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Before America Votes …What Nigeria Should Learn
Come November 6, this year, voters in the United States of
America (USA) will file out to elect a President to run the affairs of state in
the next four years. But in an electoral process uniquely American, voting has
since started in some states of the union, without the familiar fear of a
likely bandwagon effect on the eventual outcome.
This year, the battle line is drawn between incumbent
President Barack Obama, of the Democratic Party, who is seeking re-election for
another four years and his Republican challenger, former Massachusetts governor
and wealthy American, Mitt Romney. Both have, for most part of last year, up to
now, been traversing the length and breadth of the union, seeking support for
majority votes.
In all these efforts, what is key, is not where each
candidate comes from or his religion. The process is also not subject to any
form of zoning. What are, are issues Americans consider very vital to their
well-being and future, among them, the economy, health care reforms, taxes, job
creation, foreign policy, global leadership, homeland security and most
importantly who better to address the disturbing state of job losses and
joblessness.
The interesting thing is that the entire process is defined
not by sentiments but real issues and a proper assessment of the pedigree,
capability and indeed preparedness of each of the candidates to address the
problems of the union, as defined by the moment. There, there is no single
party that can pride itself as the largest, hence, sure of victory until the
vote. The issue of incumbency, key to election victories in Africa, is as
weightless as the candidates’ places of birth. What counts, is each candidate’s
ability to convince the American voters that each is better suited and more
prepared to tackle national problems.
In furtherance of that, incumbent President Barack Obama has
pursued a campaign theme carved around the modest achievements made during his
first tenure. ‘We have gone very far, to go back’, in veiled reference to the
economic melt-down, he inherited from his Republican predecessor, former
President George Bush and job creation efforts gradually yielding positive
results. On the other hand, his challenger, Republican candidate Mitt, Romney
has repeatedly staked his renowned business success as manager and employer of
men and materials as a suiting credential to insist that he could do a better
job managing the economy and creating more jobs.
But beyond the self praise and countless advertisements
covering a wide-range of issues, both candidates must inter-face thrice, in
well-planned Presidential debates to properly articulate their vision and
method of actualising their plans. The first of such debates held last week
Wednesday in Denver, with the Republican challenger putting up a much better
performance than President Obama, with all the latter’s well-acknowledged
oratorical prowess and charisma.
The lesson there, among others, is that the handlers of the
debate were not only thorough and well-grounded in the burning needs of
Americans and indeed the defining issues, they demonstrated amazing
non-partisanship or impartiality. They did not, as would most African handlers,
favour the incumbent with leading questions or treat him as first among equals.
Of course, prior to the debate, virtually all polls favoured
President Obama in virtually all aspects of the defining issues and was also
considered more favourable to win than his challenger. That was partly because
of Obama’s amazing campaign rhetoric, drive and style as against Romney’s
inability to link-up properly with ordinary voters. Another, was Romney’s
comments about 47 per cent of Americans being so dependent on government, they
naturally, would vote for President Obama, a comment that inadvertently,
presented Romney as one not only out of touch with reality and the American
poor, but indeed one who cannot be relied upon to defend the middle class, and
therefore, could not be depended upon to address their needs.
That mis-speak was so over-exaggerated by the Democratic
fray that it seemed the elections had already been lost and won. What was
required therefore was to inject some measure of fresh air into the Romney
campaign, using the opportunity offered by the debates to explain, in what
context, he coughed that 47 per cent, dependents’ message.
Happily, the first of three Presidential debates provided
that much needed platform and Romney emerged therefrom with improved rating.
From an abysmal 36 per cent, which the polls had showed, that 48 per cent
American voters later understood the context in which Romney made the 47 per
cent message, was instructive.
Another lesson here, among all others, is that the voters
needed to know the measure of empathy a candidate could muster in times
challenges and needs and not just remain on a high-horse, far away, out of
touch with the people.
Knowing that to be so, a candidate risks electoral failure
should he delude himself with over-confidence, simply because he belongs to a
so called largest political party, as they often say, in Nigeria. In fact, some
politicians were known to have boasted at campaigns that a goat, dressed in a
particular political party’s garb would win elections and often did. What’s
more, didn’t one win elections, while in prison?
But the American process requires even more than special
attention to the worries of the average voter and how a candidate hopes to
address such worries, hence the debates and inter-face by the vote seekers. In
all, the voter is the king.
Although, Mitt Romney’s wonderful showing improved his
chances, and made the contest more interesting it however, did not completely
right-off Obama as a more likeable candidate and thus, with more favourable
rating. According to a Reuters/IPSOS survey released Saturday, Mitt Romney’s
strong debate performance did little to convince more voters (that) he
understands them or is a “good person”, although he has narrowed President
Barack Obama’s overall polls lead.
Just a month before the November 6 election, the Reuters
account said, the Democratic President is ahead of his Republican challenger on
character attributes that can win over undecided voters who have not been
swayed on policy points.
‘Romney gained in a few areas, but not at Obama’s expense
despite the incumbent’s lackluster performance in the first Presidential debate
of Wednesday.
‘On the broad question of who they will vote for, in
November, Obama kept his slim 2 percentage point lead over Romney among likely
voters-47-to 45 per cent according to the on-line survey.
‘The gap was unchanged from Friday, when Obama led by 46 to
44 per cent in the tracking poll. His lead was six percentage points before the
two men first went head-to-head in the Denver Presidential debate.
Obama even gained ground in some voters’ assessment of
character since before the debate, though a majority 55 to 23 per cent felt
Romney did a better job during the encounter in Denver, the survey showed.
IPSOS Pollster Julia Clark explained: “We haven’t; seen additional gains from
Romney. This suggests to me that this is more of a bounce than a permanent
shift”.
Bottomline: Obama had struck a better and enduring chord of
empathy with more American voters, than his challenger, and to such high
extents that flops at debates were not enough reason to wash away his
popularity.
Last Friday, Obama also recorded yet another boost with the
release of the monthly job report, signalling a drop in the U.S. jobless rate
in September to the lowest level since he took office. A decline in
unemployment to 7.8 per cent last month, down from well-above 8.1 per cent,
announced just more than four weeks before Election Day, gave an unexpected
shine to the most vulnerable part of Obama’s record his economic stewardship and offered the incumbent a chance to re-set
his re-election bid.
The lesson here is that Obama can be remembered for some
other positive achievements and that even in his most vulnerable area, the
economy, challenger Romney does not seem to be a better replacement.
Bottomline, pedigree and performance also count, poor oratoral skills,
notwithstanding.
So, when will Nigeria get there? When will character,
performance and pedigree count? When will rotation or zoning stop to make
little or no meaning? When indeed will religion and tribe cease to be defining
issues in Nigerian elections?
My Agony is that many influential Nigerians are not only
following the US electoral process, some even partook in the various party
conventions as observers but might have learnt nothing as the next elections
would show.
Methinks, if Nigeria is adopting the US Federal system, so
be it and not pick and choose what to adopt and what not to. Federalism is
federalism, nothing like true federalism. If we are in, lets be in, if we are
not, then lets opt out.
This is what the National Assembly owes Nigeria and
Nigerians as they seek to review the 1999 Constitution.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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