for some certain political positions.
However, it’s equally imperative to note that
there’s a tool or device that authorizes any eligible citizen to cast his or
her vote at the polls. The device is the voter’s card otherwise known and
addressed as Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC). In other words, one without the PVC
is not expected to be anywhere near a given polling unit let alone casting a
vote for a candidate of his/her choice.
It’s indeed disheartening and
mind-boggling that in spite of the high level of awareness so far created by
countless civil society groups such as the revered Right Thinkers Movement,
among others, thousands of Nigerians – Imolites in particular – are yet to
collect, or even register for, their PVCs.
One would then wonder how they intend to
effect the change they are clamouring for come 2019. It’s not anymore news that
most of these Imolites are at the moment found in various quarters across the
state and beyond discussing politics and governance, still virtually all cannot
boast of the device that would guarantee them access to cast their votes at the
polls. It suffices to assert that such persons have no electoral value. How do
you reconcile this?
The
news that got to my desk recently has it that about 480,000 PVCs are yet to be
collected from the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) domiciled in the state. Funnily enough, the irony of the anomaly is that
most of those uncollected PVCs ostensibly belong to the Imolites who have been
making the greatest noise in regard to the impending elections.
You
are unequivocally really deceiving yourself if by now you are yet to collect,
or even register for, your PVC but you are deeply involved in the ongoing
politicking or political brouhaha within the state. The truth is that you are
not only deceiving yourself but perhaps also causing untold hardship for your
entire generation.
The INEC had earlier informed the
general public that registration cum collection of PVCs would be suspended as
from Friday, 17th August 2018. This is why the electoral umpire
kept its offices open even during the weekends to enable everyone, irrespective
of his/her nature of work, go for the collection of their PVCs. But despite all
these measures, thousands of PVCs are still reportedly lying at the various
offices of the INEC. Who is deceiving who?
Acknowledging the unfortunate situation, the INEC has graciously
extended the registration cum collection period to 31st August 2018d
2018 with a view to ensuring that no excuse is further given by anyone
as regards collection of, or registration for, their PVCs.
If you
have registered before now but had lost or misplaced yours, you are supposed to
walk up to any INEC quarters nearest to you and renew your registration as well
as collect the PVC without much ado. You are equally required to conscientize
others close to you or in your neighbourhood, such as friends, relatives,
colleagues, associates and what have you, to follow suit for their own good.
Imolites and Nigerians in general ought to, therefore, avail themselves this
golden opportunity towards doing the needful. They must understand that the
power to usher in a better tomorrow strictly and solely lies in their hands. But
it’s pathetic that they cannot exercise such power if they lack their
respective PVCs.
On their part, the leadership of the various
Imo women’s groups should also use the ongoing August Meeting in their various
communities to sensitize their colleagues on the need not to relent with regard
to registering and collecting their PVCs.
As I appreciate the INEC for this extension, I’m equally urging the governments at all levels to within their powers endeavour to provide
mobility for the sake of those who cannot afford the transit that would convey
them to the INEC offices in their respective jurisdictions.
All in all, the truth of the matter is that
whatever change we, individually or collectively, yearn for begins from now and
with us. Think about it!
Comrade FDN Nwaozor
National Coordinator,
Right Thinkers Movement
_________________________________
frednwaozor@gmail.com
+2348028608056
Twitter: @mediambassador
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