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I have expected that the incumbent governnment will always have access to machineries to cheat in the next elections, which they have done. The Police, all the security agents, Inec are all under the control of PDP who have enough money to buy them. Having said this, there is no way Buhari can defeat Obasanjo in these Presidential elections.
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However, the results of the Governorship elections in Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa were heavily rigged, and should be reconducted under the Supervision of EU and other independent organisations.
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Mr. T. OKUKU, LONDON, ENGLAND 29 Apr 2003
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I THINK THE ELECTION IS A REFLECTION OF THE STATE OF INSTITUTIONALISED CORRUPTION PUT IN PLACE BY SOME SO CALLED IDEOLOGICAL STATE APPARATUSES AND REPRESSIVE STATE APPARATUSES.BUT TIME WILL DEFINITELY TELL IF THIS GOVERNMENT WAS RE-ELECTED BY THE NIGERIAN PEOPLE.
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OBI.V.M, NEW JERSEY.U.S.A 29 Apr 2003
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It is a very shamful thing and a big slap to christianity that Obasanjo calls himself a born-again christian. He is a born-against christian. He loves evil and enjoy doing evils. This is not to say that Buhari,Ikemba and all other presidential aspirants that lost are better, they are all bad omen to our great country, Nigeria.
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For Obasanjo to tell European observers that they do not understand the nature of Nigeria and their tradition, was to claim that corruption, rigging of election and all evil devices you can think of are part of our tradition. Shame to you, born again christian. God must surely judge you in his anger and wrath. Shame to all those demonic pastors, money lover pastors, that preach prosperity and 419 without preaching salvation. I heard one of them praising Obasanjo. Probably, he wants to be a personal pastor to Mr. president.
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Real christians should rise and call upon our God to remove these criminals in govt. as he did during Abacha's time. he will still do it again.
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If I may suggest, let there be a revolution, whereby all both past and present leaders should be brought to an open place and get all of them beheaded.
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They have brought untold hardship to the people of Nigeria.
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Recently, I visited Nigeria, I was shocked with what I saw in my state Imo state and in my Local government, Mbaitoli.
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Achike Udenwa, you do not deserve to be re-elected. But all the ritual killers and cult members have decided to keep you there for evil, you all shall soon see the wrath of him that liveth in the third heaven and forever.
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Workers have not been paid for months, schools are closed down, nothing is in good condition, yet Nigeria is one of the greatest oil producing nations. God must judge you all.
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I have never seen shameless politicians like Nigeria's politicians.
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The old criminals want to be looting our economy forever, they should all disappear into thin air so that things can change for good .
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My earnest suggestion is total cancellation of this election results, form new parties with new faces in politics to contest. None of these past Hon. members, senators, governors, presidents(military or civilian) ministers, commisioners and every other political appointment holders should participate.
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I do weep for Nigeria any day I think about that country. I have strong hope that one day God will answer us .
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ADA, TORONTO, CANADA 29 Apr 2003
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There is no doubt that the elections were rigged. It could well turn out to be the most dubious election in the history of Nigeria. I have a feeling that the script used in the rigging, is the one the late General Abacha left behind in his failed self perpetuation bid in power.
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Implications: The bastardly manner in which the elections were rigged will no doubt further increase the level of tension in the Nigerian polity. It is unfortunate, it is in no way good for a political horizon that was already too bedevilled with massive unrest and protests which is often met by brutal force on the part of the government.
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Insecurity will certainly increase now, human rights abuses will be more rampant and in a faithless dispensation, there will hardly be any meaningful econonmic progress. Instead, deliberate social economic and political sabortage will increase.
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It was a huge miscalculation on the part of the riggers. Nigeria's political turmoil will be worse off if urgent corrections are not made and attempts at building bridges initiated.
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Theophilus Osezua-Emiowele, Berlin, Germany 29 Apr 2003
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The just concluded election in Nigeria was very peaceful, we give glory to our creator in heaven, who has better things to offer.
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Nigerians should rally round this new government, to be able to make good his promises. No election in history has ever been 100% perfect. We're all living witnesses to what happened in USA with Florida's issue. After all, President Bush is doing his best. The Congress and the entire USA populace are right there behind him. Al Gore did not say heaven should fall. He took it in good faith. Democrats and the independents did not call for mass revolution.
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The best that we can be proud of now is Obasanjo. He's still the pillar holding the nation together, based on his refusal for national conference. The logical idea for that move is just to say He, we're here to divide in peace. Nothing more or less.
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This democracy is still young, with time things will change but not overnight. Nigerians or Africans in general, should stop relying on foreign domination or directives, before we can accept that things are OK. Foreign media are not the one to decide for us, which election was good or bad. All what they say, is that Obasanjo is a Christian from the South and Buhari is Muslim from the North. What does that mean? Therefore, they should be killing each other? That idea of divide and rule, should be rejected by us at this millennium. Do we have to be their puppies for ever? Absolutely no.
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This is the right time for us,to show maturity. Do you think that these so-called international community(ies) are happy to see us governing ourselves? Al Gore did not take his case to Nigerian Union of journalism for settlement. Why then us?
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Obasanjo should be given the chance for continuity, rather than to call for mass revolution. The electorates will be the ones to revolt against those who calls for disobedience.
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Nigerians abroad should be given the roadmap, to return back home. We're tired of staying out for hopelessness. Recent utterances from ANPP leadership, is very undemocratic and uncalled for.Who are the masses are they fighting for? They were in government before, what was their achievement?
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In the first instance, it was ANPP during their presidential primary that was with flaws and purely undemocratic. We all knew then, that Buhari was the consensus candidate returned unopposed. Okadigbo should have earned my entire family votes, if he was given the chance, to be presented as a presidential candidate and not vice, in a primary election that wasn't even chosen by yes or no.
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What is Okadigbo talking about? He's not popular in the Southeast, than IKe, Nwanyannu or Ikemba. I am just disappointed by him. Now the people have rejected ANPP. No any right-minded leadership in Nigeria, should be talking of no government or interim government for now, talk less of even a coup. That idea is very shameful and totally unacceptable. If you're agrieved, go to court. If not, be quiet.
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AD is not calling for mass revolution, they left the case for God to judge. Southwest are fed up of opposition this time around. Let it now be the turn of ANPP to be in opposition, they have been in government for just too long. Let's keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done. Allow Obasanjo to form a government of National unity, for the interest of the masses for a way forward.
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Festus Aji, New York, USA. 29 Apr 2003
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Nigerians should move on, since the country is still trying to perfect democracy, this baby step is very encouraging; this is a young country, thank God there is no bloodshed. Please let us all rally behind the president-elect and move on.
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Richard Laguda, Brooklyn, NY, USA 29 Apr 2003
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This contribution is inevitable having gone through some of the contributions made by others. Please pardon me for contributing twice.
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Did Nigerians actually vote for Obasanjo? If they did, they should reflect on those words of Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential liberty for temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety" -1759.
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I think Obasanjo did not deserve a second term, neither did Buhari in a democratic dispensation. I expected Nigerians to denounce these self-acclaimed leaders with military instincts and call for new leaders without any previous military involvement.
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People talk about his (Obasanjo's) success in telecommunication thus reminding me of a popular Yoruba adage: "Omo oju ori-ola ri ti n wabe s'aya." Literal translation: "A child not privileged to see wealth tends to ascribe exaggerated value to things of less significant" (note: This writer is not Yoruba).
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After forty years isn't it a big shame that we are just boasting of success in telecommunication? Was Obasanjo not there in the 70s? Go to smaller African countries and see what telecommunication is all about then ask yourself, since when have they been enjoying this service that Nigeria is just contemplating, not even achieved?
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How do you talk about an effective communication system when epiletic electricity supply still constitute a bane? I tried to talk to some friends in Nigeria only to discover that they couldn't charge their mobile regularly because of irregular supply of electricity; how would you maintain a mobile line in a country where purchasing power is low and cost of crediting your mobile is about N1,500.00 viz-a-viz minimum wage which is still standing below N4,000.00?
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How many Nigerians then can afford to credit their mobile with about 35% of their monthly income for units that cannot even last them for a month? No, don't talk about this government again, they lack focus.
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Finally, Obasanjo has rigged his way in again, Buhari also rigged, what made the difference however, were the poor electorates who exhibited their franchise rights in favour of one Devil (Obasanjo)at the expense of the greater Devil (Buhari).
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I wish all Nigerians wherever they are, and the world at large, peace and tranquillity.
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And to you wonderful guys at "allAfrica.com" keep up your commendable work of journalism, we shall continue to value your highly esteemed service to democracy in Africa.
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Dennis Alabi, South East London, UK. 29 Apr 2003
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Rigging? That doesn't bother me as an issue, what constitutes a disturbing thought however, is the moral justification of a regime which promised to eradicate epiletic supply of electricity (among other things) within the first six months of its being voted into power. Same regime requested for a year to overcome this problem, granted, they never anticipated the magnitude of the problem they encountered.
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Today the same regime has spent four years and this problem is still there; so what's the moral justification for asking for a second term? These are nothing but a bunch of shameless and heartless crooks mortgaging the future of people like me all in the name of politics and governance.
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They have secured a glorious future for their children and offsprings at our expense, and never would they give chance to those who will raise the standard of living of the masses, because money dictates the Nigerian politics.
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I challenge today the Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) to mobilise and educate voters on how to make good use of their franchise rights - the constitutionally bestowed power - the power to vote to benefit themselves and secure a sound future for their children, that, which is often advocated for both in words and deeds by the likes of Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Col. Umar, Femi Falana and a host of others.
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Nigerians should be ready for a change! Though, I am not from Ekiti, but I am disappointed that Falana could not even win in Ekiti State, that would have been a ground for Nigerians to experience purposeful leadership under the auspices of the National Conscience Party.
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If there's any organization capable of breaking the deeply-entrenched money politics in Nigeria, it's the Nigeria Labour Congress. How would one explain a scenario where PDP won again in Anambra state where the largest percentage of the voters have not been paid salary for the past one year. One begins to wonder "were they made to vote at gun points?" Far from it! it is because they were simply oblivious of their rights and this is why there is a dire need for a complete emancipation of the Nigerian populace, a duty that should rest on the shoulder of NLC and other reputable and unyielding Human Rights Organisations.
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A man of honour of President Obasanjo's status (if at all he is), would have resigned honourably and allude to his failure thus ridiculing any attempt by disloyal entities and political rogues and jobless retired soldiers from having the moral motivation to vie for elected positions in this current democratic dispensation.
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Obasanjo's administration is a failure! Complete failure, we may need to add, and Buhari is not an alternative, neither the whole lot of rogues that contested the last presidential elections but one from NCP.
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I expect NLC to form a coalition across the federation, a coalition devoid of tribal, religion and racial prejudice or sentiment to challenge and eradicate these rogues that have succeeded, sadly though, in mortgaging our future and forcing Nigerians to travel abroad to the so-called affluent land, an ideology which indeeed defies all logic and reality.
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I cried bitterly and overwhelmed with fear each time I had cause to reflect on Nigeria as a nation. I imagine the potentials in that great nation, the capability of Nigerians abroad.
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I work for a company here in the UK with over &40,000,000 (Forty million pounds) annual turnover, and interestingly, 80% of the work force are Nigerians, highly esteemed Nigerians I should say.
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Imagine that there are enabling factors to encourage these ones to return home, imagine in the same concept that those ones are contributing unselfishly to the Nigerian creeping economy back home, won't that enhance our reputation in the global community thus relieving our president of the unwarranted and avoidable trips to Europe as a glorified beggar all in the name of debt cancellation.
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Think of it for a moment: "Would you give arm to a beggar or a community leader who comes to you in Limo., asking for a donation, or cancellation of his community debt while apparently he himself and many others in his community have got enough to offset that debt in their individual or separate bank accounts in "your care?" Would you? "Won't you describe that leader as being insane, unrealistic, greedy and a disgusting nuisance wondering about amidst a notable lost of priority and focus?"
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Would you be proud of such a person as your leader? That's the glooming picture of the man who has ruled us now for four years and sadly, will rule for another four years, ignoring the fact that he had ruled this country prior to the second republic. And this is why I am embittered like Gani Fawehinmi and well-meaning Nigerians who are sighing and groaning because of the deliberate and callous atrocities of these self-acclaimed leaders, who claimed to be elected leaders
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Is the Nigeria presidency the birth right of Obasanjo? Or the governorship race the birth right of the disgraceful Sarakis in Kwara State? From father to son - senseless people!
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Dennis Alabi, SE LONDON, UK. 29 Apr 2003
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Let's be honest to ourselves, no election no matter how perfect, can be flaws-free 100%. We should give all Nigerians a pat on the back, for a peaceful conduct at the last general election. Could you believe that I asked my wife who was at home around that time, to come over to New York? It was unbelievable, that the election could be done just like that.
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Now my question is this, if the exercise had been so fraudulent as it was reported by the foreign media, I trust my people back home, the reactions would have been spontaneous. Nigerians are no Iraqis, nor in any other part of the World where they cannot fight for their rights. What really made me to believe that PDP did a good job, was the case scenario with Ondo State. If PDP did not win, the World will know right away.In as much as the masses are not complaining, please no one should be allowed to incite people to revolt.
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My advice to General Buhari and other presidential candidates, is to seek for redress in the court of law, or otherwise restrategise for 2007.
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The idea that there will not be government after may 30, nor an agitation for an interim government must be discarded forthright. Nigerians are better enlightened than that. Those days are gone with Babaginda's regime.
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I don't think that Country will accommodate any form of government other than the people's choice. If there is any plan for uprising or coup, that country I bet you, will disintegrate faster than one will imagine. The rest of the country will like to move forward.
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I still believe that the only person holding that Nation together is Obasanjo. If anyone messes up with this opportunity, his / her name will be kept in history for ever. This election was better than when Abacha declared himself as a winner by referendum, and also better than when the one that was free of fraud in 1992,was annulled. Where are we going? Enough of these nonsense.
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It's always been hard for our people to accept defeat. Alex is still in court fighting for injustice after the primary. Okadigbo believes that he's very popular in the East, which to me is just like an illusion. AD by now, should have forgotten about the South west. All Nigerians both home and abroad should speak out now, so that this baby democracy should not suffer infanticide.
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Funsho Orojo, New York 29 Apr 2003
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It was due to poor performance in Nigeria, that was why people was complanining because of the election. But if I can say, they should allow Obasanjo to rule for the second time for us to see what he can achieve most. I pray to God almighty to open his eyes for him to see good and bad that is happening in Nigeria so that there will be amendment. Those that fail should not cry. Another 4 years is coming ahead.
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Chinenye, Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria 29 Apr 2003
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It is interesting to read some of the comments put on this site. But one can not help but wonder how many of those people making these remarks have actually been to Nigeria lately.
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Personally I think a change of government will not neccessarily change things in our country but a change of attitude. Over the years I have seen significant improvements in the country. Somebody mentioned salaries not being paid I wonder how long that individual has been HOME. We can all talk a good talk from abroad. But I want you all to take this thought... If the way we all work very hard abroad and tow the line (not all of us of course) we had the same attitude back home Nigeria will be a better place for all of us.
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Poverty, Corruption is all around the world unfortunately some countries are better at hiding it than others....
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So please ladies and gentlemen let's take pride in our country and focus on the positive things that are happening there...
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A Patriotic Nigerian, England 29 Apr 2003
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At this moment of Nigeria's transition, successive democratic administrations is preferred than else.
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In terms of Obasanjo's priorization process, I think his administration should tacitly pursue installing sustainable power energy as the pivot of industrialization and the country's life. Nigeria is poor because of the relegation of power and misplacement of priority. Power is everything in terms of development, it is all the basics the Nigerian child yearns for. I feel that Obasanjo understands this well, what we pray for is the will power to do it and ignore external bogs that would not live to see Nigeria great because they are regrettably 'more Nigerian' than us.
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Power is everything - water, road, food, wealth, technology, humanization, longevity, peace, development, Nigerianization!!!!
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My prayers are ever for your baba, just sustainable power and u become our hero!!
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Look at the whole African market, being vulnerable because...
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Petroff, Auckland 29 Apr 2003
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Those in authority didn't know that we know all that was going on even before this time. And I think it is high time they stopped deceiving us with their dem-all crazy , crazy-demonstration of all sorts. Just to mention but a few of the dividends of dem-all-crazy: ASUU strike 2 infinity, destruction of lives and properties. So if this government should handle power for the next four years, I think it is going to be too bad for us as a nation but I reject it in Jesus' name (amen).
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Ndubuisi Iroham, Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria 29 Apr 2003
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If two Nigerians are to vote for themselves, you can be sure both will complain that one of them rigged the two votes!
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If you want a free and fair election in Nigeria, take away free wealth like oil etc, becuase that is what everybody is gunning for. Same applies to the Western world of course! It is a pity that Nigeria joined the democratic process at the wrong spot. Why?
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You remember that in America and Britain, voting used to be restricted to only a few. I wonder what America would have become if the Red Indians, Slaves, Plantation Boys and Carpetbaggers had been allowed to vote some centuries ago; CHAOS and WAR.
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Same would have occurred in Britain if Women, Ne'er-do-wells and Menials had exercised their franchise. Unfortunately, Nigeria still has 'em who are allowed to vote. Fair enough in the democracy of the present age. Yet the Western world highlights rigging and unfair elections. I hope they are not showing their love for the Generals who if given the chance will change the Nigerian constitution to only allow select people to vote like it was done in the Western world some decades ago.
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As far as the election of 2003 is concerned, for as long as it is repeated, Obasanjo will still win the presidency. Why? Every Nigerian will rather opt for known continuity over unpredictable change. I advise Buhari to spend his time writing a book on the shortcomings of democracy. I am sure it will interest the Western world as well as make Nigerians think.
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For Obasanjo, let him try a change of policy by turning his back to the leeches who will want to creep into his cabinet. I am sure if Buhari and Obasanjo stick to my advice, election of 2007 will be the best on mother earth. Long live Nigeria as most of us have nowhere to check out.
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Blast Giwa, Lagos and Abuja 29 Apr 2003
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The Election results should be challenged. This is not Democracy. The whole exercise was a complete charade. For this country to move forward, a national conference should be summoned, the constitution has to be reviewed, the current office holders should step down and allow elections to be conducted. INEC should be dissolved and re-organised.
