Expectation. Noun. 1. Looking forward to; anticipation. 2. A looking for as due, proper or necessary. 3. (pl.) Prospect of future success, prosperity, etc.
The citizens of Osun State have just come through a week of important experiences which they would do well to reflect upon on behalf of the entire Nigerian citizenry. Some specific events took place prior to the governorship election: all shops were ordered closed (at least in Ile-Ife) on the day of President Jonathan’s visit, a week before the election; several towns were literally invaded by swarms of policemen and other military personnel at least a week prior to D-Day; and the major road leading into Ile-Ife town was closed to motorists from around noon on the eve of the election. The manner in which the election itself was conducted is equally deserving of being reflected upon.
Several questions need to be asked: Why was it necessary to have economic activities grind to a halt for an entire day because the President was visiting? In what way could people going about their businesses have been a threat to him? Or was it just a question of clearing us out of the way so that the President and his entourage could zoom through town whenever they arrived? Why did policemen and soldiers have to descend upon us so heavily? And why was it necessary for so many of them to be hooded? What faces were hiding beneath those hoods? Could the silent terror we felt at their presence have been partly responsible for the low voter turn-out we recorded? What was gained by keeping so many travellers, many of whom had nothing to do with the Osun election, stranded at the entrance to Ile-Ife from about noon on the eve of the election? Who was responsible for taking all these decisions, and why are we citizens so compliant in the face of mindless regulations?
The actual conduct of the election was even more nauseating. People were allowed to get accredited until 12 noon from the opening of the polling booths in the morning, and then everybody was required to come back all at once and line up to be counted and cast their votes. Once the counting was concluded, a policeman took his place behind the last person counted, and nobody was allowed to join the queue thereafter. Not a few accredited people ended up being unable to cast their votes because of this system, for a variety of reasons. Why could people not be given several hours during which they could come and vote, just like they did for the accreditation? What if some emergency comes up which delays you for an hour or so? Why this crude system of having people stand up for hours on the queue, not minding how comfortable it was for them?
The saddest thing for me, as a few of us sought to engage others on these issues, was to note how so “understanding” people were of these rules and regulations that were basically degrading. All manner of humiliating and undignified treatment is meted out to us as if we were all hooligans, violent ballot box snatchers. And we show understanding! “You know Nigerians are not easy to rule.” “If they don’t make everybody come and vote at the same time, some people will be able to vote at several polling stations.” Instead of requiring our officers to ensure that such an occurrence would be impossible, we prefer to bear the degradation of a corrupt and incompetent system. Several times the suggestion has been made for the introduction of electronic voting, but many of us respond that “Nigerians are not yet ready for it.” Why are our expectations so terribly low? Why do we read and hear about things running better in other places and believe that we are not qualified for such? Why do we not believe that we too can be successful in whatever we choose to do, just like others? What is this boulder called the “Nigerian factor” which we have tied around our ankle to keep us down forever?
I am equally disappointed in those who occupy positions of leadership in our land but are unable to take us beyond where we have been for years. What is the point of leadership if it is merely to maintain everything at the same level year in, year out? One of my teachers at the Haggai (Christian Leadership Training) Institute in Hawaii made the distinction between managers and true leaders, pointing out that many who are called leaders are just managers. What innovative thinking has been brought to bear on the conduct of elections in Nigeria in recent times? Do the citizens of this nation have to go through the kind of harassment endured by the people of Osun State in order for us to be able to say to the world that we have conducted a free and fair election? At what cost of discomfort to the people?
The job of leaders is not to make the entire population bear harassment or discomfort because of a disruptive or violent minority; their job is to seek ways of preventing that minority from successfully operating, so that the majority can carry on their lives in peace and dignity. I hope that INEC is listening and that we can have greater expectations for elections in our land.