June 30, 2010
Congratulation on your appointment as INEC chairman, though your choice was a bit of a shock to me. A shock not because of qualification, which you more than deserve, but unsure whether you have a will to do a thorough job without fear or favour.
I have read that you are a radical and hopefully will bring a radical change to INEC. You cannot imagine how many Nigerians who pray for that everyday, month and year.
However your radical background has not made me optimistic about your choice. Please forgive me for I have been let down time and time again by the so-called radicals, although I hope you will be an exception.
I cannot forget my first encounter with Prof. Nzimiro ‘a radical’ at a public lecture organised by my University student union, UNIPORT. He spoke so eloquently and passionately about corruption and ways we could move our nation forward. The students were motivated and inspired that we could have done anything if he had asked, to vent our anger on the leaders. Few years after that he was appointed a special adviser by the Babangida administration and his ideology and values disappeared and gave way to materialism. His achievement was a big printing press that he exchanged for his ideals.
Of course he is not alone. Another so called radical who failed woefully was Professor Julius Ohunbere. What about the Solarins, Kutis, yes even Prof. Iwu and the list could go on and on. So you can understand my pessimism.
I truly hope you will be different and succeed in this task. The responsibility is enormous and important. If you fail it will have serious consequences on you, your children, our children and the nation as whole. In my view, the coming election will determine the fate of our nation. If you get it right, we shall begin to see light at the end of the tunnel. You get it wrong we will fall into an irredeemable state.
There are few things you must do to succeed.
• Voters’ registers must be reviewed, and I am glad you have also suggested it. It is the tool which politicians use for rigging.
• Once reviewed, it must be published where the people will have easy access to view it.
• You must put an effective system in place to prevent politicians purchasing voters cards from the poor masses, which is currently the norm.
• Your success will depend largely on the team you put together. It is important to ensure that only credible men and women of proven integrity are on board.
• You must forward a bill to the upper and lower legislative houses to approve maximum penalty to any INEC official that compromises his or her values.
• You must plan a retreat for all the team and make them to be aware of the responsibility the shoulder and how it will impact on their children and mine.
• Provide intensive training to all members of the team.
•
Finally if you fail, there will be no excuse, and more than any other past leader, I and my children will hold you responsible for driving the final nail in the coffin.
But if you succeed, and I pray you do, my children and my grand children yet unborn will remember that Prof Jega is the captain that prevented the ship from sinking.
May God give you strength and courage you very much will require.
Edwin Odunze
I have read that you are a radical and hopefully will bring a radical change to INEC. You cannot imagine how many Nigerians who pray for that everyday, month and year.
However your radical background has not made me optimistic about your choice. Please forgive me for I have been let down time and time again by the so-called radicals, although I hope you will be an exception.
I cannot forget my first encounter with Prof. Nzimiro ‘a radical’ at a public lecture organised by my University student union, UNIPORT. He spoke so eloquently and passionately about corruption and ways we could move our nation forward. The students were motivated and inspired that we could have done anything if he had asked, to vent our anger on the leaders. Few years after that he was appointed a special adviser by the Babangida administration and his ideology and values disappeared and gave way to materialism. His achievement was a big printing press that he exchanged for his ideals.
Of course he is not alone. Another so called radical who failed woefully was Professor Julius Ohunbere. What about the Solarins, Kutis, yes even Prof. Iwu and the list could go on and on. So you can understand my pessimism.
I truly hope you will be different and succeed in this task. The responsibility is enormous and important. If you fail it will have serious consequences on you, your children, our children and the nation as whole. In my view, the coming election will determine the fate of our nation. If you get it right, we shall begin to see light at the end of the tunnel. You get it wrong we will fall into an irredeemable state.
There are few things you must do to succeed.
• Voters’ registers must be reviewed, and I am glad you have also suggested it. It is the tool which politicians use for rigging.
• Once reviewed, it must be published where the people will have easy access to view it.
• You must put an effective system in place to prevent politicians purchasing voters cards from the poor masses, which is currently the norm.
• Your success will depend largely on the team you put together. It is important to ensure that only credible men and women of proven integrity are on board.
• You must forward a bill to the upper and lower legislative houses to approve maximum penalty to any INEC official that compromises his or her values.
• You must plan a retreat for all the team and make them to be aware of the responsibility the shoulder and how it will impact on their children and mine.
• Provide intensive training to all members of the team.
•
Finally if you fail, there will be no excuse, and more than any other past leader, I and my children will hold you responsible for driving the final nail in the coffin.
But if you succeed, and I pray you do, my children and my grand children yet unborn will remember that Prof Jega is the captain that prevented the ship from sinking.
May God give you strength and courage you very much will require.
Edwin Odunze
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