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JULIUS IFEDI, IMO 29 Apr 2003
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Please, I don't want to know who win. I am only pleading that the government should look into our country and know what they should do about all these agboro people because they have become something else in this country.
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Look at every bus stop now, you must find them. And the cost of their transport increases day-by-day. Workers are suffering from transportation fare. Please the government should look into this, we are not having much salary, at the end of the month nothing will left with you. Please the masses are suffering because of transport issue.
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Chinenye, Lagos, Nigeria 29 Apr 2003
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I commend all my fellow Nigerians for their contribution to this debate but we don't really talk about the main issues - "Nigeria election, what next?".
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WAS THE ELECTION RIGGED? I would say YES the election was rigged, because for PDP to have won with a wide margin in some area/states that are heartland/strong hold of many opposition party is logically a BIG FRAUD. Anywhere democracy is practised in the world people should have what is called a strong base or a safe seat which an opposition can never win. In Britain Labour party have safe seats which can never be won by conservative party come what may and in America, a Republican can never win in a Democrat safe seat. Even Saddam Hussein will still win Tikrit - his home town - if an election is held there today.So, to me the electin was manipulated in many states where other parties like AD, ANPP, APGA had a strong hold or safe seat.
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2.DOES NIGERIA NEED STABILITY AND PEACE MORE THAN A FLAWLESS ELECTION? My answer to this is YES/NO. Because how can we get stability and peace when there is no fair play and justice? Injustice and unfairplay can backfire to cause instability and anarchy, which the opposition/losers are now calling for.
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The problem with the country is that people in money /power are taking the masses for granted at all times, they use their ill-gotten wealth to command respect forcibly and they don't value human beings except their family and cronies. They are millionaires without portifolio, no companies to create employment for the youths because they did not use their brain other than fraud to get the money. They have generators in their mansions, so they do not worry about the street light for the general public. Upon all these, they are still manipulating an electoral commission to impose leaders on the people and at the same time want a peace. I tell you something, the Peace and stability they are calling for would be a grave yard; time is coming when the chicken will be coming home to roost.
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3.SHOULD JUSTICE AND FAIRPLAY BE A TOP PRIORITY? Oh YES. But Nigerians are so individualistic to believe in justice and fairplay. An Englishman who spent a cosiderable number of years in Nigeria, once told me "There are so much suffering in that country but majority of Nigerians do not know that they are suffering. Take the case of power failure, it is so endemic that if there is no power failure in a week some people will be sick of shock." Hence, only divine intervention can bring justice and fairplay into the country.
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4.WHAT NEXT FOR THE COUNTRY? I think we should allow Obasanjo PDP to form the next government and use his pre-meditated majority to carry out whatever plan he has for the country. Most especially uninterrupted power supply [as no nation can develop or industrialise without power]and good roads for movement of goods and people. And to extend our break-up time by another 4 more years.
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Let no one call for my head, because, it is a bitter fact, Nigeria is having all the problems because we do not want to accept that the country is too big to run under this pretend federal or Unitary system of government that we are now practising. We need a parliamentary system or true federal system like U.S.A before we can move forward.
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I would give you a scenario: If a man with 36 wives {states} and millions of children died because of division in his house and lack of means to maintain all the wives and children, the natural, moral and best method of surving is for each mother{states/tribes}to take her children for up bringing/survival. How many wives did our president have? how many living with him? and what happen to his other wives and children? A word is enough for the wise. Thanks.
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Toyin Lugboko, London. U.K. 29 Apr 2003
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The evidence overwhelmingly states that the elections were not entirely free or fair. Two million applications were rejected, the ten-day registration period, short make-up period, and the universal depth of corruption within Obasanjo’s past terms of power overwhelmingly point to a corrupt election.
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Aisha of Nigeria’s personal account of seeing a man with six unofficial ballot boxes is reminiscent of a recent election here in the United States. The power of media has allowed us Americans to lose sight of the fact that we had been duped by the powers that be and somehow we move on with this.
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Contrary to Hume of Colorado, to my knowledge, Bush did not have a previous record as a leader of a military regime. Obasanjo has made some advances but we must ask at what costs. Many other possible strides have been sacrificed. To me any loss is too high when it is not the will of the nation’s people. I would one day like to be proud of a country because it is my own. What good is “peace” if it is not the will of the people?
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Kelly, ISU, USA 29 Apr 2003
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Well, let's thank God almighty for his mercy over that country Nigeria. To me I could now see, beyound reasonable doubt, that God loves this country of our own. To be candid I did not believe that the election can be held in the first place or, if at all it would be held, heaven would fall with many many lost lives. But to my surprise things were to some extent okay. By God's grace,now I think democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. So let forget about the little problems we had during the election and move forward. We should see ourself as in a learning process. One day (which I doubt)people's choice would emerge as a winner. Forward Nigeria Backward Never.
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Olusola Emmanuel, The Hague,Netherlands 29 Apr 2003
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Whatever transpired during the Nigerian elections were reflective of the kind of happenings in a country that dresses itself in borrowed garments. Nigeria lives a foreign life. Consequently, every aspect of her life is phony. Not until we, as a sovereign nation - if a nation we are - stop living for London,or for America, all our actions will continue to be marked by suspicion and disbelief.
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Our leaders (if not imposters or stooges) do what they do because they must answer to their colonial masters. If they fail to give good account of their stewardship to their masters, they are worse off for it. Because they should give this account to foreign overlords, their citizens mean little or nothing to them. They should do anything to appease the clandestine schemes of their foreign masters who don't care whether citizens die or live.
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Which of our elected officials is not in the payroll of the foreign overlords? These overlords dictate what should be done in that country. If the leaders fail to dance to their tune, they are branded dictators and perhaps "nailed" and their country's assets which they stashed away in those lords' countries for safe keeping may be forfeited at the expense of poor citizens who are supposed (by their Creator's design) to be rightful co-heirs of those assets.
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Madu Onwuchi, Washington, DC, USA 28 Apr 2003
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We thank All Mighty God for witnessing the election as free and fair, even though people have been agitating for bloodshed in the country, especially the Western world, who have been talking of rigging even before election was done, spoiling Nigerians minds in Overseas Countries.
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The loser should accept and put themselves together with the newly elected government and work for the progress of the nation.
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Also, my advice goes to Buhari to stop going to court; Mr President, this is not the time for you to fight for democracy, have you forgotten when people of Nigeria raised democracy, what was your reply by then? Please we want progress for the country, we are suffering in Abroad.
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Mr Obasanjo, please stop corruption, among your cabinent, laundering Nigeria money in overseas country is too much; have you heard that one of your cabinet bought a house at CHELSEA, in London? Long life to the people of Nigeria.
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Afolabi Aderemi, Germany, Mainz 28 Apr 2003
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In line with the controversy over the presidential election, I advocate that Nigerians should give peace a chance by allowing Obasanjo to serve his second term.
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Who wins is not the issue, but what happens later. There is no election that would be 100% flaws-free in the whole world, Africa in particular and Nigeria very much concerned. Nullification of the result will not solve the problem but add more salt to the wound. This could equally result in more killings. So, there should be no worry over things that are too infinitesimal to handle. Obasanjo should continue.
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Nechi C J., Canada. 28 Apr 2003
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First, I wish to congratulate all the candidates, both the winners and the defeated. I'm particularly happy that you all are alive to witness the most peaceful and successful electoral venture ever embarked on in the history of Nigeria as an independent nation. You do not know how tall, those of us in developed nations, are able to work as a result of this ongoing election, especially, with the foreign observers, giving it a pass mark.
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I am impressed by the candor of the defeated candidates so far and I hope they will, ultimately, accept the verdict and wait for the next four years, for the masses to speak with their votes again.
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One good thing, about the outcome of this election is that Nigerians now realise that there is no rigidity in politics. You go by the perfomance of whatever party rules; if the party fulfills its obligation, let it continue,and if otherwise, show such party the way out, just as you have done now. Surely Nigerians have come of age, politically. Please keep it up. Do not allow any idividual, or group to take you for a ride any more. Enough of the suffering. Continue to use your vote legitimately to chose who you want to govern you.
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Michael Ojo, New York City, U.S.A. 28 Apr 2003
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In response to the above question(s), "Do you place justice and fair play at the top of the priority list? Or do you say that Nigeria needs stability and peace more than she needs a flawless election?"
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Stability and peace are top priorities; however, if justice and fair play are compromised, how then can you guarantee lasting peace and stability, much less basic rights? Justice and fair play are instruments neccessary for securing our rights, including our voting rights.
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On the other hand, if you resolve to make justice and fairplay the top priorities, stability and peace could very well be compromised. In the final assessment, it would seem that if you place justice and fair play above peace and stability, and you remain steadfast in that pursuit of justice, you are more likely to secure lasting peace and stability, at some cost though.
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Ike Egudu, Washington, DC, USA 28 Apr 2003
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The election was not free and fair. Obasanjo and his PDP gang members rigged the whole thing.
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Buhari is an ASS but he should have been given a fair chance.
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Sir Wire, Toronto 28 Apr 2003
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Thank God this election is over (or close to it)! I just wish that the losing side would accept loss gracefully. Instead of contesting and bad-mouthing the winning party, why not look to the future and work toward creating a better Nigeria TOGETHER? Many of us in the Western world want to return home, but desire more stability with our political system.
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We have lost enough precious Nigerian blood over the years as a result political feuds. I and other Nigerians say ENOUGH!
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God, power, unity, freedom, happiness for our home, NIGERIA.
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Glo Glo, Virginia, U.S.A. 28 Apr 2003
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The election may have been rigged by the overzealous PDP supporters, but I sincerely believe that Obasanjo is the true choice of Nigerians. Even if the election is repeated 20 times in those states where rigging took place, Obasanjo will still have a clear lead.
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Justin James, London 28 Apr 2003
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It will make no difference whether Obansanjo or Buhari join the ranks of presidency. I lived in Nigeria under Buhari´s utterly brutal and repressive military regime. It was pure hell! How can someone like that have the stamina and turn up in civilian disguise? This is a travesty for democracy.
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Apart from that it is a big and unexcusable shame for Nigeria; a country that is filled to the brim with incredible natural resources - most of which are still untapped - not to come to terms with its grave inner social and economic problems. A coutry blessed with such an abundance of oil and gas, with more than 70% of its population living in absolute poverty and a receding middle-class (as compared to a relatively strong middle-class in the late 70´s and early 80´s)makes one sit down and cry in despair.
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If well managed - take the Chinese as a role model or most of the Asian Tigers - Nigeria could be the undisputed economic giant of Africa that would even put big global players such as India, South Africa, mexiko or Brazil to shame and could make countries such as France or Germany stand up with awe and respect.
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Unfortunately, given its potential economic might and its unused possibilties Nigeria is nothing more than a pitiful economic dwarf on the verge of utter collapse!!!!
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Nigeria would need a benign dictator such as the former Ivorian deceased president Houphoet-Boigny or another Rawlings who would conscientiously discipline and tame the entire country and not one of those purely greedy, self-centered, puppet-like former miltary officials giving a toss for the concerns of its populace really deserving to be helped out of the misery and economic decline the country has been exposed to for more than two decades now.
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Nigerians should boycott all elections as long as not a political candidate of civilian descent with firmly honest intentions is offered to them. If Nigerians do not oppose any such facade election the country will be doomed to burst like a dried-up bubble in the forthcoming future. So wake up to your rights!!!!
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Bauer, Gensheim, Germany 28 Apr 2003
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Sincerely speaking, I knew what was going to happen and it just happened that way. Nigerian society is complex,nobody is ready to accept the fact that he has a skeleton in his cupboard. You are fighting corruption, yet the election went in the most corrupt way. But the truth is that even those that are crying now because they lost out would still do same, if they were in power.My only happinness is that there is DEATH -- so the losers cry no more,it is just temporary.
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OBISIRIKE SAVIOUR EJIKEME, LONDON,UK 28 Apr 2003
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Only in a country of the blind would a person like Buhari, a tribalist and a religious bigot with a history of harsh dictatorship, defeat a detribalized and democratic person like Obasanjo. Every sincere Nigerian, including honest Huasa/Fulani people, would admit the defeat of Buhari even before the elections were held.
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There are no "perfect" elections anywhere in the world. Some flaws are bound to occur, no matter how meticulous the preparation is. Therefore, nobody would doubt that some rigging/anomaly might have taken place. But should Obasanjo be held accountable for the rigging of a governorship election in Anambra or of that of a senator in Sokoto? Also, Nigerians being who they are, a loser would always cry foul even when it is fair.
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At any rate, this past election is a very fair one on which Nigerians could build future elections. Let all our folks who are crying foul go to their hamlets and villages to advise their relatives against corrupt and do-or-die politics.
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Hassan Ola Chukwu, Massachusetts, USA 28 Apr 2003
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These April elections were perhaps not as free and fair as in other parts of the world, but that is besides the point. Remember that this is only the first election in Nigeria's young democracy. There will be hundreds more to come.
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Nigeria should consolidate what it now has, which is better than most other African nations. I call upon all Nigerians to work towards further establishing the ultimate free democracy and the ultimate free market economy of Africa.
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Also, the future of Nigeria is bright. Current privatisation and deregulation reforms will ensure that within ten years Nigeria will be Africa's largest Agro-Industrial, Steel, Aluminium, Bitumen, Refined oil, Cement, Software, IT, and Gas producing nation. It all depends on the pro-active participation of the Nigerian people in their democracy if they will benefit from these developments or not.
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Tariq , Amsterdam, The Netherlans 28 Apr 2003
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What I don't understand is why these people so much want to hold onto power. The system has failed terribly in their hands. If I were Obasanjo, Buhari, all of them, I would be embarrassed to show my face in the streets. What does Obasanjo have to show for his first term in office? what does Buhari have to show for the time he stayed? What about all the governors that got re-elected? why do they love power so much? Greedy monkeys.
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Drew Okoroigwe, USA 28 Apr 2003
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The battered General is fighting a lost battle. He should admit his failure and devote his energy and party ideology in forming a coalition of opposition against the big-for-nothing PDP, at least to establish check and balance and secure the voice of the minority.
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Buhari and his fellow generals should understand that what Nigeria needs is not generals and politicians, but leaders and statesmen.
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O. Ekene, Maryland, U.S.A 28 Apr 2003
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As Nigerians, we have to finally stand up and stop this erosion of our civil liberties by challenging this election. This was a rigged election all through. I personally saw one man being arrested by police men for having 6, yes 6 fake ballot boxes on him all with 'votes' for PDP!
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The Nigerian monitors were threatened for doing their job by the state governors if they do not campaign for PDP. In addition, the votes that the monitors counted were not used at all rather the 'votes' counted were from fake unofficial ballot boxes. In places where there are currently fightings going on and as such, elections haven't taken place, we hear of results being announced by PDP with them winning. This is a big slap on the face of democracy.
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Right now i'm running scared. Obasanjo has done nothing but keep us out of university since January and he obviously thinks he is doing a good job; if not, why try to retain your position as president by hook or by crook? In this case by crook! Once again, the rule of the monkeys, apes and baboons is back!
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Aisha, Nigeria 28 Apr 2003
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I have read your complimentry and heart-felt tributes to the recent concluded election in our country.The Igbos are crying, Hausa/fulanis are wrecking, Yorubas are jubilating, middle belt are confused. But I must tell you all, fellow Nigerian's, that we all have big big big very big problem in Nigeria to solve.
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The problem we have in Nigeria today is tribalism, ethnicism and myopia-ism.We all still have a bright future to correct our wrongs. But I have just one worrisome question to ask; is there anywhere in Nigeria's constitution where it says that states are not allowed to devolop their community and states? If not, why don't Hausa/Fulani concentrate on their agriculture which they are very good at and develop the north with that; Yorubas claim to be our intellectuals in Nigeria and they should make good use of it; Igbo's, Igbo's, Igbo's, how many times did I call your name, go back to the east and develop your home and stop complaining.
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I strongly believe that if all the tribes in Nigeria will sit back and think and realise that what they are searching in Lagos is right in their neighbourhood. The reason why I say this is because we are not truely one Nigeria. If we are, Yoruba's will live en mass in Aba, Onitsha, Enugu etc just like the Igbo's are living across the nation. If you share my idea,we will remember house of rep.and Sen.
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Long live you all.
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Chidarl, Toronto Canada 28 Apr 2003
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I am not a politician but the only way to strengthen democracy and good government is to allow the wish of the people to prevail. Obasanjo might have secured the highest number of votes in a free and fair election but he should not to have won outrightly.
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The implication of the present scenario is that the people's view and feeling should not be taken seriously. Simply by getting dirty politicians who have perfected the act of cheating on your side guarentees you winning, there is no incentive to adopt people- oriented programs.
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I think that all the election should be cancelled, especially in the south-east and south-south to send the right signals to those evil men that they can not get away with defrauding the masses of there foundamental rights.
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The alternative is an ilegitimate government who will have no moral right to fight the ills of the society. There is no two ways about it even if the champion of this cause is Buhari whom himself is not a saint. I give him my support to use all constitutional means to fight this injustice against the helpless masses. We all supported Abiola when he was on the side of the masses, he was also meember of the oppressors before he fought on the side of the justice
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Don Abor, London 28 Apr 2003
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I could not understand what all these noises are all about. Nigeria is not new to corruption when it comes to an election. There is no any free election in the world. All of us witnessed how it went with Bush in the USA - how he got power by corruption and our eyes are now open to the reason why he was installed then, the dramas in which Bush are now playing out show that snatching of power started from the registration of voters and honesty should be forgotten when power is about to be ready for snatching.
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The only surprise in the election of Obasanjo and his party is how PDP, known as Hausa party in the Yorubaland could overrun AD, the Yoruba party. This is a great lesson for Yoruba politicians. Chief Awolowo did not play politics with kid gloves, he would not sleep and wait for the whistle blowing before starting to organise his party. He saw politics as a serious business and he played it like that.
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In politics, you do not need to be only good person - Chief Bisi Akande take note - you also need to be cunning, diplomatic and decisive, all qualities of Chief Awolowo.
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But Chief Awolowo usually used these qualities for the betterment of the masses while others were using it to bleed the government purse dry and for their own selfish ends.
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The only fair election in Nigeria was annulled by Babangida, since then no peace. And Babangida also turned down all efforts to let him see reason to apologise genuinely to Nigerians, until he apologises, peace in Nigeria is remote. All elections in Nigeria had been professionally rigged. Any country where a fair and just election is annulled would never no peace -look at Algeria today.
