A former Chairman, Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Isa Dara, has applauded the impressive turnout of Nigerians in Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Dara told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bwari on Sunday that the large turnout of voters, especially in the council area, was a complete deviation from the past.
Dara, who is seeking to represent Bwari/Amac in the FCT, at the National Assembly under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the peaceful election as an improvement of the democratic process.
“What I have seen today is impressive; people are really yearning for a change, because the turn-out I saw is encouraging, so I think it’s a welcome idea.
“Which means people are ready and that shows they really want government to be closer to them?
“People have started to know why there is government and where government should exist and why they should choose the right person they want.
“Nigeria is growing, like before, we see many people going to farms, when there are businesses, you will see shops open.
“Now the shops are closed, every farmer is at home, just waiting to go and cast his vote, to vote the person he wants, so, Nigeria is progressing.
“So thats why this time up, people want change, people are really ready for a change, nothing more than that.”
He, however, decried the attitude by some people in some parts of the country who indulged in violence as a means to express their grievances, adding that the habit portrayed Nigeria’s democracy in bad light.
Dara recalled that past incidences of electoral crisis occurred mostly after the conduct of election, especially in the North, noting that such could hinder the peace and progress of democracy.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to always seek peace and embrace the will of God in the cause of choosing leaders to promote meaningful democratic growth.
“Where there is no peace, there won’t be development; where there are crisis you will agree with me that you won’t see any good thing there.
“So, no good leader will preach for crisis; so, I will never be one who will encourage crisis, when I was chairman, throughout my tenure in office, there was crisis in Bwari Area Council.
“Unless somebody who has not seen crisis, is the only person that will pray for crisis, because if you watch our brothers who are in Borno, who are in Adamawa, you can never preach for crisis.
“Any good Nigerian will never say there should be crisis in this country, no, we should keep calm, do the right thing and let the will of God be done and it will be done.”
