It is no longer story that about 99% State and national Assembly Elections conducted in March and April, 2015, had been nullified by Appeal Court and ordered fresh election in the affected Constituencies and Senatorial Districts in Rivers State. Based on the cancellations, politicians and political parties are now re-strategizing to clinch victory come the re-run elections in Rivers State.
The electorates in Rivers State are worried the way some politicians go about their electioneering campaign. The re-run elections in Rivers State are another litmus test to test the integrity of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 2016 is seen to be another election’s year in Rivers State.
It is on this premise that Rivers people must take elections seriously to avoid break down of law and order. It is another opportunity to vote people of impeccable character to occupy the Legislative Chamber both State and National. As politicians and political parties woo electorates or eligible voters for support; there is need to follow the normal laid down procedures.
Rivers State is so important to Rivers people. Therefore, the two major political parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) should as a mater of urgent state’s issue advice their teeming members to be civil in terms of their utterances.
Rivers people need convivial atmosphere during and after the re-run elections. The election umpire, INEC should create an enabling environment for peaceful and credible elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission should be transparent in dealing with the various political parties participating in the elections to avoid suspicion. The re-run election will be conducted in 27 constituencies out of 32. The State Assembly Election is an important one. Therefore, proper sensitization of Rivers people is necessary by NEC to avoid voters apathy. The Appeal Court has given Sixty days before the elections. And as a matter of urgent political interest, elections’ dates should be made public to avoid the public been taken unawares. INEC should release the time table for election for political parties to follow. Electoral materials should be made available at the polling units at the various constituencies in Rivers State Assembly, governors spend more than N18,000.00 to feed their dogs monthly. Which means it is a degradation of the Nigerian civil servants if the minimum wage is slashed.
The labour leaders across the country are at alert waiting to see the full implementation that will lead to mother of industrial strike. No Nigerian is happy about the threat. It is believed the political leaders in the country are worried about the state of the economy. But that should not be an avenue to further increase the sufferings of the civil servants. The bail out-funds by EG to some states should be judiciously used by the governors to the benefit of all and sundry. The bail-out-fund should be used to establish industries that will in turn enhance the revenue of the states.
The federal government should as a matter of urgent national issue rehabilitate and build new refineries to stop the importation of the refined products. The refining of crude oil within would help cushion the adverse effect on the economy. How would Nigeria not suffer severely more than other nations when her crude oil is being refined outside her shore. Other countries of OPEC are striving hard to improve their economies. Therefore, Nigeria should go beyond propaganda to reality. For many years, Nigerian government has made pronouncement of issuance of license to private individuals to build refineries. Till now, no new refinery is built by government or private individual. Who is deceiving who?
Nigerians want to see refineries working and new ones built to alleviate their suffering. If Nigeria refines her crude oil within the country, the adverse effect of the falling oil prices will be reduced on the economy and Nigerians. And the threat on the 18,000.00 minimum wage will be a forgone statement without execution. ###
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