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I believe too much in Obasanjo - the only person qualified to rule Nigeria today, he himself might not be part of the rigging because things usually worked well for him in his life. Obasanjo was born to only come and have things going on well for him. When Murtala was assassinated, he was begged and called upon to take the reign of power and the power that put him there supported him to the end, he witnessed no military coup, a rare thing in Nigeria. In 1999, he was begged again to come and rule Nigeria, all those who decided to impeach him then are now impeached. He was begged to go for second term, after much persuasion, he agreed. His field workers and those who made him to accept second term worked, he got it again by landslide victory.
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Buhari and others are just talking as if they are from other planets. They knew Obasanjo very well, they worked with him. The noise of Buhari, Ekwueme and others can jeopardise their political future if they would not keep quiet now - a warning given to Al Gore when he wanted to challenge Bush and Gore saw the handwriting on the wall and he kept quiet.
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Buhari, Ekwueme and others should keep quiet now and they should let Nigeria move forward. All parties that lost the elections now should accept their losses and they should organise themseves better from now on and be working for 2007. All of you are Nigerians; to rule Nigeria is your birthright, likewise me. Prepare well, sell yourself to the people and put all the political factors into action. No free and fair election in the world, it is always saddled with corruption. I wish you politicians best of luck.
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Prince(Babalawo)Adigun Olosun, London, UK 28 Apr 2003
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Nigerian elections, which elections?
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Nigeria is like a classic Greek tragi-comedy. It is based on a very faulty structural foundation. Due to that fact, it cannot achieve democracy. Nigerians know this, yet they assume that democracy can be achieved without making the necessary sacrifices and political adjustments needed for democracy to thrive.
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Since there is no will to make the necessary sacrifices and adjustments, they dance in political circles. Thus, all Nigerian elections have always been characterized by excessive rigging, thuggery, intimidation, assassinations, and bribery. The 2003 elections are no different.
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In fact, instead of learning from past mistakes, Nigerian politicians have actually escalated the art of electoral rigging. This time, they did not even care to match the number of registered voters with the number of actual votes. So, even in areas where elections did not hold, the results were about 90 - 95% in favor of the incumbents. In some cases, the victors actually gained more votes than the number of registered voters.
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In a tragi-comedic sense, the victors want the electoral results to be fully accepted as they are and the losers want the results to be thrown out. There is now a wait and see feeling, with most people hoping that democracy will just materialize while others are worried of a potential political destabilization through a military coup or riots.
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Nigeria is not a democratic state and the country cannot achieve a democratic status until the structural flaws, contradictions, and irregularities are removed from the Nigerian system. Nigeria needs a national conference to discuss, debate and come up with a consensus about what they want concerning the kind of state, political system, and the distribution of power. Perhaps, a rotational political system in which leaders are rotated based on presidential and gubernatorial zones would help as a starter.
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It is time for Nigerians to realize that without a national conference, Nigerians will always take one step forward and two steps backward in their search for political stability and democracy. A country in which the primary source of individual wealth is through embezzlement of state funds can never experienced peace nor democracy.
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Priye S. Torulagha, U.S. 28 Apr 2003
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Obasanjo should go away from that seat. Let there be one Nigeria but this is supposed to be our own turn - the Igbos should be in that presidential seat. Obasanjo has to go down peacefully or else...
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Okey Onyia, Germany 28 Apr 2003
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Nigeria and Nigerians need good governance, probity and accountability, an end to the raping of poor majority proletariat by the infinitesimally small percentage of corrupt oligarchies in the north and south. Can they honestly - including Buhari - vow they've ruled well and have not raped poor Nigerians of their rights and dignities?
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Please, whosoever is aggrieved, plead your case through the right channel, follow the rule of law. Mr President, rule with integrity, probity, fear of God and love for your citizens. Fashion a system whereby the citizen and proletariat can appraise, without oppression or intimidation, those appointed to hold any administrative or management office.
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Here in London I could convey my concern to my MP without fear or intimidation. As a civil servant in London, I serve with transparency and probity, my employer (the UK government) thus invests significantly in staff training and development. Having served in the Nigerian civil service before, itis extremely difficult, almost lethal, to be upright amongst the ravenous wolves - corrupt government office holders.
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Nigeria is yet to have a sustainable ideological bedrock upon which good governance can survive. Please, Mr President, (whosoever), Nigeria and Nigerians need reorientation (not by Jerry Gana). Let integrity be your body guard and probity your armour. I miss you motherland, God bless Nigeria and God deliver my brethren from ravenous wolf officers. Amen.
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Biodun Alade, London UK 28 Apr 2003
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I would like to plead to all Nigerians to accept the outcome of the just concluded elections as the will of God for Nigerians for now. It is God who installs kings and rulers. If the Almighty God did not permit our dear Mr. President Olusegun Obasanjo to be re-elected, he would have failed.
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Having said that, I would urge every Nigerian to give peace a chance. Let those who are bitter in mind because of the election learn to be humble.
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Evans Nwaomah, Auckland, New Zealand 28 Apr 2003
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That people like Nzeribe are still winning election in Nigeria says a lot about ourselves.
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They say every nation deserve the kind of leader they get, we deserve Obj, we should stop the crying! Or if we think it is the military or Buhari, we should put them there with our actions and/or inactions.
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As a Nigerian, am only thinking the future genration will be kind enough to forgive our compliance and mumuism.
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Come 2007 now, when it is assumed that power will go to the north, the Marwas, IBBs and Buharis will come again, and we will say we are choosing the best of these "three" evils.
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Let God forgive our self-affliated suffer-suffer.
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Omosmart Oso, Goteburg, Sweden 28 Apr 2003
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Having seen the trend of evidence, I will categorically say that the PDP has committed the greatest sin against humanity. Imagine the massive rigging. Oh it's unbelieveable that PDP won gubernatorial positions in most of the states. Imagine Lucky Igbinedion of Edo getting a second term!
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This is not good for the nascent democracy. Normally Obasanjo cannot win in his constitutency if not for the ringing.
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Aigbe Anthony, Sweden 28 Apr 2003
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I will like to start by saying a very big congratulation to Nigeria and Nigerians, we should not carried away by the freedom of expression we are now enjoying, all thanks to democracy.
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I strongly believe that Nigerians are very lucky to have Obasanjo as their president but we are too much in a hurry, we are always expecting miracles where it requires a little patience - we seems to have forgeten where we were when Obasanjo came in.
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Nigeria was a country where phone was gold, where people don't even know what is Internet, where one tribe is superior to others, if not for Obasanjo, how can a man from Delta state be the army chief? how can a man from middle belt be the air force chief?
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We are now wise, let those that want to create trouble should know that it will not be in their interest, Nigeria is for all of us so let salvage it together...God bless Nigeria and God bless Obasanjo.
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Kelly Evboumwan, China-Daqing city. 28 Apr 2003
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All aggrieved contestants should endeavour to go to court, they owe it to the 12 million plus peple who voted for them. They should realise that we are ready to move on by May 29, if they fail to take their case to court. There will be a government in place after May 29. They should please stop making statements that are capable of creating instability.
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The last elections provides us with an opportunity to improve on future ones. All complaints handled within the ambit of the law help to further test and hence strengthen our democratic institutions-courts, INEC, police etc.
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These people should realise that folks like us who leave our homes every morning to source for our livelihood do not want any form of civil distruption. They should act up to the post which they contested for
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Adebayo Ogunnifa, Port Harcourt 28 Apr 2003
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There was never going to be a clean election anyway. Besides, even a clean election was never going to solve the problems of Nigeria.
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Nigeria`s problem, like many others in Africa, is how to get rid of the corrupt goverment officials.
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Nyikach Dominic, Oslo, Norway 28 Apr 2003
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Rigging is stealing and stealing can never be justified. However, the stealing in this April polls in Nigeria is special because a thief stole from another thief and that is why Nigerians are still silent about it. Ordinarily, Nigerians need nobody to incite them into mass action. But if Buhari does not pay hooligans, nobody will kill even a fly because Buhari lost an election he was actually supposed to lose.
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All this talk on Buhari's past history, of his so-called honesty, leaves more questions than answers. Was it really Buhari that was honest or was it his second in command, Idiagbon? What was he doing with Gen Abacha in PTF- dining with the devil with absolutely clean hands? I mean, if he were a very clean person, the reaction would have been spontaneous. He should read the writing on the wall and leave innocent Nigerians after all, is he not tired yet? Obasanjo is a lesser devil.
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Abbah, Hongkong 28 Apr 2003
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Come on let us use common sense. Buhari is a Fulani chieftain who is designated to rule the Fulani. Facts on ground
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-He foiled Democarcy in 1984.
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-Could not stand a palace coup in 1985
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-Was ruled by Idiagbon throughout his dictatorship.
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-a religious bigot, (Sharia Advocate)
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-a sectional leader whose FUND undertook projects within the Fulani areas only.
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Obasanjo had no real contender as he was the only nationalistically inclined leader and candidate. PDP had a national vision and as such will continue to rule untill other party leaders disabuse themselves of sectionalism.
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Nigeria must move ahead. Buhari should go to court and present his so-called evidence and not call for mass protest. This is all about democracy. Well it is not new, as he has always been a man of confusion and destruction. It will not be new if he attempts to foil the present democracy, but let me warn him, Nigeria is in post-modernism. He will not succed but will die like his other local chieftain, Draconian Sani Abacha.
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Elias N. Lamle, Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium 28 Apr 2003
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Honestly, my congratulations go to Chief Ayo Fayose for making the impossible possible. He is the new thing in Nigeria politics. And I am happy for Nigeria for having Obasanjo again as President. GO ON BABA OMO ODUDUWA we here in US support you wholeheartedly.
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Please let the new federal house pass a resolution banning anybody [from politics] who has participated in a coup in Nigeria.
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GOD BLESS OBASANJO. GOD BLESS FAYOSE. GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
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Chief Olubunmi Adesina, Los Angeles,California 28 Apr 2003
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With no political interests, Nigerians' major problem is corruption and mis-management of Governmental monies. Obasanjo could not solve the problem. He'd retire and Let the real CLEAN AND STRAIGHT-HAND PROBLEM SOLVER take over. To favour the masses and the world as a whole. The election needs to be CANCELLED.
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Zazaya, New York, USA 27 Apr 2003
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Nigeria today is bedevilled by many crises, the recent upsurge surrounding the electoral process is but one. From the ongoing it is evident that the nation has a long way to go as far true democracy is concerned. It is for us, the electorate, to be patient and wait upon God who in his own time will transform the polity.
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tim agera, abuja 27 Apr 2003
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The opposition parties have jointly and separately rejected the result of the polls and some have even gone to the extent of calling for a mass movement to protest against the result. However, what the opposition have failed to realise is that there is no such appetite or hunger on the streets of Nigeria.
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The man on the street sees nothing to fight for. He has been used and dumped with no credit paid to him for his effort at enthroning democracy. He fought the uniformed oppressors sacrificing his comfort, material possession, blood and life and yearned for democracy because he was made to believe that democracy is the final solution to all his political, socio-economic problems. But what did he get at the end? Hunger, starvation, deprivation, unemployment, arson, tears, sorrow, blood ...His effort were not even acknowledgeed.
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Those who are immortalised as martyrs of democracy and celebrated as heroes of democracy are the Abiolas,the Tinubus and co, No one remembers the Taofik [past contributor to debate - see below) and Dickson Chukwu of the struggle. Now the common man on the the street is so brutalised, so dehumanised that he has no verve left in him to put up any fight just because someone promised a better deal.
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Agreed the election was most fraudlent and far from being free and fair, I would advise the politicians to leave the common man out of this. They should fellow the constitutionally laid down procedure for seeking redress. But in whatever action they take, they must put the interest of the nation at heart and work towards maintaining peace and harmony in the land.
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Dickson Chukwu, Ajegunle, Lagos, Nigeria 27 Apr 2003
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Based on the reports from both local and foreign journalists, Nigeria's elections were rigged by all parties. However, it is equally true that the ruling party, PDP, with the resources available to it, carried out most of the abuses. Having said this, I would advise the opposition parties to accept it for the interest of the country. It won't do Nigeria any good to dwell on this.
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When George Bush, the Republican candidate, was declared the winner in the last presidential election in the United States, the Democratic candidate, Al Gore, accepted the result, despite all what happened to the contrary. He did so to avert a constitutional crisis in the country. Buhari should do the same to save Nigeria, a fledgling democracy, from slipping into the (what?). Maybe with the loud and clear national and international outcry about the flagrant abuses in the election, Obasanjo and PDP Governors in the states will do things differently.
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Dr. Christopher Ide, Savannah, Georgia 27 Apr 2003
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Please let us leave all these unwarranted sayings about an election which has come and gone. Please, Obasanjo had convincingly won and as far as Nigeria is concerned now, he is the best among the rest. Let him do it once again.
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Oluaiye - Oluomo, Lagos, Nigeria 27 Apr 2003
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The election was free and fair though there are some irregularities, I believe that no man-made things are perfect; as a good citizens we should thank GOD for everything and moreover NIGERIA needs our prayer.
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NA OBASANJO THE CAP FIT FOR NOW I BEG LET HIM BE.
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Kunle, Ikeja-Lagos, Nigeria 27 Apr 2003
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The ruling party (PDP) has succeeded in confirming the recent grading of Transparency International that Nigeria is the second most corrupt country on earth.
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It is high time for the international community to respond to credible assesments such as the ones conducted by Transparency International.
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Nigeria needs help to get rid of these people, they are Nigeria's weapon of mass destruction. We have oil too, so America, Britain and other members of the willings, we need your assistance urgently.
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Boss, London, UK. 27 Apr 2003
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The deed has been done. The elections were obviously rigged. Now we have a society that is not just decayed, but on the brink of collapse. Therefore, anything that will hasten or act as a catalyst to its collapse should be avoided. It is on this note that I say we should let sleeping dogs lie and allow Nigeria to be. Let us all chose to leave the results as they are and help peace to reign.
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(Member English and literature students association congress, Uniben).
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Obogrow Ogbevire O., Benin city, Nigeria. 27 Apr 2003
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The result of the general elections are out and there are winners. This is what we have been praying for; a sustainable democracy. So we should not give the devil a chance to ruin what we have suffered for. So those that lost should take it as one of those things in life. As politicians they are supposed to learn how to accept what comes their way, be it defeat or victory. Let us give Obasanjo a chance to complete what he has started and also find out ways of helping him carry Nigeria forward. Instead of causing unnecessary problems for all of us. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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Onyia Pascal Chinedu, Benin City. Edo State. 27 Apr 2003
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I actually would like to congratulate Obasanjo for living up to the expectations of most right-thinking people of the world. That he masterminded the use of government institutions and machinery to violate the mandate of the people should come as no surprise to those who know Nigeria and its rulers.
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As the President of the most corrupt nation in the world, how could any one have expected Obsanjo to conduct a fraud free election? As the head of the so called democratic government of Nigeria, that unilaterally dispatches military personnel to slaughter unarmed civilians in the Niger Delta Region for protesting against and resiting environmental and economic oppression, Obasanjo's institutionalized corruption should come as no surprise.
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I think Obasanjo is the Crown Prince of Fraud and he has proven once and for that fraud and corruption is Nigerian as he is that Nigerian.
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I was present throughout the election process in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, and what I witnessed was military intimidation, violence and massive premediated unbashful vote rigging and stuffing, and sorts of fraudulent activities, both at the polling booths and at the INEC office, for PDP. Other party memebers were not even allowed to enter the INEC 'compound", let alone participate in the collation of the "results"
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For those who us who think this election fraud should be swept under the carpet, let me warn that Nigeria under Obasanjo is spiralling down the path of ONE PARTY System. That given his fancy of Mugabe and his likes in Africa, Nigeria is destined to witness an exponential growth in Obasanjo's exercise of autocratic and despotic or dictatorial action or powers.
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Obasanjo will use his fraudulent majority to enact more repressive laws against the people of Niger Delta. Many have tended to forget that Obasanjo government frustrated all efforts by other political parties to contest this election and when his Supreme Court finally granted other parties the right to contest, Obasanjo opted for operation Fraud and Rig all opposition out.
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Nigerian civil servants have become mere rubber stamps, some of whom were so busy finger printing and stuffing ballot boxes on the night of the 17th and 18th of April, they had complained openly about hurting thumbs. We are going to witness an era of very unhealthy relationship between the masses of Nigerians and this government in the future. And, the question then will be "Didn't you people vote overwhelmingly for him?" - for repression, umemployment, epileptic power supply system, economic servitute etc.
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Okon Bassey, Lagos, Nigeria 27 Apr 2003
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The recent Nigerian elections may not have been perfect but they were good enough for the fragile democracy. Nigerians should move on and challenge Obasanjo and his second administration to stabilize:
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(a) Electricity throughout the nation;
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(b) Ensure that there is good water everywhere;
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(c) Ensure that the education is revamped and teachers/professors are paid well;
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(d) Build and maintain a good road network;
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(e) Develop the security system and ensure safety of lives and properties;
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(f) Update the telecom system; and
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(g) Make giant strides in agriculture and food production.
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That is all Nigerians need to build a great country. Elected and Govt officials should not succumb to sycophancy and detached management style that removes leaders from the every day sufferings and experiences of the citizens. They should work hard and immortalize their names in Nigerian development. There is no excuse for not performing at this point.
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Joseph U. Igietseme, Atlanta, GA USA 27 Apr 2003
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Firstly, Buhari should explain to the international community how he managed to win 32.19% if his party did not take part in the rigging.
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Wolf Inno, Frankfort, Germany 27 Apr 2003
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Do we have Democracy or a Transformed Millitary Regime? In fact, it is discouraging that in a country like Nigeria fully enriched or naturally blessed by all sorts of physical, mental and natural resources, the Nigerian still lives contrary to expectation.
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Democracy is the Government of the People, for the People and by the People. The question is, do Nigeria and her inhabitants belive in democracy or in trying to practice a transformation of the military regime to an appreciable democratic standard?
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At this juncture, I am of the opinion that it is too late to cry when the head is already off.
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At the preparatory stage, I mean from the nomination of candidates to the registration of political parties, Nigerians and the responsible machineries for a free and fair election seem to see capable Nigerians as retired military dignitaries who have failed Nigeria and Nigerians for years. Be that as it may and knowing fully well that the devil you know is better than the angel you do not know, I feel Nigeria and Nigerians should respect and accept the results of this election and hope for a better tomorrow.
