Attahiru (Prof) Jega, Chairman,
Independent National Electoral Commission,
Plot 436 Zambezi Crescent,
Abuja, Nigeria.
Email: contact@inecnigeria.org
23rd July 2010.
Dear Attahiru,
This letter is in direct response to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s request for N72 billion naira, to produce fresh voters register. I will ask Nigerians to support this request, only on one condition. That condition is that, you Must introduce biometric voter registration. Otherwise whatever you do, will be dead on arrival. Alternatively, part of this money INEC has requested, should be used to purchase forensic equipment(s) and personnel to track multiple voter registration. The use of technology is inevitable if INEC wants to conduct free, fair, transparent and credible elections in 2011 and onwards. Please make this known to the President (Goodluck Jonathan).
The use of biometric (finger prints) is not new in Nigeria. The Nigerian immigration service is a good example (epassport, etc). It was also used during the failed identity card project. This technology can be used by INEC. I will suggest that all the security agencies in Nigeria, (Nigerian Police Force, State Security Services, Customs, Immigration, Prisons etc) should have access to whatever biometric database, INEC should have in future. This will make it easier to track offenders.
Dearest Attahiru, I will also not congratulate you on your new appointment (INEC Chairman). I will equally ask Nigerians not to congratulate you. Rather, I will ask Nigerians to commend or condemn you at the end of your tenure, and especially after conducting 2011 general elections. Remember your immediate predecessor (Maurice Iwu), who has been condemned and consigned to the garbage heap, of forgotten electoral fraud chiefs. Humphrey Nwosu (Still your predecessor) defied Babangida’s intimidation, threats, and manipulation and conducted the June 12th 1993, presidential election which became the freest and fairest election in Nigeria.
You are at the threshold of history. You either use technology or be prepared to face whatever consequences. Aside from the use of technology in electoral register/voting, you should also be thinking on how to re-introduce the Option A4 methods and how to enable the Nigerians in Diaspora to vote. Other small countries in Africa have achieved this (Diaspora voting) feet.
Special Appeal To Nigerians.
Please support this letter to Attahiru (Prof) Jega by adding your name and resending it to INEC (contact@inecnigeria.org). Also follow this link (http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/2010/07/protest-for-nigeria.html) to sign a petition (Protest For Nigeria).That is, if you have not already signed. The only choice we have is to take action(s) now to save Nigeria. Pass around to your friends and friends of Nigeria to do so. May God bless Nigeria.
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Greatest support that Nigerians can give INEC is to act honestly and responsibly. They shouldn't attempt multiple registrations or any corrupt practice like selling their voter IDs as happened in Abia at the last election.
ReplyDeleteI think Jega is a good guy. Whether politicians and the masses act responsibly is another matter. I never felt Iwu was the monster he was made out to be. Nigerians always frustrate public officials, no matter the efforts they make to organise the electoral process. What needs to change in Nigeria is the attitude of the masses, not the face of the public officials.