Still On 2015 Polls

Election is a process where the citizens of a
country, file out in their numbers to elect their leaders. These leaders once elected have the obligation to marshall out policies and programmes in the area of health care, education, agriculture, employment generation and industrialisation to improve the standard of living of the people.
For election to take place successfully, it must be devoid of violence and thuggery which can scare away potential voters on election day. Election in Rivers State since 1999, has been characterized by acts of violence and terror, a particular example was the elections of 2003 and 2007 where all manner of dangerous weapons were used to scare away potential voters who stayed away from pooling centres, for fear of being killed or hacked down while casting down their votes in the ballot box for their preferred candidates.
As the 2015 general elections draw closer, looking back at the past from the inception of democracy in 1999, and projecting into the future, with particular reference to the 2015 general elections scheduled for February, personally the fear of thuggery, shootings, sporadic gunshots, that make Eligible voters to stay in their houses, to do their domestic choices rather than coming out to cast their votes to shape their destiny, is a source of worry.
Elections are fast approaching with few months to go, the political parties are all campaigning and busy with the issues of party primaries, which are all good, INEC on the other hand is busy with the issue of distribution of permanent voters card until January 2015. All these pre-election activities are wonderful, but I think the issue of preventing carnage, violence, sporadic shootings, which usually scare away potential voters, should be of utmost importance to all.
The issue of preventing sporadic gunshots, display of machetes, beating of opponents, are not new to the security agencies, hence the need to adopt measures that are workable to prevent blood letting and senseless killings during the forth coming presidential, governorship, and legislative elections in Rivers State.
In addressing this issue, the upland areas comprising of Obio/Akpor, Eleme, Ikwerre, Abua, Ahoada Gokana, Khana, Tai, Ahoada, Ogba-Egbema, Omuma, may easily be covered security wise. However, the riverine areas which are not motorable like parts of Akuku- Toru, Asari- Toru, Degema , Okrika, Ogu/Bolo, Bonny, Andoni, Opobo/Nkoro, may not be easily covered by the security agencies due to the nature of the terrain which have also been bedeviled by issues of sea piracy, kidnappings, rape, theft and other heinous crimes. In recent times, these issues if not addressed may scare away voters whose points of registration fall within these axis.
Finally in addressing this challenge, the security agencies in the state, including the Inspector-General of Police must come up with a security road map for Rivers State, for the 2015 general elections. The joint military task force, particularly the Nigerian Navy and the Marine Police division of the Nigerian Police which are trained in maritime security must take pro-active steps to secure the water ways, to enable voters perform their civic duty on the days scheduled for elections in 2015.
The Independent National Electoral Commission must ensure the prompt arrival of electoral materials and speedy accreditation of eligible voters. Votes must be done as at when due and counted early, to avoid ballot box snatching and other negative trends.
Youths in Rivers State must avoid any body or group that wants to engage them as thugs, assassins and murders, who in turn may abandon them or go after them once elections are over, they should demand employment and other legitimate welfare programmes from politicians rather than being engaged as thugs with false promises.
Workers, students, traders, artisans and other professionals in the state must ensure they vote credible candidates with good track record that will take issues of their welfare and that of the state seriously.
Asemebo writes from Port Harcourt.

Ipalibo Asemebo