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It is too late to undo what is done. The Country could save a good fortune and probably direct her resources to other useful programmes that could benefit the ordinary Nigerians. Long live Nigeria.
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Ifada Jacob, Hamburg - Germany. 27 Apr 2003
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I do not have much to say about the elections, other than to say both the winners and the losers should bury their heads in the sands at Bar Beach.
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Here is a country where its University's students have not been back in their respective campuses since last year October and none of the leaders or politicians have said anything about it. I would expect the great minds in the country and abroad to be up and arms about it but none exist.
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We've become a nation where education is a joke and does not deserve our undivided attention. We are too busy running after government contracts instead of arming ourselves with postcards/banners/fliers protesting on the streets against the government that rendered our institutions unsafe/uninhabitable for the great minds in the making.
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Why is it so that the leaders we thought would love this great nation more than their own selves are just a bunch of money-hungry power-mongers? Can we say it is because their children are somewhat distant from the rest of us in their little paradise in the western world spending our national wealth without any care in the world? Or the fact that there is no shame stealing the country dry as everybody does without repercussion?
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WHY ARE WE DECEIVING OURSELVES OVER LEADERS THAT WE ALL WISH WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH WITHOUT A TRACE? THEY'VE BEEN IN MY MEMORY SINCE WHEN I WAS TEN YEARS OLD, WHAT ELSE IS NEW ABOUT THEM? THEY ARE ALL COMING IN DIFFERENT OUTFITS OR MASKS ALL IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY: HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THE STORY ABOUT A LEOPARD THAT DOES NOT CHANGE ITS SPOTS - A ROGUE IS ALWAYS A ROGUE NO MATTER WHAT.
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All I will say is that, we will all pay for it dearly in years to come as our future generations are being silenced slowly and not given the opportunity to acquire the best tool they will ever need in the global economy- which is education and knowledge.
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UNCLE SEGE, IF IT IS TRUE GOD SENT YOU TO DELIVER US, WHY IS IT TAKING YOU THIS LONG TO FIND YOUR WAY? YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND SURROUND YOURSELVES WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW ARE NOT GOOD FOR OUR BELOVED COUNTRY? DO IT RIGHT BY US AND NOMINATE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH GOOD TRACK RECORDS INTO POSITIONS THAT WILL EFFECT CHANGE. MAY GOD HELP YOU DURING DELIBERATION!
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Toks Kuti, Bowie, Maryland, USA 27 Apr 2003
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I was in Nigeria from May 5 2002 to February 23 2003 and based on what I saw and eprerienced, there is no way Obasanjo could have won the election. Unless, of course, Nigerians are so sadistic that they do not want to change their lot for the better. All you people who are writing and claiming that Obasanjo won should go back to Nigeria and help the man because as far as I am concerned he has absolutely no clue. The pain and suffering that began with the coming of Babangida has reached its ultimate climax under Obasanjo. There was no evidence of transparency in all tiers of the government, it was even worse in the excecutive arm. I believe the elections should be done over again without the military being involved.
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Chibuzo Onubogu, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA 26 Apr 2003
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"Injustice somewhere is injustice everywhere," says Dr. Martin Luther King. When the June 12 election of 1993 was annulled, Buhari, Ojukwu and all their fellow crying politicians had the opportunity to stand up and fight that injustice then, if they had fought then, what happened last weekend would have been a thing of the past in Nigeria. Like we say in America, "what goes around comes around." It is an act of God, dear former PTF chairman Buhari and dear former constituent assembly man, Ojukwu.
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Ayo Famewo, Chicago, IL 27 Apr 2003
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My heart bleeds for my country!
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Truly, the election of April 19 - 419, is what it connotes, 419. A fraud on the people of Nigeria.
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There is a joke making the rounds now. It goes thus: "Britain conducted an election and released the results a day after. America wanted to beat the record and conducted theirs and released the results same day. Nigeria, not wanting to be outdone, released the results of their election before it was conducted!" Can you beat that?
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What a shame! Shame! Shame!! Shame!!!
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Mike Chinedu Anekwe, Lagos, Nigeria 26 Apr 2003
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I am sure a lot of people (Nigerians and other nationals) are reading the stuff on this site and honestly some comments are just gross.
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Without any doubt, I believe the time has come for us all (all Africans) to call the bluff of these Western media and their sponsors and challenge the negative way they report events in Africa.
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We are all living witnesses to the disgraceful and disappointing way the current occupier of the White House got there and no African leader or media cried 'foul' but no matter what we do in Africa, they cannot wait to condem us.
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Let's wake up guys !
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The truth is that there is no country in the world where there is totally free and fair election. It is the same everywhere.
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The money-bag capitalizm, open oppression, racial discrimination, etc that control democracy in the US is never mentioned in any media outside the US.
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The drugs, violence, prostitution and unhealthy criticism we see here everyday were never mentioned anywhere. It was like these things were never there.
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What are we talking about? Nigeria is a country of about 120 million people and 10 registered political parties yet the world expects the people to vote as angels within just a few years of Democracy! Comm'n y'all.
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If the US with just two political parties using its high technology and several years of Democracy could still not achieve angelic voting, I think Nigeria deserves a pat on the back for the recently concluded election.
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Yes, we have our problems but we need time, support and understanding of everyone to get there. The steps may be slow but sure they are steady.
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We don't need nobody to start a civil war over election results.
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Remember guys, The worst civilian government is better than the best military regime.
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Tunde Labeodan, Austin, Texas, USA 26 Apr 2003
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I believed the election wasn't free and fair.
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Since I was born I never see in Africa where incumbent party lose election without completing its term in office. But my advice to other parties is for them to accept the result for the interest of peace in our country.
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Arthur George Simon, Seoul, South Korea 26 Apr 2003
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I guess this is the begining of a very long learning process in our quest for a virile and enduring democratic dispensation - let us not disparage completely the very modest achievements of the present administration and its efforts in enthroning a sustainable democratic ideals.We should all be aware that, like any new process,there will always be "hiccups" on the way of faultless implementation and, as such, learn from the ensuing mistakes.
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However,aspiring leaders of Modern Nigeria should learn to guide their utterances and channel their grieviances through the appropriate judicial platform as is the practice in all advanced democracies which we claim to emulate.
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I strongly recommend that we should all learn to tolerate one another and stop the barrage of undue criticisms that has led us to nowhere.
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Henry Oshingbeme, Toronto, Canada. 26 Apr 2003
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Rigged or not, what good will nullification do for any of us? Remember Gore/Bush rancor; there was no coup in America. Such a coup could not but make things worse for all Nigerians, by inviting more apprehension and skepticsm from outsiders. We should allow OBJ to finish his second term. He will not be due for another election ever again.
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Hume, Denver, CO 26 Apr 2003
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Well it is disheartening that the good people of Nigeria are again to be denied another golden opportunity to choose their leaders; again, I am sorry.
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However, I passionately plead with General Buhari(Rtd)and all meaningful Nigerians to accept what has happened for the simple fact of discipline and respect for a pronounced authority. It will not continue to be so forever.
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I do not like Obasanjo for his complancy with evil, but God knows better than any of us why he has allowed him to win again. Obasanjo loves evil so much that he accepts the slogan that he is a "leader that all can trust". I hope he will check on this this time.
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Please Buhari, a disciplined person accepts defeat, there is more time; remember you will not be judge for losing but Nigerians will hold you responsible for what you will do now. I love you and others like Ike Nwachukwu.
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Allow the government to commence.
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Nyamor, Ibrahim Gabriel, Henderson,Tennessee,USA 26 Apr 2003
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It is a naked truth that what happened in Nigeria in the name of election is rather appointments. Inec should be held responsible for any uprising.
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Odera, Nsukka Enugu 26 Apr 2003
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Rigged or not, democracy is better than military dictatorship! Which of the parties did not take part in the rigging? No African nation can have absolute free and fair election until elections are handled and supervised by the UN. Compared to the last election held in Zimbabwe, this is fair enough in a country that fails to educate her citizens.
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Queen of Elbhye, Berlin, Germany. 26 Apr 2003
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I do not believe that these past elections should be cancelled because they were rigged.
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As a matter of fact, Obasanjo did not go round the whole country to manipulate all the elections results. If anything, I would suggest that those who have been able to manipulate the processes should do more to perfect the act of election rigging because that is the only way the young generation, who cannot afford to import thousands of retired service-men and do not have extra stolen cash to throw around, can wrestle powers from the old brigade.
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John Edekhaka, London 26 Apr 2003
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l don't think Nigeria's election was a free and fair election, according to press; I hope President Obasanjo will develop Nigeria this time, the last four years in office was a waste.
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Vivienne otis, hungary 26 Apr 2003
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We had an election and a winner was declared. "Ask not what your Country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" John F. Kennedy once said.
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I know it is never easy to accept defeat in any situation especially when the defeated feels he/she was unfairly treated. If for no other reason, accept the defeat as an act of PATRIOTISM that peace is the doctrine of the land and work harder the next time an opportunity comes for you to show you deserve victory.
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"A MAN'S DESIRE NO MATTER HOW NOBLE IT MAY SEEM, MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO TRUMP THE NEEDS OF THE POOR AND NEEDY".
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Osagie Ogbomo, Chicago, IL 26 Apr 2003
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I really feel that the recent election in Nigeria is, pretty much, much of the same. No matter who wins, whether PDP or ANPP. I feel that the problems of Nigeria are rooted in its political history.
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In my view it is the problem of ethnicism and regionism that has found its roots in the British colonial experience. In my view, it must be understood that the question of ethnic groups or ethnic minorities is a historical one. The genesis of this contradiction, whether within a national state or in the world at large is really bound up with the real motion of history which not only has a concrete basis in reality, but it also involves several social forces - that act in very different directions and interests.
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As we go back in the political history of Nigeria from 1945 after the war up to 1960, we see a very profound struggle, not for independence as such but rather a struggle for supremacy within an imposed federal state between the three largest ethnic groups within the country: the Yoruba in the West, the Ibo in the East and the Hausa-Fulani in the North. And this found political expression in the actual sub-nationalism of each of these ethnic communities (a regional nationalism as opposed to a national-nationalism). Thus giving rise to political parties that are regionally based.
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The one person that has spoken to the difficulty of creating a one-Nigerian national consciousness, has been brother Tekena Tamuno in the Journal of Modern African Studies, where he says that: "Historically, it was easier to establish the Nigeria state than to nourish the Nigerian nation. Though the former was to a large extent achieved through the 1914 Amalgamation, the latter eluded both British officials and Nigerians for several decades thereafter."
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However it is my view that the one thing that has to be looked at in understanding this ethnic contradiction is the Macpherson Constitution of 1951, that set the precedent for the emergence of the first regional base; parties of the Hausa-Fulani supported the Northern People's Congress (NPC), the Yoruba had supported the Action Group (AG), while the Ibo were behind the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroons (NCNC).
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At this point we see that the constitution had really developed the three regional sub-nationalisms. What we see is that when Macpherson was governor he allowed ethnic public opinion to be expressed in the formation of a new constitution, in a series of local villages councils meeting that was followed by the Ibadan Conference by 1950.
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Thus most Nigerians at that point in history and the British had decided on a federal system of governance of the three regions that favored the largest ethnic groups. As we look at this constitution in history we see that it was a compromise trying to accommodate the interests of the people of the South who were rather modernists who were in political contradiction with the Northern traditionals. At this point we see that this constitution was rather unworkable and ungovernable. For it provided elective principles throughout the country, and gave very large powers to the central government, but at the same time it ensured that the House of Representatives was regionally controlled so as to avoid its capture by a united mass nationalist movement like in Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah. While looking at the work of John Hatch in his book Post-War Africa, he says that:
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"It was partly the effect of this constitution which diverted the attention of the politically conscious to regional rather than national efforts. Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo had both favoured some form of federation to circumvent the deeply-rooted conservatism of the north. Now they recognised the danger of the Macpherson constitution giving the north full power to determine national policy if it could find a few allies in the south. Both reacted in the same way, by concentrating their efforts on securing greater powers for their regions and organising their parties on a mainly regional basis."
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This background will in my view help in some level in understanding of the problems of ethnic sub-nationalism that affects electoral process in Nigeria.
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THANK YOU.
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Sekou Osei, Brooklyn N.Y. USA 25 Apr 2003
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Granted that the recent general elections were not 100% clean; it is very wrong to say that the whole election should be discarded and a fresh election held. Was the last Presidential election in the United States of America perfect? Let members of the so-called monitoring teams from around the world pass their comments on that as well,and stop being unduly too critical/hypocritical of the elections just concluded in Nigeria.
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Nigeria has come a long way so far.The democratic process is just starting to be improved upon, judging from the events of the past 43 years since independence. Nigerians DO NOT want to relive the horrors of the military maladministration of the various regimes with the attendant moral,social and economic setbacks.
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Democracy is not perfected in one day. The so-called successful democracies of the world today did not attain their present levels in four years. Please,give peace and democracy a chance.Any aggrieved person or group should seek constitutional or legal means to rectify any wrong,if any. No room for any ungodly, violent, chaotic and illegal means for seeking redress. Alternatively, all losers at the elections should plan and wait for 2007 which would soon be here. No room for any acts of treason which are surely punishable under the laws of the land - no sacred cows.
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Adefolaju Ashaye, Bristol, United Kingdom. 26 Apr 2003
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Firstly, I want to congratulate the people of Nigeria for the sensible approach to the General elections. For too long the people have suffered and died over rigged elections, and the leadership has not not hidden the fact that their only agenda is to continue their greedy, corrupt practices which have plagued Nigeria since Independence.
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Throughout the campaign period no single party was able to explain their programmes for the Nation, all that caught the headlines were personal issues on how this done that OR failed to do this. What about delivery on our Public services, there is no tap water, electricity, functional schools and hospitals. Ah! not to mention driveable roads.
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All the parties were guity of sheer arrogance, ill-informed practices that left the people with no choice. Most Nigerians chose not to vote at all. In all of these, the ruling party, indeed the incumbent president has an opportunity to right the wrong of the past: that is to produce a capable cabinet that can govern Nigeria, incorporating the rule of law, justice and fairness and producing a dynamic and robust plan/policies to tackle our Economic and Social problems across the Nation!
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We must privatise NEPA, overhaul and restructure NITEL, deliver on public transport, health and Education ensuring the future of Nigeria through free Enterprise, Equal opportunity and Excellence.
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Long Live The People of Nigeria!!!
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Eghe Osamwonyi, London, England 26 Apr 2003
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I strongly believe that Olusegun Obasanjo won the 2003 presidential elections. I want his opponents to realize that in every election, there must be winners and losers, they should accepts the result in good faith.
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He (Obasanjo)should focus more on agriculture to improve the economy of our great nation; also he should select men of honesty and unquestionable character in his cabinet which should be based on merit not sentiments. May God Almight help us - amen.
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Augustine Nwankpa, The Hague, Netherlands 26 Apr 2003
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Democracy in all its glorious practical machinery anywhere has fault. An ideal system in theory, but it is poked with holes when weighed against the reality of this lolling, dribbling world.
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So far, it is still the preferred system in a multi-cultural nation like Nigeria. Sani Abacha rudely awakened Nigerians: military rule is terrible. The new beginning is not going to be easy because of the learning curve. How long is it going to take to reach competent stage?
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There is a stage of learning ABC. Nigeria has passed. Learning words and sentence structure is her present struggle. Would she quickly master this? It depends on her willingness to apply herself as a studious pupil. When you carefully examine those Asian nations that are thriving democracy, there is a common thread that runs through them. It is a strong desire to learn how democracy works. And the reinforcing iron bar of any concrete democratic system is compromise.
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An ideal election is similar to all things equal in Adam Smith's classic free market economy. In the Shakespearean world, some are born great, some achieved greatness and some inherited greatness. Look at your fingers. Are they equal? No. What is a fair and free election? Even the holy grail of modern democracy, USA, failed in the last presidential election. Is the Nigerian election moderately or tolerably good now? It is not wrong to learn by the trial and error method when time is pressing to get the nation moving forward.
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Matthew Adun, North Carolina, USA 26 Apr 2003
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The just-concluded election to the best of every Nigerian's knowledge is free and fair - except in the opposition camp that refused to acknowledge the outcome. The nation is not ready for this time wasting. Such money for re-election could be diverted to good causes, servicing our debts - after all they (the military)incurred the debts.We are tired of their complaints. And if the losers are bent on serving their motherland, right-representations could be made to the(Obj) gov't before coming up with the lists of its executive members. But to call a fresh election, over our dead bodies as we have no such money for now.
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Let those whose interest is to serve us be known through their official bodies A.S.A.P so as to adjust our lists before it's too late. And if it's the opposite to please keep quiet for the next election 2007.
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Alli Papa, London 26 Apr 2003
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I am surprised at the argument of the international observers that the elections in Nigeria were not free and fair. Where in the world do you have free and fair elections? Tell me one country? Is it America, Britain or Europe?
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All the political parties at the Nigerian elections knew before hand, the problem associated with conducting elections in Nigeria. We are talking of about 60 million voters that is four times the size of the country I live in.
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Nigeria need more support in conducting elections and not condemnations. The losers should learn to work together with the winners to advance the course of Nigeria. We do not need another unrest, things are bad enough.
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My final question is how can three candidates win a single seat election. It is not only Buhari who is claiming victory, Ojukwu also claimed to have won the elections. Let us please settle down and support the government to move Nigeria forward.
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Elvis Ndubuisi Iruh, Almere, The Netherlands 26 Apr 2003
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To say that the elections are over and Nigeria must forget the past and move on is easy to state. In most contests, the loser cries foul. Obasanjo and his cronies would have been crying foul presently had they lost. Thus the crying foul over the outcome has become such a vicious cycle that would continue incessantly. For that reason only, I shall opt for an end to the debate over the result. Notwithstanding, Nigeria owed the rest of the continent to demonstrate a keen sense of a responsible elections. It's shameful for the elections to end up this way.
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Frederick Delaney Mancka, Washington, DC, USA 26 Apr 2003
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As far as I am concerned, no election was done in Nigeria. What we experienced was mere fabrication of result and mass oppression of individual choice. People voted under duress and fierce intimidation.Personally, If I had gotten the oppurtunity I would have advised Obasanjo not to allow any form of rigging. As we all know, Obasanjo would have won even without any form of rigging. But where the problem lies is the unpopular incumbent PDP governors who won the election despite the fact that , if the election was free and fair they would not have won their street.
