Lessons For Nigerians, INEC, Politicians – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Chief Martin Onovo, a seasoned politician and engineer is the 2015 Presidential candidate, Nationwide Conscience Occasion (NCP). Onovo, presently, the Head, Coverage Positions, Motion for Basic Change (MFC), on this unique piece for Sunday Impartial, writes on the latest U.s elections and what Nigeria ought to be taught from it

Trendy democracy is from the Greek phrases, demos and kratos. Demosin Greek means individuals and kratos means ruling. So, democracy is ‘Peo­ples’ ruling’. It’s a authorities managed by the individuals. That is very completely different from a monarchy or a dictatorship. In a democracy, the federal government is directed by the need of the vast majority of the individuals. The 2 pillars of democracy are the rule-of-law and the integrity of the poll. With out these two pillars, we can not rightly say we’ve got democracy.

The 2024 US presidential elec­tion that was held this November, 2024, was excellently performed. After the 2020 US presidential election was marred by “com­puter glitches” and different irreg­ularities, People have used the 2024 election to revive their declare to be the beacon of democ­racy world-wide. We should cele­brate People on this be aware.

Within the election, the need of the bulk prevailed. That’s democracy. There are a lot of les­sons that Nigerian voters, the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) and politi­cians can be taught from the election. The teachings embody, the sover­eignty of the individuals in a democ­racy; perseverance; peaceable con­duct; steady enchancment; the rule-of-law; the integrity of the poll; transparency, environment friendly operations, and so on.

In our Nigerian structure that calls for democracy, the persons are the sovereign. Un­happily, the sovereignty of the individuals is ceaselessly over­whelmed by the forces of fraud, violence and abuse of energy. If the individuals direct a authorities, then that authorities can be on the service of the individuals and if the federal government is on the service of the individuals, accelerated de­velopment might be assured. So, Nigerians should insist and persevere within the demand for de­mocracy to make sure that govern­ment can be on the service of the individuals.In any other case, the legislation­much less civilian dictatorship that’s presently in place will proceed; and if such continues, Nigeria, which is already a failed state, will collapse and calamity will overwhelm most Nigerians.

On this 2024, The Mo Ibrahim Index ranked Nigeria as one of many worst ruled nations in Africa. At present, our GDP has collapsed from the very best in Africa to the fourth in Africa. Our whole public debt is greater than ever, unemployment is un­precedented, inflation is unprec­edented, crime and insecurity is worse.

Based on Chief Mike Oze­khome (SAN), “We’re practising civilian authorities, not democ­racy”. Based on the Transfer­ment for Basic Change (MFC), “What we’ve got is a civil­ian dictatorship”. We should insist till we obtain democracy just like the People demonstrated of their 2024 presidential election. That may be a lesson we will be taught from the 2024 US presidential election.

Perseverance is critical for achievement. Many Nigerians presently see no hope for the longer term and are in despair. Many have left the nation and plenty of want to go away. Collectively we will obtain democracy in Nigeria, if we work for it and persevere.

After the 2020 US presidential election, the vast majority of Ameri­cans have been dissatisfied, however they persevered and labored very laborious to revive their declare to be the beacon of democracy worldwide. They succeeded this 2024. That is one other lesson we will be taught from the US 2024 presidential election.

The very peaceable conduct of the 2024 US presidential elec­tion can be one other lesson we will be taught. We have now not seen any report of any fatality. We have now not seen any report of arson. We have now not seen any report of racial violence. We have now not seen any report of abuse of police au­thority. We should have a good time Amer­icans on this rely too.

The advance within the 2024 US presidential election over the 2020 election confirms the professional­gressive outlook for democracy in America. This may be con­trasted with Nigeria the place the deliberate enchancment utilizing the BVAS and the IReV system was sabotaged in order to declare very clearly fraudulent outcomes. That is one more lesson we will be taught from the 2024 US presidential election.

We are able to see that consistent with the rule-of-law, which is a pillar of democracy, People, their politicians, their state electoral businesses and legislation enforcement organisations all acted lawfully to make sure a really excessive democratic normal. That is one other lesson we will be taught from the 2024 US presidential election.

Additionally, consistent with the funda­psychological rules of democracy, the ‘integrity of the poll’ was revered and votes counted within the 2024 US presidential election. We didn’t observe any “comput­er glitches”, we didn’t see any collation frauds, we didn’t see reviews of makes an attempt to subvert the method, we didn’t see any official excluding occasion brokers from monitoring the election, we didn’t see any outright falsifica­tions, we didn’t see over-voting, we didn’t see child-voters and we didn’t see election officers altering the outcomes with impu­nity. Votes counted and democra­cy prevailed. Your entire election course of was clear and the winner is clearly the selection of the individuals. Consequently, the los­er, Kamala Harris accepted the loss and conceded the election and there are not any court docket instances. So, it was additionally throughout the Nigerian NCP presidential primaries in December, 2014, in Abuja. INEC officers witnessed the primaries, it was very clear and the votes of the delegates counted. My opponent conceded publicly. That’s democracy. That can be one other lesson for us in Nigeria. Votes should rely.

We should additionally be taught the lesson of transparency. In the course of the US 2024 presidential election, occasion brokers have been allowed to play their roles and monitor your entire professional­cess to substantiate the integrity of the election. This permits all events to make certain of the integri­ty of the election. Transparency could be very crucial in public affairs and this was clearly upheld within the 2024 US presidential election.

As well as, we should additionally be taught from the environment friendly opera­tions of the election businesses within the States of America. The elec­tion date was Tuesday, November 5, 2024. By Wednesday, November 6, former President Trump had rightly declared victory primarily based on validated outcomes from many States. In Nigeria, we will defi­nitely do higher than that with our real-time BVAS and IReV system if we will use them as de­signed, with integrity.

In conclusion, there are such a lot of classes we will be taught from the US presidential election in order that we will transfer from the cur­lease civilian dictatorship to the constitutional democracy we should be. That is vital to make sure good governance in Nigeria. Good governance will assure the safety and the welfare of Nigerians. We are able to transfer from the current excessive crime fee and insecurity to a low crime fee and safety. We are able to transfer from our poor well being care programs to improved well being care programs. We are able to transfer from our weak instructional system to better-quality instructional programs. We are able to transfer from our poor infrastructure to upgraded infrastructure. These and extra would be the advantages we are going to get, if we be taught the teachings from the 2024 US Presidential Elections. God bless all.