Saturday 6 August 2016

Let's Not Mock "Universal Suffrage By e-Voting"

Aremo Olusegun Obasanjo is the most mobile politician in present day Nigeria. He supported Goodluck Jonathan to be elected Vice President in 2007 and President years later, on the demise of Yar Adua of blessed memory  and 2011 election.  Then it would appear President Jonathan’s Aides and political dad Chief E K Clark were unfair to Obasanjo Doyin Okupe insulted him twice or so, then Obasanjo abandoned President Jonathan  and was to team up with Muhammadu Buhari who then wins 2015 election and suddenly began to squander his goodwill – PMB’s honey moon with the Nigerian electorate was over before his first year in office.

Dr Oby Ezekwesili and another co-ordinated #BBOG and got rewarded, the other,  Obasanjo’s political daughter  was not acknowledged.This morning we have just read in the link below news of President Obasanjo at PDP national convention committee inauguration prompting questions whether he is back to his base the party on which he contested two presidential elections and won!

Talking about electoral reforms in NBA – Universal suffrage by e-voting can only be achieved when people are not disenfranchised. AB Mahmoud’s press statement two days ago said NBA is the largest professional body in Nigeria and Africa correct! Because we have 90, 000 lawyers on the NBA database. He said quote:  When the idea of e-voting was first mooted, it seemed unachievable. But as the saying goes, “it always seems impossible until it is done”.  Furthermore, ABM states “I commend the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) for organising free, fair and credible elections. I want to use this medium to appeal to our members who participated actively in the elections but who lost to avoid any form of bitterness and divisive rhetoric. We are all winners. Let us work together to build #ABraveNewBar.”

Of 90,000 only 7,000 were allowed to vote in the first universal suffrage exercise in NBA. Makes mockery of the word “universal suffrage”. Please ALL let us put down the toga of politicizing everything even your integrity you politicize that is not cheerful. Universal suffrage for lawyers means Universal suffrage for ALL Lawyers on the NBA database fully paid up!

HOW TO ACHIEVE THE UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE BY E-VOTING THAT WE WORKED YEARS ON HARD CAMPAIGNS TO WIN:
We initiated it if they have challenges implementing it the World is a school we all learn by the day even kids teach us trends. I was in Park and Shop in June I saw a boy child of not more than 2 years and his parents were in a different wing of the supermarket and I saw the child looking through some sachets he wanted a new apple tart made into juice. I bought 2 only,  one for the ‘young man’ and tried the other was the richest meal I ever had. Never mind smoked salmon and sprinkles of lime and wheat bread and green tea with lemon wedge and honey.

The NBA Constitution 2015, second schedule says ECNBA is a standing committee as distinct from ad hoc committee eg caretaker committee. We need electoral reforms in NBA in forms of guides for example do you know of those who voted no one told us there is something called “ballot receipt” e-voters could store. I saved mine. Many didn’t. Do you know e-vote requires electronic counters and inflow charts accessible to voters to remove manipulations.

Do you know all lawyers as we have in IBA, should own a profile encrypted and personalized on NBA website and accessible on myNBA icon to you makes accreditation transparent and credible such that you are not asked questions that abuse membership eg  who do you recognize as NBA Abuja Branch Chairman Victor or Ezenwa.  'No-Ezenwa no-vote oya security bundle this male lawyer out of NBA Secretariat’.  Someone in New York or so said he voted seamlessly on 30th July. E-voting system your right to exercise not a favour and votes must count.  Hence has to be made seamless for everyone.

Don’t send hatchet men to anyone for sign-posting Truth, please.
Thank you
Dame Carole



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