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OKODUWA GABRIEL, Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria 25 Apr 2003
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Really the Presidential election in Nigeria was not different from what we had here in 2000, when the current selected White House resident was declared the winner by the highest court in the land.
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I may not entirely share President Obasanjo´s position that nowhere on planet earth can there be perfect balloting and the exercise of voting. I do however believe that in our societies where the so-called democratic process is still very much a thing that weighs heavily on tribal and ethnic base, it will take time to transform this mind set.
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Nigerians could have done better as the flag-bearers of Africa but as usual the nature and character of the people will not allow for this to happen. I hope that those who were robbed of their votes will put their self-interests aside and remember that in the interest of national progress, any grievences must be channlled through the legal forum.
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If I may only say this to the myriads of parties that contested, from now on if your intentions are to defeat the ¨CROOKS¨ that are enjoying the LOOTS, gang up together forget your regional differences and just see what you can achieve. Look around the continent and see what has been done. Where is KANU and Moi now?
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Please keep your heads cool and spare the country from social and political turmoil. We have many problems that must be solved and Africans have suffered enough so please save us from more upheavals.
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Just remember four years is not eternity and if I may conclude with a favorite saying of a Nigerian friend...NO CONDITION DE BE PERMANENT OGA!
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wodkoch Kurabal Abe, Houston, Texas. USA 25 Apr 2003
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In 2000, there was an election in the U.S.A. and we all heard what happened in that election. Majority of the people thought Al Gore won that election, even the media said that Al Gore won the election. But did Al Gore take Bush to court? No. He conceded and congratulated Bush. We as Nigerians should learn from this. I am not saying that it is good for elections to be rigged. What I am saying is that, since the election has been conducted, we should accept the result and move on. The whole business world is watching. If there becomes another Political instability, those that have been thinking of investing in Nigeria will go somewhere-else and invest. Let's give Nigeria a chance to survive. A lot of us working and living outside Nigeria want to come back home, but who wants to come back to this kind of chaos? What we should do now is support the President so he can do his best for the Nation. All this I pray through Jesus Christ and Allah, AMEN.
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Emmanuel, Durham, NC USA 25 Apr 2003
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The recently concluded election heightened the fear of intolerance amongst the ethnic tribes that make the federated unit known as Nigeria. The concluded election only serves as the last straw of all attacks on his government by his distractors. It's not the outcome of the election that bothered these enemies of democracy but their unpreparedness to allow ordinary citizens to share the basic amenities that makes a complete life.
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To me the man (OBJ) should be left alone but this time around he should focus on how his govt should improve the quality of life of an ordinary Nigerian, not only the minority political class.
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And to the defeated, take the result and learn the lesson that sometimes rigging is a good result if the majority Nigerians agreed to it, as there has not yet been a serious complaint from the general public but [only from] the stakeholders from the opposition camp.
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To call another election is to waste resources that could be used for other purposes - creating more jobs, roads and revisit the epileptic NEPA [electric power company]. Enough is enough. If the defeated candidates really wanted to serve but not to disturb they could apply for ministerial appointments under the new regime and they can work for the common goals - moving the country forward.
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Abimbola Kumapayi, London 25 Apr 2003
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I have read all the previous arguments for and against this past (s)election and can only conclude that our destiny as Nigerians lies in our own hands.
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This (s)election is to perpetuate the moneybags who continue to parade themselves as politicians in power. They have no real or cogent reason to be in office other than to line their own pockets.
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In 2007 we would be able to assess them only to see that nothing has been achieved and so goes the cycle, term after term.
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As long as there is no form of transparency and accountability, no improvement will ever visit itself upon this geographical expression called Nigeria. Instead all we will have are emerging crooked overnight millionaires, fatcats and opportunists.
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Which way, oh Nigeria?
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Victor Akinola, NJ, USA 25 Apr 2003
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The true losers in this election are the poor, cowed Nigerians and they are not being considered in the equation. The average Nigerian was not given a choice ab-initio. These are former army generals who, at one time or another, had contributed to the fall of the African giant. It is a coup and nobody should think of legitimizing it by pulling the poor Nigerian into it.
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Guobadia’s “hands are tied” and what we had was another arranged election “magic 03”. Let those who lost go back to the drawing board for a more vicious plot come 2007 and leave the pawns alone to their fate!!
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Bertie Onyeka, Vancouver, BC, Canada 25 Apr 2003
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Wasn't it a shame that Nigeria is called a third world nation? Wasn't it shameful that anytime CNN/BBC/Western Media depict Africa it is always in bad image? Wasn't it embarrassing that when Obasanjo visted USA, Bush called his country "That man's country" instead of saying Nigeria?
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Well it might not be shameful to Nigeria leaders, especially the politicians, but to some of us here it is. What is killing the country are bad leaders who practice tribalism! In Iraq, Saddam is pro-Sunni and against Kurd and Shi-ite, but still he distributes Iraqi wealth to all parts of the country. When will Nigeria produce a leader that can challenge the World Court over giving our land to Cameroon?
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When will Nigerian masses learn that violence does not pay, nor killing innocent souls over a stupid leader. Well, if I keep on mentioning Nigerian problems this page wouldn't be long enough, but ALL WE CARE ABOUT IS NIGERIA TO DEVELOP both technological, educational and industrially. With this, Nigerian masses can have a better life, better education, lots of jobs, and standard of living will improve.
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Uzee Obi, Illinois, USA 25 Apr 2003
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Where are our so-called Nigerian leaders leading us to? Just imagine! Who would ever believe what happened? For me this is no election. Obasanjo that we all defended before the elections saw obviously that it was rigged and still came on air to say that nothing wrong happened during the elections thereby tainting his image before the world and Nigeria in particular.
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EBHABHA EDIALE JAMES, UROMI,EDO STATE,NIGERIA 25 Apr 2003
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Hello countrymen and women.
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I read all of ya'comment and they all reflect one thing - it is our country and we need to buld it together. I don't care who won the election, all I want is Nigeria to develop and be at equal level like France, UK, USA, Singapore, etc. Nigeria do have the resource to do so. Singapore and Hong-Kong gained their independence not more than 10 years now. But Singapore and Hong-Kong are developed, advance in technology and are currently becoming the banking center of world. I know Nigeria can be like that too. Me and fellow Nigeria students are tired of Nigerian bad image. That is why we started an organization called NUSA(Nigeria University Students Abroad) to help our Nigeria students back home with computers and internet access.
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With development comes better life, cleaner enviroments and job creation and more foreign investment.
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Uzee Uzo , Chicago, USA 25 Apr 2003
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The gap is much too wide both at the governorship and all other seats, PDP did their homework well. I feel sorry for AD, but the party is not democratic at all, they did not feel the pulse of their supporters. They should have realised that they can not force a horse to drink.'
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They really messed up during their primaries; We told some of their key men that they will lose the way they were going about it; In Ondo, they lost Mimiko to PDP, in Osun, they lost Omisore to PDP, Ekiti is not different, in Oyo they were warned, God just saved them in Lagos that Tinubu is good and in fact is the only credible Governor AD presented. Truly, Akande tried but his style was bad for the workers esp, we are not a communist or socialist country. AD still have a chance to take back their lost seats in the next election but should take note that the days of autocracy is gone, we know what is right for us, so no party should force anything down our throats.
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Coming to ANPP, if the South east is the issue, Etiebet should cover his face in shame and one can guess ANPP cheated in those areas if not, they would have had zero votes. The people know who they want to give their mandate to, no need to make noise about it. I guess the issue is clear, Buhari's first appearance was that of an Islamic flag bearer, unfortunately for him, his calculation was wrong, Nigeria has gone thru' enough religious crisis than for a Presidential flag bearer to come out again that he will Islamise the country, even his muslim brothers stood against him, we are tired of bloodshed.
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His change of position, did not change the heart of the people as they know his deeds when he was head of state, Idiagbon's discipline helped him, but worse still is his performance during the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) days... I guess when Obasanjo removed him, then he took offence, now he has an opportunity to pay OBJ in his own coin.
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Nigerians are not fools, we are watching, how can Buhari who intends to rule the country declare he will make the 'country ungovernable'?. Is he blood-thirsty? If there is war or crisis which country will he rule over tomorrow? I think he should be ignored, but closely monitored along with his allies both in the army and in the north.
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Aside, I think US etc should shut up! What happened during the last American election?, The court legalised an open falsification of results!
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Let OBJ, relax, he has been given our mandate to go on, but let him ensure he improves on issues like education, security, and corruption!
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Abiola , Ile-Ife, Nigeria 25 Apr 2003
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In fairness to nature, the ruling PDP deserves the landslide victory she achieved at the polls in the country for while the Party was working round the country to convince and mobilise support from the electorates at the right time, other political parties were busy chasing shadows in the widlerness of politics, calling for delay of the polls because of their unpreparedness. My patriotic advice for all the players is they should concede victory to the winner and offer advice to them, as well as join hands together with them if they have something to offer Nigeria and Nigerians in wholesome sincerity that is devoid of deceipt
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Abdurasaq Obe, Onitsha Anambra State, Nigeria 25 Apr 2003
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As you read or write your comments, please remember that Nigeria is a DEMOCRACY. Please understand the rules of democracy. Do not extrapolate what obtains in one city (Warri) to an entire state or to a region, talk less of the country. In an election with 10 parties, a party may win with just 40% of the votes if it has the majority. That means that 60% of the electorate did not vote for that party. Every voter must of course be INFLUENCED - by his perceptions, sentiments, logic, race, tribe, money or whatever - for him to take the trouble to vote. We must respect that vote.
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No winner will accept that there was any malpractice in the wards or states where he won, the rigging is always where they lost.
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Finally, in a good year, Nigeria may have a national budget of US$12 billion for its 120 million people. That money is not much different from what the cities of London (UK), New York, San Francisco, Boston etc spend annually. Nigeria is a poor country. The presence of natural resources is NOT wealth. We simply do not have enough money. Period.
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Finally, the elections in Nigeria were quite peaceful and fair except in a few cases. No one asked that the last USA presidential elections should be cancelled entirely because of the irregularities in Florida. The foreign media, especially Reuters,and Associated Press, have been most unfair in reporting the Nigerian elections - I think they were disapointed that their pre-election predictions of mayhem did not happen. The EU delegation's opinions is more understandable - that is payback to Obasanjo over Zimbabwe.
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Paul Quassim, Mississauga, Canada 25 Apr 2003
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The problem with Nigeria is allowing known thieves to run for federal office. For the love of democracy, Nigerians should allow Obasanjo to complete his term. If Obasanjo has an atom of shame, he wouldn't have gone for the second term. History is useless for people like him.
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I congratulate Nigerians for going to the polls. Elections are never fair anywhere in the world.
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Agbu Chukwudi, U.S.A 25 Apr 2003
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I do believe that the election results reasonably reflect the wishes of the people. Though Obasanjo and others elected might not be infallible, there are hardly better alternatives in sight. We can only wish that the country gets better and better. Let us give them a chance to prove themselves.
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William Ogunbiyi, England 25 Apr 2003
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What is up with all this stuff? I mean can't we EVER have an election where there is no problem? What is democracy? Was this election just? I don't think so but we should not shed blood or get into a fit because of this.
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Let us be honest to ourselves in realizing that there is no true democracy and even in the United States elections are being rigged.
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Let us stay together and try to get past this election.
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Kemi, Angola, Indiana, USA 25 Apr 2003
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In my personal opinion,the election was free and fair; some irregularities were reported in some parts of the country, which I believe is part of the process. Nigeria has come of age because viewing the election results, you will clearly see that people are no more voting for parties but candidates of their choice. That can be clearly seen in south-west, where people voted massively for the PDP.
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Kolade Kolawole, Lagos 25 Apr 2003
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Dear Sir,
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I wish to focus on the disastrous performance of the AD governors. Thank God they have finally been dumped into the rubbish heap of poor performers. I am not surprised at all, by their monumental failure and the disgrace meted out to them at the polls.
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They have ridden on the name of the respected Awolowo for a long time. They have taken the Yoruba people for granted and for too long. They have grown arrogant in non-performance, like a drunkard boasting on how many bottles he can drink without getting drunk. They have started to think that without them, there would have been no Awolowo. They have tainted the name of Obafêmi Awolowo, with their woeful performance. They have shown that they are not true sons of Oduduwa. These governors have behaved like the bastard who sold his father's house for a bowl of pounded yam and okro soup. Through their poor performance they have reduced the old Western region into the last position on the development scale. They have sold their cherished inheritance and heritage, and their trusting people, to satisfy their puny ego.
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Now the ballot revolt of the people have shown them for what they are - pretenders to the throne. This is not a PDP victory, but a victory of the people, for the people and by the people. What the people are saying is that blind allegiance to a past hero is a thing of the past. What the people want is improvement in their life, a better standard of living- good roads, good and reliable health services, high quality education, safety, security, and transparent honesty. What the people want is a government that makes sure that tomorrow will be better than today, for us and for our children. We once had all these in the old old Western Region of years gone by, until we had the present set of selfish leaders.
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Now that the Yorubas are fully emancipated, let PDP beware that they will go into the rubbish heaps of poor performers if by 2007 they have nothing to show for their victory. PDP are you listening? The change in South West is not victory for PDP, but the opening of the Yoruba eye, buried in the sand of past history. Now is the time to re-order our future. Now is the time to discard the modern relics, whited sepulchers living on the glorious name of Obafemi Awolowo. Now is the time to have the true AFENIFERE, and discard the sheep in the skin of wolves who are nothing but AFENIFENBI.
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You cannot fool all the people all of the time.
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Oyewale Tomori, Harare 25 Apr 2003
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Elections in Nigeria will always remind us of pre-colonial days. No election in Nigeria has ever been declared free and fair under democracy. Start recalling elections of late 1950s, 1960s,1979 and 1983. The failure of colonial era is still in place in our "obodo" Nigeria. The old politicians who wrecked the first Republic, did the same to the second, third, fourth etc. It has become a convention. Birds of the same feather, will always fly and flock together. "Nigeria is in trouble" with the old politicians, the "moneybags" May God save us all.
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Chris Etuka Obinwa, Reading, UK 25 Apr 2003
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Fellow Nigerians, Who is Buhari to say election was rigged?. If I may say Buhari was brought into this race to derail the progress,development and stability that started to grow in Nigeria by the man behind the mask, Mr Maradona; but for the Lord so loved Nigeria; their intention failed to materilised. I will give a good example. I am from Ondo state. I was at my home town Last March prior to the election I saw many development in the area but this developments were nowhere to be found last year at the same time when I traveled to home. I now ask myself what brought about this quick fix situations, the answer is election.
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What I wanted to bring out of this is that Nigerians have realised that our politician are liars, they only go there for their own and family betterment. As a result electorate voiced out their anger through their votes. That is why PDP was able to win most of south-West election. You will all agree with me that AD is a product of UPN and Ondo state is very loyal to UPN. If that is the case, what is the problem this time? I leave the answer to the individual.
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We have reached a stage where we can not be deceived any longer, the average Nigerian knows what they want. That is the main reason why many governors in south-west lost the election. So my advice to those who lost in this election is that they should look back and take inventory of their actions and accept it for good. And most importantly for the Victors, try and fulfill you pledges; if you fail to do so, well four years is at your fingertip; you will be rooted out as your predecessor. No hard feelings.
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Let Buhari and others join hands with Uncle Sege and work towards the development of Nigeria as whole, for democracy to survive. Obasanjo only can not make Nigeria great without the help of others. Let everyone of us work together with new president-elect for the betterment of all Nigerians, so that we in overseas countries can be proud of our great country and return back home for good.
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God bless Nigeria.
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Samuel Akinuli, London , United Kingdom 25 Apr 2003
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Whatever happened, the election has come and gone and for Nigerians, it is time to move on and stop crying over spilt milk. The people who cry the loudest about the election are those whose rigging process failed. The struggle for power is never a fair game and we should all realise that Nigeria is still a baby learning to grow up in the democratic process.
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The present regime in the USA, the Father of World democracy, got its mandate from the courts and I am very sure it never stopped them. They moved on and they are doing great things to set other nations straight. Come on, guys, let us move on and think of making Nigeria a great nation.
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Emmanuel O. Ukattah, Greensboro NC USA 25 Apr 2003
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I must say, democracy is only just thriving in Nigeria, and we should give room and let it breathe. Losers should accept defeat with grace, and winners should get on with the business of mending the nation. Let sleeping dogs lie, man!!!!!!
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A stable democracy should be the prority for all Nigerians. These international observers who are crying foul play do not seem to understand the dynamics of politics in Nigeria, that at such a crucial stage in our political history, democratic free and fair elections may take many more years to be entrenched in our political culture. They only need to examine the wave of Nigeria public opinion and realise fragility of the situation.
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If Buhari and others wish to contest the results, they should do so, but by constitutional means, any other way that incites violence can only mean they do not have the best interest of Nigerians at heart, but, rather are only interest in the politics of personal power and partronage.
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The person who expressed shock that Nigerians would re-elect Obasanjo's 'non-performing' government should stop and think. Would they rather Buhari, a re-cycled ex-military despot, in power? Or even Ojukwu, a man who nearly ruined our nation in the late 1960s. Frankly these elections were not issue based, neither were they tribal. It had to be between the devil and the deep blue sea, and frankly, I'd rather drown!!!!!!!
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Rolake Akinkugbe, London 25 Apr 2003
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Most of those crying blue murder are grieving politicians who were one time or the other frustrated out of the ruling party. They had waited patiently till the election time to have their "revenge". Unfortunately for them the Nigeria electorate thought otherwise and that is the crux of their angst. They can as well bury their heads in shame because they are never known for anything that is noble.
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Seun Olonade, Lagos-Nigeria 25 Apr 2003
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It would have been unexpected if results were not challenged by the opposition. With or without rigging, PDP would still have won. In a Nation of 125 Million people one cannot rule out irregularities. If an opinion poll was conducted before the election, we would have seen PDP leading the others by wide margin.
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This may not be attributed to the outstanding performance of PDP in the last four years, but to the great relief Nigerians had after the exit of the Military and how Obasanjo has manage the transition.
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Beside a lot of setback would have been created if another party was to come in and complete all the programs PDP started these past four years. Nigeria authority is still very poor with continuity of Government objectives. It will take time to get there, but I believe we are on a right course.
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At the moment, Nigeria needs stability to retake its position globally. We should forge ahead. The days for stiff political competition and opposition is ahead and will certainly come.
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I congratulate Obasanjo and his team. I hope you will see yourselves more as a servant to Nigeria than masters who need to parade the streets with sirens. A lot of work need to be done to revitalise our economy. I hope the fruit of all the overseas trips during the last four years will emerge this time.
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Fred Ihegie, Canberra 25 Apr 2003
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Even the most unjust electorate result, in a country like Nigeria, is far more welcome than a military power.
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Osagie J., Italy 25 Apr 2003
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The nature of Nigerian elections had always left more to be desired. Election manipulations start at primary election levels. It is not good for any country's democracy.
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There is no reason for the repeat of the elections. The cost of such repeat and the need for Nigerian peace and democratic sustenability outweighs the crime of rigging the elections.
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Think of how many lives that were lost for these elections. And these people that died were poor innocent Nigerians. Is it fair to put more innocent and poor Nigerians on the edge to die for another election?
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What is required as I had written in my article "Nigeria democratic Flu" is for the president to [spread] appointments of people to office. He should not think that his party only won the elections.
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The appointments should reflect all Nigerians irrespective of their political party affiliations. This will help heal the wounds and advance Nigeria democratic endurance.
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Hon. Onyeke Alphaeus Onyeke, Auckland, New Zealand 25 Apr 2003
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It is not surprising that the Generals are crying foul. Who wouldn't? I would; even if it is only for the world to hear and not necessarily to change the result. Like it or not, it is over. The Generals and the other silent majority should begin now to prepare for the next election.
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J. Akuma-Kalu Njoku, Bowling Green, KY, USA 25 Apr 2003
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I WANT TO SAY THAT FOR THE INTEREST OF PEACE, ALL AGGRIEVED PARTIES SHOULD GO TO COURT AND SHOULD NOT CAUSE ANY PROBLEM TO THIS COUNTRY. IF THEY HAVE THEY [CARE ABOUT] THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NATION THEY SHOULD JOIN HAND WITH PRESIDENT ELECT.
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THANKS
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Iyoha Abraham, Edo State 25 Apr 2003
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I will start by commenting on what Buhari has been saying since.
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1. Has he forgotten that he promise to Islamize the whole country, and he thinks Nigerians will be ready to face religious crises like what is happening in Sudan. I guess he needs his brain examined. Because this was the same problem this country was facing when he was the head of state.
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2. During ANPP's primaries, there were lot of irregularities, he knows this and he did not say anything so it means then that he is a coward. Just because he has an evil intention for this country, he started shouting like a mad dog. Let the northerners warn him, if he tries any thing, himself and his family will face it. We cannot continue to have puppets like him in power because when he was the head of state there was nothing he offered this country than Sharia, it was Tunde Idiagbon that was ruling while he was been controlled by external forces. Nigeria needs to move ahead.
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3. This man issues so many unguarded statement which you will not expect a leader to say.
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4. Does it mean that the state where he won there were no irregularities? He should just learn to accept defeat and hold his peace.
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5. Buhari should note that he was voted against because of his evil and bloodshed intentions. Whosoever can advise or talk to him should please do so, so as to avert war in this nation. He is not accepted as a leader in this nation.
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In conclusion all losers and winners should come together and build a one Nigeria free from ethnic violence.
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James, Delta 25 Apr 2003
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Alhaji Shehu Shagari finished the whole story with his comment of 'a kettle calling the pot black' The election had gone, usually the losers will always complain.
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A good politician must be able to tell good lies and stand by the lies, that is why Buhari and his co-losers are still making noise, l will ask them to try again in four years time, maybe with better homework, they will score 40%.
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Mr. President, Please accept our hearty congratulations. May GOD, who can do all things, continue to guide, direct and protect you. Remember: Isaiah Chpt 54 v 17.
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It is well.
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Tunde Oloyede, London 25 Apr 2003
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Bolaji may be right with his submission but I strongly feel if we move forward on the basis of electoral frauds and obvious irregularities then there may, indeed, not be anything to hope for in years to come.
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There are reported cases of manipulations that supposedly favour the ruling party. Spokesmen of PDP and some "analysts" have been urging aggrieved losers to channel their complaints through the proper channel(Electoral Tribunal)!!! A funny recommendation you would say. I cannot recall any of such tribunals anywhere in the world reversing the results so shamelessly announced and winner hurriedly presented with "Victory Certificate" when there are pending and crucial electoral matters awaiting resolution.
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The INEC Chairman embarrassed me with the disgusting manner in which he announced the results of the Presidential elections. It neither followed decreasing order of votes nor was alphabetical! Obviously there was no prepared speech if those glaring mistakes and side-talks witnessed are anything to be commented on. There was no National Anthem to restore sanity into the tense INEC Media Resource Centre. It was just like any of those short announcements MCs make during concert. I guess the anthem is not for The President or Governors alone. I find his "good night" gesture boastful.I may be wrong with this anyway.
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I do not belong to any party and do not speak for any. I knew we headed nowhere in the transition programme right from the voters' registration stage. Can you imagine INEC officials telling me 11 people were to be registered on the day I got to their booth in my street. I was the 12th person and could not register! I managed to register some 17km away from my house, 2km from my office. Hence,I could not vote. Nigerian Undergraduates and Postgraduates who registered on their campuses were cleverly excluded from the voting list as well courtesy of ASUU strike! Who shall speak for people in this category or have they no power to choose their leaders?
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Fresh election in disputed states may be proper but I doubt if that will change the final result. Maybe the margin will be reduced but OBJ will still triumph. Win or lose, I'm not bothered. All I want is an administration that will safeguard lives and property of Nigerians both within and without. A government that will provide basic amenities for us; allow our children to be educated with NIL hinderance; a government that will truly fight corruption, un-employment,health problems, the menace of uniformed and licensed thieves and killers that call themselves police.
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We all know what we want in Nigeria. If fraud will achieve peaceful co-existence then we better not be peaceful. Peace and fraud are incompatible but honest struggle and peace are! 19 Parties have headed for the tribunal against 1 party. It is going to be very tight for us ordinary Nigerians. Anything can happen. May God be with us.
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Hammed Adewale Ibrahim, Lagos, Nigeria. 25 Apr 2003
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Nigerians everywhere should congratulate Obasanjo's win.
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You now have the rudiments of a democratic government.Rome was not built in a day.We do not want any military government in any form or shape.
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In a democracy,the rule of law must prevail. Let the aggrieved go to Courts and seek justice.
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The role of the government is to ensure the Courts are impartial and free from duress.
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Regards,
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Kemi london,ENGLAND 25 Apr 2003
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It looks as if Nigerian politicians does not want to accept defeat, as the matter stands, the peace officers should not embrace the propagandas of those corrupt politicians playing dirty game on the people.
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Everyone should relax and let the winner Olusegun Obasanjo do his job. Infact he (President Obasanjo) and his administration should declare a mandate to prosecute anyone who propagate violence.
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Violence should not be tolerated in Nigeria. Unless the government comes down on those who break the law, the rest of the people will continue to do so. It should be simple, violent behavior gets severe punishment. Set an example and others will learn.
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Ralph. Aninwaishiovuishiukwa, Lawndale CA United States 25 Apr 2003
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Yes, the election was free and fair. It was the best ever held in Nigeria since I was born (27yrs). But as usual, the bad loser syndrome has infected Buhari, Ojukwu and the AD and this is why they are making stupid noise. Imagine, they can't even go to the election panel! It shows their mischievious and sinister motives for calling for the cancellation. God is greater than them. Ride on Obasanjo/Atiku!
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barbytee, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. OLUSEGUN OBASANJO AND OTHER PDP PARTY AFFILIATES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WON AND ALL OTHERS FOR TRYING.NIGERIANS HAVE TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR A REGIME CHANGE. WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS TO COMBAT TERRORISM. OBASANJO REPRESENTS THE INTEREST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND NEEDS ANOTHER TERM. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER NEWCOMER.TO THIS END, WE SHOULD ALL GIVE OBASANJO THE SUPPORT HE AND HIS PARTY MEMBERS NEEDS TO FURTHER ADDRESS THE COUNTRY'S FUTURE. WE ASKED FOR DEMOCRACY AND HERE WE HAVE IT.THE TASTE OF THE PUDDING LIES IN THE EATING..... GOD BLESS NIGERIA AND WHATEVER THE FUTURE HOLDS.
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SAM IJOMA, LAUREL,MARYLAND,USA 24 Apr 2003
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The result of the just-concluded elections in Nigeria epitomizes what is intrinsically wrong with my beloved country: institutionalized corruption, official greed, avarice, win-at-all-costs and damn everything and everybody else.
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In a healthy and civilized society, Mr. Obasanjo should not have run in 1999, talk less of standing for re-election and getting re-elected in 2003. As military head-of-state in 1979, he did not have the guts to bring the general election that ushered Mr. Shagari to power to a conclusive and just end.
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He was sprung from jail in 1999 to hijack a political outfit that he had no hand in forming and was propelled into office by the vast finances of his retired but connected army colleagues who saw him as a safe choice. Indeed he was, for them. A living testimony is Mr. Babangida who is sitting pretty today and no legal authority has been able to get him to answer to charges levelled against him. Nigeria is no better today than it was when Mr. Obasanjo took over in 1999 for the second time.
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So, what has made him so popular and endearing all of a sudden in places like Abia, Enugu and all the other places he had no business winning?
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If he calls himself a born-again Christian, I will challenge him to do the righteous thing and dissociate himself from the outcome of the April 19 elections and order fresh elections. What happened on April 12 and 19 has demonstrated more than ever before that Nigeria at 42 years old as a sovereign nation is yet to learn how to do things right.
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I am not an alarmist but those who ignore history are bound to pay the price for walking into avoidable mistakes. Shagari turned a blind eye in 1983 when electoral robbery comparable to Obasanjo 2003 was committed and in came Buhari and Idiagbon.
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Nigeria survived the bleak years that followed. We cannot afford a recurrence.
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Bright Ukandu, USA 24 Apr 2003
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The 'average' person on the street is more interested in getting through each day with food in his belly. Students are eager to get back to school, pensioners are crying out, so much needs to be done and yet so much effort and funds are being used to 'fight' for political offices. When those who've lost this time, win the next time, what next? Does the cycle end? Won't the losers of the next time cry "foul", elections rigging, etc.?
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Please let's tackle relevant issues and not the cries over spilt milk.
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Rogainee, Algeria 24 Apr 2003
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The election generally is a shame, there is no point in a repeat election because it will mean spending more money, but at the end there will be no garrentee of a free and fair election. I do not think Nigeria is ready for a true democracy. All the members of both parties are all fighting for one thing - that is money for themselves. None of them has the interest of the country at heart.It is a big disgrace!!!
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Pat Umanah, United States 24 Apr 2003
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I have read with alacrity the outrageous comments about the so-called rigging of the Nigerian Election, INEC says that it was a well-organized, supervised election and certified it. So, by whose standards are these disgrunted voices screaming at the top of their voices that the Election was rigged? Or is it that, because their parties and friends lost the election, it was rigged?
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If PDP won the election hands down, then, more grease to their elbows. Good luck to them, probably they have the best game plan. We Nigerians always mistrust ourselves and have no respect or dignity for our fellow Nigerians. We should learn by now, how to be a good loser and a great winner.
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In Chicago, where I have lived for over 30 years now, once an election is completed, despite cries of rigging or irregularities during voting, the various parties come together by having a breakfast meeting and reconcile among themselves for the good of the City and the Community. And Life goes on.
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The Northerners have been rigging the Elections for years and years back by counting herds of cattle as human-beings while using the slogan "rule by majority" to dominate and control us in that Country for so many years, we in the South did not die, we survived it up till now. Buhari and his henchmen should go to blazes.
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Ben Tokunbo Macarthy, Chicago, IL. USA 24 Apr 2003
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Nigeria I sorry!!!!!!
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kaycee4you, Ajegunle, Lagos 24 Apr 2003
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Buhari and Obasanjo were military men, but look at past glory of both - just look at Nigeria's image and economy damaged by long rule of the army. There is no democracy in Nigeria, all these military men in civilian should go, we want new names and new faces not all these old faces.
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Joe Aigbe, Padova, Italy 24 Apr 2003
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It will be more mature for the losers of the last presidential election to accept defeat than to make inciting statements. Buhari's post-election speech is disapointing, does not relate to his popular war against indiscipline(WAI).
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The ANPP made a great mistake choosing Buhari to run for presidency. The only way he can become president in Nigeria is by millitary coup. It is unfortunate that the people of Nigeria will never go back to millitary rule. The election is over, people should emulate the example of USA, who accepted George Bush although Gore claimed he won the election. Nigeria needs a little stability and continuity in the Government. The winners of the last election should work hard to unite the country, educate the masses and provide employment opportunities.
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Otto Umana, Wilmington, NC USA 24 Apr 2003
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It is utterly ridiculous to even think that these people crying wolf should have won this election. Both men played tribal or religous politics and are now crying that Nigerians did not buy their divisive lies. I thought the President was more tolerant and more democratic minded than those sore losers. They need to change their visions for Nigeria and understand that most Nigerians worry about the basic needs of life more than regional, tribal or religous politics or sentiment. Hopefully, Nigerians will continue to emerge above the flaws of the past. I never really supported Obasanjo but he won the election and those who will not accept the results until they win should follow the legal means to redress their grieviances.
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Good luck Mr. President and try to use the mandate Nigerians gave you to do a better job.
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Engr. Louis Onu, New Orleans, Louisiana USA 24 Apr 2003
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When you call yourself a thief, people will have no option but to call you a thief. That is the case with most of the opposition parties that took part in the elections in Nigeria. Before the elections were conducted, Buhari had started saying that he was not going to accept the result if he was not declared the winner. That tells the world how unprepared he was for the election and he thought he would declare himself the winner the way he did on the December 31, 1983.
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What made him think that he would win a presidential election in Nigeria that is freely and fairly conducted? He should realize that not all Nigerians have forgotten his overthrow of Government in 1983. Buhari, please, go and enjoy your retirementand your wealth and leave us alone.
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For Ojukwu to stay in the East and think of winning the presidential election is the greatest joke of the year. Our people have no idea what it means to be a politician. They mistake it for business.
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And for you Obasanjo, congratulations on your re-election. But know that if the people of Nigeria have no power to challenge you, God does. God will not forgive you if you do not drag Nigeria and Nigerians from power this time around. Nigeria have enough wealth to make all her citizens live comfortably but you stay there and watch this go down as one of those things. Nigerians are giving you a second chance and they deserve to be rewarded. Please rebuild our country.
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God bless Nigeria.
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Daniel Abba, Durban- South Africa 24 Apr 2003
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I love the Nigerian people and soon will be marrying one. It really hurts to see how there is so much violence and such bad politics. Did you all forget the people??
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I feel that how will you have a more stable and peaceful Nigeria if you don't have a stable and peaceful elections. Because of greedy politicians I think it will take time for this to pass. But unfair elections do not serve the people.
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Why is this happening? What is this all about in the 1st place? Why are we having elections - it is to better yourselves and your country and when you resort to violence it only makes things worse not better.
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If things cannot get resolved this time around, you should find someone you know and know could be a good leader with the people in mind and isn't led by money but is led by people and for the people.
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Have gatherings in different communities throughout this time until next election to figure out who that one great person will be. And then stand behind him and cheer him on. Decide what you will do when you become President or what ever the position and let all the people know. So by the time the next election everyone will know this person.
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Sherry Birkinbine, US 24 Apr 2003
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PDP cabals have done it again, after doing it to Dr. Alex Ekwueme at the PDP primaries. It is a shame that PDP did not get rid of the military in 1999. This curse have been consuming them all, and now destroying Nigeria.
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Obasanjo is not the born-again christian messiah, but a born-again military mafia. They have made their bed, and they will lay down on it. I feel sorry for the masses, the poor and the hungry.
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Democracy has been butchered!
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Maduka Nzoiwu, Tracy, CA 24 Apr 2003
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The most important thing we should be talking about is how to move the country forward. The interest of the country must be first by bringing all parties under one umbrella.
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Those of us outside the country are looking foreword to see improvement in security and stability in all area of social amenities, you should foreget about election and work together as one Nigeria.
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God Bless Nigeria, God bless you all.
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Obomakin, London-UK 24 Apr 2003
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Having spent most of his time in the Nigerian military and being very much a part of the military dictatorship that ruined and plundered Nigeria socially and economically, one does not expect Obasanjo to have the education or the civilisation required for a democratic election.
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Obasanjo and his military cohorts bungled the election with rigging, ballot box stuffing, figure manipulation and declared themselves winners. Obasanjo's government has remained a continuum of military dictatorship in the disguise of a civilian democracy.
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With the attendant economic failures of his government, the highest unemployment rate after the civil war, uncontrolled spree of ethnic violence,neglect of the University education, non payment of salaries et cetera, no reasonable Nigerian actually voted for him and he is aware of this. No wonder why he bungled the election. Nigeria is rated the second most corrupt nation in the world and Obasanjo and his cohorts have proved it in the election. The opposition will make the mistake of the century by arguing their case before the Nigerian judiciary which is the most corrupt judiciary in the world. What the opposition should do is to start immediate massive demonstration as occured in Yugoslavia when Milosovic bungled the election; at the same time the opposition should call USA and Europian Union to intervene. After all, both the Europian Union and USA observers witnessed the corruption in the election.
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Abdulahi Magaji, New York , USA 24 Apr 2003
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As a Nigerian living outside the country I have closely followed news reports of the events surrounding the elections that held recently and my observations are based on what I believe is a rational analysis of the events rather than an emotional reaction.
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Firstly it is clear to everyone that the elections were not remotely at bad and as violent as was predicted and the turnout was very high but not ridiculously so. This to my mind is an achievement worth celebrating. If we take the worst case scenario (the combination of the worst reports from observers especially that of the Europeans and Americans, who take joy in rubbishing everything African).
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Observers were totally free to access all the polling stations and observe any and all irregularities; this again, to my mind, is worth celebrating. According to the worst reports, irregularities occurred in 12 out of 36 states - i.e in 24 states the elections were well above board - a definite passmark for a nation just starting out in civilian to civilian transition!
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In 6 out of the 12 states the irregularities were adjudged by the hard observers to be serious, but not enough to compromise the outcome, in other words lessons ought to be learnt for the future.
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In the most contententious 6 states including Edo, Rivers etc the elections were said to be a total sham, and indeed in some like Edo, INEC has admitted this, but pleaded that it is only a court of law that has the power to annul the elections in these areas.
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Evidently the ball is now in the court of the aggrieved persons to seek redress through the proper channels rather than engage in thuggish behaviour of hijacking press conferences and threatening fire and brimstone!
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To my mind the greatest dividend of democracy in the past 4 yrs has been the coming of age of the judiciary. Over the past 4 yrs that it has been free of military dictatorship it has performed creditably - the most recent being over the matter of political party registration. There is therefore no reason for anyone, especially those who formerly shackled the judiciary to now claim that they have no confidence in the electoral tribunals.
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It is worthy of note that the Obasanjo government and party has always obeyed the courts even in rulings against them; this to me is the greatest legacy of the man, because by that he is instituting the rule of law on which any democracy must be based. All aggrieved persons must therefore be encouraged to go to the courts, as this will not only right the wrongs but also strengthen our nascent democracy as well as provide employment for our young lawyers!
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Having said that it is probably of little use going to the courts in the presidential elections, because every non-partisan observer, whether local or foreign and including those that hate Obasanjo, agree that in an election organized and policed by angels, he will win.
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If you subtract the total votes he got from the 6 states in question and add them to those of Buhari the man still wins! However in the other elections it is vital that things run that course, so that those who undermined out electoral process will be exposed and punished. Long live the federal republic of Nigeria!
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Uche, London UK 24 Apr 2003
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I felt so good about the outcome of the elections, even though there were some irregularities. The Nigerian people have become more enlightened and sophisticated than some so-called politicians give them credit for. When you objectively and sincerely analyze the results, the real losers were the AD party but for good reasons. The people of the south-west critically and objectively examined their leaders and voted according to their perceived performance. I was not surprised that only Governor Tinubu survived that test because I believe also that he exhibits a vision and I hope he is able to better transform Lagos State.
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Let the rest of Nigeria take a cue from the south-west experience. The people of the south-west demonstrated that they are no longer mesmerised by name only, but by accomplishment and vision. In time, the rest of Nigeria will follow the same path.
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Check it out - ANPP did not lose much ground in the north which is their real base, so what is Buhari making noise about? UNPP and APGA did not have enough time to really propagate their ideas and manifestos. I believe by the next time around, those other serious parties would have had time to be solidly on the ground. People should be honest enough to themselves to accept what they deserve. What you put in is what you should get out. Let the Buharis, Ojukwus, Nwobodos, Fawehinmis stop fooling the public. This is not about democracy nor the populace; this is about their own interests.
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Where there were substantiated election irregularities, petitions should be forwarded to the election tribunals for appropriate remedies - peacefully.
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Nigeria cannot and should not be expected to be perfect at this stage of democracy. Let all Nigerians and her real friends just join hands together through dialogues to make Nigeria a better place for all.
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Congratulations to the winners and better luck next time to the non-winners.
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May God bless Nigeria
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Jubel Adenekan, New York, U.S.A. 24 Apr 2003
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It is very unfortunate that after 43 years of independence, Nigeria cannot hold its head high among the comity of nations and conduct a free and fair election.
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Judging from what we hear and see on the internet, in one state I am very sure that the incumbent governor chimaroke Nnamani was not expected to have been re-elected considering that he performed poorly for the past four years and he was rigged into power.
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However, we the young ones are learning from our fathers the way politics should be played in Nigeria, that is, whoever hires the highest number of armed bandits wins. We will arrange to start our own politics by bringing into the country hired assassins armed bandits and suicide bombers, since our fathers cannot lay a good example for us.
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It is so unfortunate that my heart bleeds, in Enugu state the governor has handed the state over to armed robbers; for us to come home, you will be afraid for your life and your property. An average of fifteen cars are snatched every day by Chimaroke's boys.
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The earlier the present political class realise that this country belongs to all of us, the better.
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Sunny Joseph Okeke, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa 24 Apr 2003
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I hope we can all learn that the current system will only superimpose players in the current political process who have sponsorship and campaign money... to even think of contesting you must have solid financial means. You cannot lobby, for no sponsors will come to your aid if you can't throw your weight around and be a major player... This on its own is a huge letdown and it gives a false picture of the April 2003 elections.
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Olusheyi Kasali, Dublin, Eire 24 Apr 2003
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Following the just concluded Governorship/Presidential elections, it is obvious that what went on was a rape to this nascent democracy. Instead of free and fair elections which was promised what went on was clear case of election malpractices, violence from every side and abuse of fundamental human rights. The so-called Ruling party took advantage of this election to tell the country that they can do anything at anytime and nothing will happen.
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I don't think we can accept this. All hands should be on deck let us fight these corrupt leaders. This election must be cancelled. We need fresh election.
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Victor Wolemonwu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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I think it is deplorable that the Nigerian elections went the way they did, with the Peoples' Democrative Party being accused of election malpractices. However, the picture may not be as dismal as it is being painted by the international media. Consolidating democracy, for every Nigerian to have a say and opportunity for further development and correction in the future, I think overides the misunderstanding that the reported malpractices may have caused. The aggrieved candidates are not any different from those who out-rigged them at the polls. You cannot commit election fraud in Nigeria where you are not popular. It has always backfired in a country almost addicted to mass violence. Mr Buhari and the rest should get busy at something productive and allow the Nigerian project to succeed.
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Bolaji Olugbemisoye, Agege, Lagos, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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After reading different comments from fellow Nigerians, all I could say is "give peace a chance". Our country, after the independence in 1960, has only enjoyed a five-year period of peace and stability. To all of us that have lived these period till date, will understand what I mean.
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Like me, many live outside our country - for one reason or the other. We supposed to have learned from the politics of the different countries we live in- is there 100% democracy in the country we live in?
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It's high time we changed our way of thinking. Why can't we all start thinking of - "how can I contribute to the welfare and progress of my country - Nigeria?
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Fellow citizens, no magic, no external force will help us to build - I didn't say rebuild - our country,because it's still under construction since it became a republic in 1963. Let's try to remember the poem -"little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land" always. If we love ourselves,we will love our country. May God bless us and our country.
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'DEINDE VAUGHAN, La Paz, B.C.S,MEXICO 24 Apr 2003
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I think all aggrieved politicians should seek redress through the election tribunals and allow the populace to live peacefully through a civilian to civilian transition. Otherwise the politicians should be the ones to go on hungerstrikes or man matches around protesting instead of inciting the civil society
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Ebere, Abuja, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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I congratulate Obasanjo and his collegues, whether they win the election or not, Buhari cannot win Obasanjo. He should just stop making a noise.
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Thanks.
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Mary
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Mrs Mary, Lagos, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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We cannot talk of election in Nigeria. It is simply selection. The most pathetic is Omisore who won from detention camp. It is only God that will see us through in Nigeria. PDP as a party has decided to remain in power by all means.
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PLEASE GOD, SAVE YOUR CHILDREN.
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Engr. Adibe, Port Harcourt 24 Apr 2003
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The results of the elections which many say do not represent the will of the people should be challenged because they have been massively rigged. In Africa, most leaders find it difficult to relinquish power. But if Nigeria is serious in enthroning democracy, it must see that players play the game in line with laid down rules.
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Uganwa Charles, London, Uk 24 Apr 2003
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Despite the negative predictions of bloodshed, the peaceful conduct of Nigerian elections has been a great plus for Nigeria and Nigerians. Albeit the elections are said to be rigged, I think the most important thing is for us to pray for a continued peace. After all, politics is a human game!
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However, let the purported leaders know that thousands are dying as a result of hunger and poverty, bad roads, inadequate and inefficient health services and general insecurity. Let the new Obasanjo-led government show to Nigerians and to the whole world that it can solve most, if not all the basic problems that are confronting Nigeria. If elections could be that perfectly rigged, then good life should also be rigged for the Nigerian people.
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In the main, may God give the losers the fortitude to bear the loss of the elections, and the human hearts to the winners, so that both of them can work for the survival of Nigeria. AMEN!
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Frank Oko, Tokyo, Japan 24 Apr 2003
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The issue here is not about who won or lost the elections but whether the elections were free and fair. From all indications, including reports from monitoring agencies, the elections were blatantly and ruthlessly rigged in favour of the ruling party in all the elections. In Warri, for instance, when news came out that the AD candidate had won the elections, it was celebration galore throughout the nook and cranny of the state. When news later came that the Govenor has been re-elected, you could see the disappointment on the faces of the masses.
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A bad precedent has been set and if allowed to hold would only get worse in subsequent elections. All the elections should be cancelled and new ones held. If not, I am not a prophet or seer but one thing I can see, this republic will hadly endure the next four year. Watch out.
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Gragra, Warri, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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Both Obasanjo and Buhari are Birds of the same feathers. They should allow the poor man to rest, jo.
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Ordinarily I would not have commented on the recent outcome of the Nigerian elections at all levels, but because it appears most people are taking what just happened as a very serious exercise, I feel compelled to make this comment.
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What happened was an interplay of various business interests groups in action in Nigeria in the name of politics. Whoever imagined that at the end of the day, the outcome of the recent election will be devoid of rigging and so on must be dreaming. Remember that there is no morality in business!!! Buhari and Obasanjo and other Generals at one point or the other have destroyed our economy beyond repair. The PTF wahala, Global gallivanting in the name of seeking for investors are clear examples of who these people are. Is it the Ikemba Ojukwu or who? They are all murderers, and should stop killing our children, parents, mothers, brothers and sisters. The voices and blood of the innocent masses/voters will haunt them until they all die.
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The Ministers are afraid of losing their jobs so they must back Obasanjo. For those that are bold or have stolen enough they normally will resign. The same thing goes for the governors, National Assembly members, Local Government chairmen and their councillors etc.
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Who is talking about free and fair election? Its a struggle amongst the thieves. Who will be the Judge to preside over the tribunals and the courts? Abeg, Buhari and others should allow the masses to rest. Obasanjo is already a spent force, abi ne? They should know that the person that the gods want to kill, will first of all make him mad. Buhari and Obasanjo and all the others should better watch it before it is too late.
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The only way out of this mess is to turn to God who made Nigeria, to help solve the problem by raising up for us those that can do the job. Nothing short of that will solve Nigeria problem. Leave the masses alone.
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Avreson Kigbu, Manchester, United Kingdom 24 Apr 2003
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I think we Nigerians should be looking to improve and develop our country and not allow any fraudster to be our president. We can see that during the four years, all these governors and the president have done is embezzle our money. I think we need to think hard and twice before electing a leader. I think Obasanjo is a bad leader and he should not be allowed to rule for any four years because before we realize it all our money will be gone.
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Tope, London, United Kingdom 24 Apr 2003
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WINNERS. IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT NIGERIANS START THINKING ABOUT PEACE, LET'S ALL SUPPORT THE WINNERS AND MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES. I BELIEVE THAT NIGERIA IS GETTING BETTER. WE ARE THE ONES TO BUILT OUR COUNTRY ,WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT OUR COUNTRY, NIGERIA. THANKS
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CLARA A OWOLABI, SIOUX CITY IOWA USA 24 Apr 2003
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The 419 (April 19) Election is a rape on democracy. Most results announced for South-East, South-South and some States in The North are completely fraudulent and defy logic. In the Nigeria of today, democracy has been raped just before dawn and I am scared what the rapists will do in the daylight of the next four years. Nevertheless, I urge my fellow Nigerians to give peace a chance and tolerate this government that lacks credibility and legitimacy, otherwise the road to ivory coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia and DR of Congo will be too long to travel.
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Engr G.C. Amos, Abuja, FCT Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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This is a time of great caution for our great nation and people in Nigeria. While there are no doubts about some of the irregularities stated, are these enough to question the whole process? Posterity will not forgive us all, if we let some few selfish, disgruntled and bad losers derail this transition process.
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The reports on the last elections are quite disturbing as people continue to over-emphasize only the negative aspects of it. Most disturbing is that fact that the views being expressed are simply of three groups; (i) the politicians; (ii) Nigerians living abroad, and (iii) the International Observers, without anyone seeking or presenting the views of the average Nigerians who actually made their choices through their votes.
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It will be foolhardy for anybody to suggest, or expect that the elections in Nigeria at this stage of our political life can be devoid of rigging. I totally agree with an earlier writer who said “it was all a question of who had the upper hand in the perpetuation of fraud. Different parties had their different strongholds, and it would not have been possible to penetrate such strongholds to perpetrate fraud.
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Interestingly not all the political parties have engaged themselves in this inglorious act, only the ANPP and APGA who are contesting the presidential elections, with the AD rubbishing the gubernatorial elections. Like everything else in Nigeria today, they would rather not contest the outcome and leave this to God. Where was God when AD governors were misappropriating funds meant for the people they were supposed to govern? Where was God when the people of the South West witnessed probably the worst level of governance since independence notably in states like Ogun, Oyo and Osun States? How can anyone who lives in these areas do otherwise than to vote out these greedy and incompetent fools?
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In the same vein, how in the world can APGA or Ojukwu claim that he won the elections? Who is APGA, when was the party formed and where are their roots? We need to realize that we are not talking about a Local Government election in the Easter part of the country, where even on a good day APGA will lose. If the East does not see the light and put a stop to their political naivety, they will continue to play the errand boys in Nigerian politics.
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The same is the case of the ANPP, how can ANPP win these elections in Nigeria with a combination of a Muslim fundamentalist, who at one point earlier in the history of Nigeria had helped to truncate democracy and a greedy, dishonest and failed Senate President?
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It is clear that these are just bad loser going for the spoil. In some of the disputed states even the indigenes rejoiced in the outcome of the elections.
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Nigerians leaving abroad must not just sit down in their comfortable homes abroad, and believe all what they hear on CNN and BBC. By now they must have realized that these cable channels always report negative news, they never see anything good around them and most especially Africa.
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While I am not in support and will never support cheats or inappropriate actions/deeds, this transition is a learning process for us as a nation, and we must take learning’s from this experience / experiment. We will not get this right in one day, even America, with her several years of independence and the biggest advocate of democracy had her shares of the spoils at their last elections.
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We Nigerians must realize that Nigeria is bigger than all of us, and we must do what is right for the nation. For the aggrieved ones, if they have their facts they should go through the appropriate processes to obtain re-dress. They should learn to shut their big mouths and do the right and proper things for once.
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Dipo, Lagos, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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No election is 100% free and fair. The results should stand since, in African elections, there are no good losers. PDP is capable of correcting the Nigerian image and economy damaged by the long rule of the army.
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Toni Ugwude, Nsukka,Enugu state, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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The entire election was a disgrace to the nation, because of the rigging in many states. But we should learn to be good sportsmen, by showing magnanimity and humility in victory, galantry, and good naturedness in defeat.
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NICK JOMO JONES NWEKE, ROME, ITALY 24 Apr 2003
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My Fellow Nigerians, critizing on who won or who lost the election has no solution to our problems; rather let's join hands to work for the good of our Country.
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Miss Chiakaiheome Amaugo, Rome, Italy 24 Apr 2003
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Nigerians probably noted the devils they knew. President Obasanjo is truly a great survivalist. He has inherited three pairs of shoes which rightly belonged to three dead men - Murtala, Abiola, Yar'Adua, then he invited one owner of another possible pair- Bola Ige - into his cabinet. We all know the result of that poisoned apple - Bola and AD dead.
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Prometeo, Epimeteo and Pandora are all there in this comedy, but Nigerians will do better to take sides with Prometeo. Obasanjo is decidedly Epimeteo.
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Victor Patrick Akpan, Florence, Italy 24 Apr 2003
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I think Nigeria should learn more about democracy. They are just there sharing money.
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J.Obiora, China 24 Apr 2003
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Well, to start with, all should note that PDP has now redefined Democracy as - "Government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich".
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This being the case, we all as Nigerians are gonna have a long drawn-out battle with forces that now want to redefine democracy.
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For me, I am a non-partisan, self-employed youth; all I want is to have fuel around, electricity and some clean water.
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For a start, maybe we should forget government and ask the oil companies - Shell to supply us with these basic amenities and we can leave the other issues to the politicians.
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People with truth and conscience should now avail themselves of the civilized medium of Technology and telecommunication to instill humane behaviour amongst the leadership.
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It's appalling, to hear the amounts of money shared out to the men of the Nigerian police and all of those entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding the polity.
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May God almighty save us from this Sodomic exploitation.
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chario!
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Ken, Port Harcourt, Nigeria 24 Apr 2003
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I would like to firstly congratulate INEC for a job well done at their first trial in conducting a peaceful election. Let's assume there were some problems in six states as claimed by the European and Commonwealth group observers.
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My question to them is this: are they claiming that all the polling stations in those states rigged? If yes then congratulation to PDP for a job well done. I am sure if the total votes cast for the six states are given to Buhari he will still not have enough votes to claim victory and why does Buhari think he has a right to win and Obasanjo has no right?
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For the foreign observers, I am sure they are very dissapointed that the scale of violence expected did not materialise. I wonder if the only time an election will be free and fair by their foreign standard is when the opposition wins?
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As for Buhari and Ojukwu i think they should watch their utterances else the law of Nigeria should take its course. Nobody is above the law in Nigeria and for Europe and America they should warn those trying to foment trouble. Nigerians are now well awake and don't need refugee camps. To my fellow Nigerians well done for a peaceful election. Do not let greedy people who will benefit from military intervention deceive you to riot. When troubles start they will be the first people to flee Nigeria with their children while the poor die.
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Congratuation to my President Olusegun Obasanjo on your victory please continue to fight for the unity of Nigeria
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Smart Binitie, PDP Chairman, Republic of Ghana Chapter, Accra Ghana 24 Apr 2003
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I think we Nigerians should be happy that a tyrant such as Buhari was never given the mandate to rule a nation, he overthrew a legitimate president 20 years ago; history will never forgive him. Aikhomu (former Babangida's vice-dictator) should go to hell, he does not represent the Ishan-people nor their interest, he is still looking for money after embezzling much money during Babangida's time in office. Finally the election result is a true reflection of what Nigerians mean; by rejecting Sharia and her main advocate - Buhari. NO APPEAL IN HEAVEN, NO appeal in the collective voice of Nigerians
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Onyisi, Denmark 24 Apr 2003
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Fellow Countrymen!
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Having read the opinions of many of us, it is strongly felt that we should just bury the hatchets, and try to forge ahead. Let's stop crying over split milk; instead, let's continue to pray and wish our country well. As a matter of fact, I am yet to come across a perfect democracy anywhere. You may only succeed in finding people who are law-abiding and governable. Such people do demonstrate their belief in the Almighty God by not taking the laws into their own hands, but instead by committing matters unto HIM who is able to do all things, in prayer, realising that everything has its limits, only as allowed by God.
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This should also be our posture now and always, if we are to make any headway. Opinions that should be expressed now, and which will be considered mature and intelligible, is that which will suggest ways forward for our dear battered country! You may concede a re-election now, only to end up having a worse outcome - because, every contestant would want to win anyway!
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Realise that the power of incumbency is often at play in most democracies of the world; so let's give ours the benefit of the doubt this time around. I feel that at the appropriate time, the Constitution should be reviewed to among other things, provide for a one-term office for most elective positions (say 5 years at a go) because it will not only be cost-, energy- and headache-saving, it will also be most appropriate for our present level of political development and maturity.
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If you ask me again, I'll tell you that for Nigeria to still witness an electoral process under the prevalent climate, is a plus! Some of us have been terribly afraid that our embryo democracy was going to be terminated prematurely, by some over-ambitious khaki boys, who would get up one morning to announce to us "Fellow Countrymen..!"
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Obviously, if that had happened, we would be right back at square one, as it were, and with the attendant implications both locally and globally.
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So I feel we should be thankful to the Almighty God, that at least there was a presidential election this time, even though rigged! After all, it was INEC that announced the result to us!
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One adage quickly comes to mind here, and it says: "You should like what you have, where you can't get what you want." Please, in the interest of peace, let's allow sleeping dogs to lie this time around! God bless us, and long live Nigeria, our dear fatherland. Amen!
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Achionye, J.N.C, Houston, Texas. 24 Apr 2003
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Fellow Nigerians, with the massive rigging by Obasanjo and the PDP and including the total control of all the houses, does anyone think the 2007 election will not be a repeat of 2003?
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The next election will be a repeat, if the PDP gets away with the current rigging. Who is to stand in their way; the military that has been bought? The police or INEC?
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Let's face it, we are headed for a one-party state controlled by the retired generals who are billionaires without a single factory that produces even a hand-woven basket.
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Opposition will be suppressed in the name of keeping the peace; what makes the country any better compared to a military administration or police state? God help us.
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Democracy is just a word if it's not by the people for the people. Once it is rigged after 40 years on independence, it is no longer a democracy but a dictatorship.
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Nobody not even the US, will stand up to Obasanjo for a rig-free election, or force Nigeria for three reasons: Oil, Population and Military (plus potentially several millions of Nigerian young men)
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If another party geneinely wins the 2007 election, can any Nigerian bet that the PDP with their vast political machinery, including the hood-winking of the AD party, willingly give up control??
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Sunday Madu, Dallas, TX, USA 24 Apr 2003
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The best thing Obasanjo could do to make history and a legacy for himself, is to call for re-election in areas that have reportedly been shamelessly rigged, even in front of foreign observers.
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I believe he may still win but not by the wide margin reported. The last thing Nigeria needs is a one party-state and given the penchant to remain incumbent for life, Nigeria might as well be under military rule.
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At least there won't be all these ministers to loot the treasury; by this I means fewer hands in the cookie jar.
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Given widespread poverty, mass unemployment, indifference to striking universities, delapidated roads, neglect of the Delta oil producing states, incoherent national planning and wanton looting of the Nigerian treasury, I find it hard that Nigerians voted for another four years of the same.
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I am ashamed to be a Nigerian, with my country being dubbed top in the Corruption Class, and the shameless do or die politicians who run for election, as a do or die matter. It only shows every one is out to, or shall I say, most are out to loot the local, state and federal treasuries.
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Unfortunately, the newspapers, instead of putting the politicians to task as far as providing light and jobs and funding for agriculture, take brown envelopes from politicians to survive; no wonder the whole country is in such a hero mess. To me I would have voted for Buhari based on past record against curruption and civil servant tardiness.
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Kanayo Nmadu, Dallas, USA 24 Apr 2003
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Nigeria as a country is fraud and you don't expect their activities to be legal. Until people realize that the experiment has failed and liberate every nation in Nigeria, there will never be success and peace in that country.
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They should divide that country [so that] every nation [can] go and build their homes. Nigeria as experimental material has failed and people should realize that now.
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Chuka, Johannesburg. 24 Apr 2003
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The PDP, from all facts available, rigged the elections because, one, the party wanted to deal with some opposing governors and parliamentarians (except Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State who is a personal friend to Vice President Atiku and possible running mate of Atiku come 2007).
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Two, they want to turn Nigeria to a one party state de facto. Thus before the next elections in 2007, the remaining 29 political parties must have died a natural death.
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Dele Ikusaanu, Ilesha, Osun State, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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In the history of elections in Nigeria, this is about the next fairest election after that of June 12. The truth is that Nigerian politicians have not imbibed the spirit of sportsmanship while playing politics and that is why they usually play politics to the last drop of blood of the common man.
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In any situation of competition, some are bound to have an edge over others; but our politicians have never come to reality with this. In any case, allegation of massive rigging has always been a ready-made excuse among politicians when in reality the first strategy available to virtually all Nigerian politicians when it comes winning election is rigging.
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Nigeria must progress, therefore no amount of negative description must be allowed to derail the democracy project. The beauty of this election is that Nigerians have to vote out those they do not want any longer, a healthy development for democracy to survive. Instead of complaining, losers should start thinking of how to better their chances in 2007 elections.
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I was on the field as one of domestic observers and I witnessed what the electorates mean, at least in my local area. But reports from other places are not significantly different. I am not saying there are no malpractices but it was common to all the parties. Secondly, they are marginal and so could not warrant cancellation of the elections. Nigeria must rise again.
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Abdulrasheed. A. Muhammad, Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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It is funny that Salihu Zarma should mention that Nigerians are not celebrating. I ask him what should they celebrate, the fact that God has been so kind not to hand them over to the worst of two evils?
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I remember there was a time Nigeria had an exchange rate of 45 kobo to $US1.00, Obasanjo was head of state back then and things were not so bad, in fact, one could say the future looked rosy until Shagari and his boys wrecked it all.
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The military came in under the guise of repairing the situation and if anyone with a memory can remember, they really tried; but you had Nigerians complaning loudly as usual and before you could say "coup", there was Babangida and his boys announcing to us that he was effectively our new manager of state!
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Things were not so bad in 1984 when Buhari and his boys managed the state but by the time Babangida and his boys were finished with us, our moral fiber had been ripped apart, our economy survived only because Nigerians went abroad in droves to prevent mass starvation of our loved ones, our beloved country Nigeria had become one of the most corrupt on earth and I know for a fact that is no propaganda.
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There is a saying that those who the gods want to kill, they first make crazy. By the time Babangida and his boys were finished with us, we were on the verge of insanity but he managed to pacify us with Shonekan and we all thought things would "hopefully" get better. Deep down, we knew we were only hoping against hope and soon enough, Abacha and his boys were the new managers of state.
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This is enough to drive any society crazy but Nigerians are special, they are the true Jobs of this world, adversity bounces off them like teflon. Abacha showed us true dictatorship, his predecessors had only been practice rounds (from the first ever coup in Nigeria to Abacha's), he was not only brutal, but he seemed to thrive on cruelty. Unfortunately for Abacha, Nigerians by this time had found their faith and soon enough, God answered their prayers.
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Once again, God has given Nigeria a chance to lay a solid foundation for the future generations of Nigerians to come, and once again, it seems we might just blow it with our childish complaints and myopia.
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For those too young to remember, this is our true third republic having blown two previous opportunities. The reason they imploded are the same being bandied around once again by anarchy hawkers and social parasites that want nothing good for ordinary Nigerians as long as they and theirs are okay.
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They will complain and make all sort of crude noises hoping for a state of total anarchy so they can ask their mercenaries in the military to intervene to save the country. If Nigerians let this happen again, they deserve whatever fate befalls them and I will campaign hard for those abroad not to support them in anyway or shape.
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The cost to those abroad is heavy financially, socially, culturally, and emotionally and if the other party to our covenant (Nigerians at home will fight hard for a better future, and we abroad will work very hard to do our best to support them financially) can't keep their part of the deal, maybe we should just terminate the covenant and see how long Nigerians can really last without our support.
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Nigerians abroad should realise that we hold a great amount of political power in our wallets and we should find a way to turn it into political leverage. We should let Nigerians back home know that we will start practicing a policy of "No Political participation, no support".
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Those back home can't be our friends if their wish is for us to remain exiles forever, we should let them know point-blank that we will hold them responsible when we get back home and it's business as usual, we should let them know that if we are going to be sweating off our butts abroad, we'd like some kind of social compensation back home, that we expect them to put any trivial grievances away and work hard towards laying a solid foundation for Nigeria.
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We should also let these old guard corrupt politicians know that we don't want them to build the house, we just want them to do a good bricklayer's job and lay a solid foundation. Obasanjo should not be in a rush to undertake any ambitious projects, he should just get our laws respected, and enforced. If he tries anything without doing the above, it would be a gargantuan waste of time.
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Taofik Onasanya, Canada 23 Apr 2003
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Elections are as good as the people and the systems that generate them. Because of the level of corruption in Nigeria, even the results of great elections will be questioned. We are learning the leason very well: nothing will ever work in Nigeria until the social contract is re-examined. I don't see how we can expect a great election by a badly flawed social system.
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Nicholas , Phoenix, Arizona, USA 23 Apr 2003
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Let us all learn from the American experience. Let us rally round the president and make the nation not only governable but also to make appreciable progress, so that all the good people that fled the country during the tyrannic rule of the past military may return home to build our blessed nation. If all hands are on deck together we can turn the economy of our nation around.
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Erinfolami, Bronx, New York 23 Apr 2003
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Thanks for the chance given me to air my view on the recent elections in Nigeria. First of all let me categorically tell my fellow Nigerias that there is no democracy in Nigeria. What we have in Nigeria is democra-thief - government of the thieves, by the thieves. As a Nierian I can tell you for free that there is no free and fair elections in the dictionary of Nigeria, and there will be none as long as the yoppies, the elite, and die-hard money politics are concerned. Cancelling the already held election or going to court will not yield any contrary or different result either, as long as the incumbent is concerned; believe me or not, no Nigerian serving judge will rule against him, it will be death warrant for him or her. Thus, I hereby call on my fellow country men and women to let bygone be bygone and let's move on. Until the day, all Nigerians will collectively say "enough is enough" for this false culture of rigging, and false ideology of winning at all cost, no matter whatever it takes to win. That will be the day we shall see true democracy.
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Matthias Iorboh Idyu, Pittsburgh, PA., USA. 23 Apr 2003
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I don't know if the Nigerian elections were "fair." What I do know is that the US media portrays Obasanjo in a negative way. So I feel that a country's sovereignty is worth whatever potential dominators want to bring. The important focus is that the people indigenous to the land have the freedom of self-determination as regards their humanity and control over land and natural resources.
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mavac, Philly, USA 23 Apr 2003
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Uncle Sege has done wonderful things for Nigeria since he became our president. We need people like him, not the Okadigbo gangs. He believes in democracy and he showed this by handing over the government to a civilian in 1979. This time around he was dragged into politics by other well-meaning Nigerians after his emotional ordeal with Gen. Abach. He won this election, please let him ruleand continue his good work. God bless president Obasanjo and have mercy on Nigeria. Amen
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Dr. Moses Alatishe, Moncton, NB, Canada 23 Apr 2003
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Personally, I think the elections reflected, to a large extent, the wishes of the people. Elections all over the world including the US are not without some level of frauds but the question is; are those frauds enough to quell the overwhelming wishes of the people? Prior to the elections, opinion polls favoured the incumbent president so why the hullaballoo about his victory? I think those complaining are only playing to the gallery and are not being sincere and objective in their utterances.
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Take for instance the ousting of the AD governor in Oyo State by PDP. I have continuously said it for over a year before the elctions that AD will lose Oyo if they present Lam Adesina as their governorship candidate because of his non-performance. A governor that only thought it wise to repair the roads in the state just 2-5 months before elections should have known that the people are no fools to fall for such a gimmick.
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I hope Nigerians will act wisely by not allowing themselves to be used to perpetrate any acts of violence. Let those that are calling for civil disobedience take up the guns and knives themselves and fight for their own so called "selfish rights". WE ARE NO LONGER FOOLS!!!
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Sanya Dawodu, Stavanger-Norway 23 Apr 2003
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There are 2 incontestable facts: (1) the elections were not free and fair in some critical parts of Nigeria, and (2) the leading candidates have virtually no democratic credentials to speak of. What do these facts tell us? Many things, but perhaps the most important message is this: Nigerian democrats should start organizing seriously to build genuinely democratic parties that will play by the rules of democratic elections in future.
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Rastaman Obi, New York, USA 23 Apr 2003
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It has been interesting reading the different comments made by Nigerians about the last elections in our dear country. My opinion is that perfect elections don't exist anywhere - the last presidential elections in countries like the U.S. and in France where there is a long history of democracy testify to this. Personally, I think the large majority of votes won by the PDP could be a positive thing for the new government. Besides, if the losers (who I beleive cannot claim honestly not to have cheated either) are not happy with the results of the elections they should seek redress by legal and constitutional means, as resorting to violence would only be counter-productive. We should just move ahead and give Obasanjo a chance to prove his real worth as, with such a large majority, he shouldn't have any reasons not to show positive results at the end of his second term in office.
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Francis, Toulouse, France 23 Apr 2003
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I really do not understand what the noise is all about. Even if INEC were to overturn the results in the three states where the opposition has alledged widespread malpractice, Obasanjo would still have won! The truth is that Buhari is no match for Uncle Sege even if the latter has been dissapointing for the past 4 years. What I am more concerned about is the Gubernatorial elections especially in the South South and South East...Igbinedion, Ibori, Odili, Alamasyiegha, Orji Uzor are all crooks that should have been voted out (like the AD govs) if not for money politics and intimidation tactics employed by them. I dare say that they and their cohorts were responsible for the widespread fraud noticed in their respective areas. Those of us that have lived and worked in these areas know how these men and their colleagues in the state government loot the resources that should have accrued to the impoverished locals. These men should not be allowed any RESOURCE CONTROL!
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Yinka Nerry, NJ, United States 23 Apr 2003
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Rigging was universal to all parties and an embarrassing but realistic indicator of our level of political development. The only remedy is to move on and congratulate the winner, for even among thieves there should be honour, or alternatively to head for the electoral tibunal which is the only legal channel for redress; if however Buhari thinks any ordinary Nigerian will take to the streets in his favour, he must still be dreaming and he needs to wake up.
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Emeka Onwuocha, Abuja, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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It is amazing how PDP and its agents, particularly the Independent Electoral Commission, disenfranchized millions of eligible Nigerian voters in the just concluded general election. How would Obasanjo look at the faces of Nigerians and say he won the presidential election given all the cheating orchestrated by his party men on his behalf in the election. Shame.
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Clement Asuoha, Kansas City, Missouri, USA 23 Apr 2003
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This election can only be described as daylight robbery. An election where the so-called winner appears in his acceptance speech like a thief caught in the sudden glare of light. Hesitant, cagey and unsure.
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An election where the 'victors' are still not celebrating. Apparently unconvinced that such blatant fraud can achieve any semblance of legitimacy.
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This is a disgrace to all Nigerians of good conscience.
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Salihu Zarma, Maiduguri, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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I think the election was "rigged". For a long time in Nigeria all sides have never have candidates running for presidency except for this year, which has produced candidates from North( Hausas), the East (Igbo), the west (yourbas) and then South. My qustion is, why would the Hausas vote for Obasanjo when they have Buhari? Or why would the Igbos vote for Obasanjo when they have Ojukwu?. This is just plain crazy and there is no justification whatsoever for it. We the youths of Nigeria are tired of old men ruling our country without any form of improvement.I am waiting for the day Nigeria will have a real "free and fair election"
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naija4life, United States 23 Apr 2003
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It's undeniably true that the elections of April 19 were marred by electoral irregularities in isolated states of Nigeria. But the irregularities are not sufficient to invalidate the credibility of the elections. Electrocracy, which most people mistake for democracy, has no in-built institutional mechanisms or safeguards against fraud in elections. Elections even in the United States are often fraught with fraud. It is too much to expect Nigeria to transcend this abiding institutional defect inherent in electocracy. But it must be admitted that elections, in spite of their limitations, are about the only instruments we can deploy to approximate the popular wishes of the people.
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The elections of April 2003 may not be immune from irregularities, but their outcome reflects the most accurate approximation of the choice of the Nigerian people.
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President Obasanjo's closest contender is General Muhammadu Buhari who excites negative passions in parts of Nigeria other than the far North. Nigerian people may dislike Obasanjo. But they dislike Buhari more. It's simply a gradation of hatred. To expect Buhari to win a national election is akin to cherishing the illusion that the late Bola Ige, or for that matter the late Chief Awolowo, can ever be president of Nigeria. These people - Buhari, Ige, Awolowo and Chief Ojukwu - derive the social basis of their popularity for narrow ethno-religious confines. They have never in their private and public lives made even the vaguest pretences to nationalism and broad-mindedness.
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But whatever may be said about Obasanjo, it cannot be denied that he has an irrevocable, infectious faith in the unity of Nigeria. He is admirably nationalistic and broad-minded, and has never been identified with narrow interests. From the beginning of Nigeria's electoral history, the people have always voted against insular and despicably narrow-minded characters like Buhari. There is evidence for this assertion in the consistent rejection of Awolowo at the polls.
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It's the height of self-delusion for Buhari to expect to win a national election when he permanently presents himself to the nation as a Hausa-Fulani nationalist. The North made a fatal strategic error to have presented him for a national election. He is simply a hard commodity to advertise, much less sell, in any part of Nigeria other than the Hausa-Fulani North. If the elections were to be repeated several times over under the free-est and fairest conditions imaginable, Buhari will still lose with a wide margin. He is unelectable in the southern and central Nigeria, and the votes of his people in the far North are not sufficient to get him elected.
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Farooq A. Kperogi, Abuja, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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I am alarmed by what one of the earlier contributors, Ifedi Obioma, said about the 419 elections. My fear is that 419 courts and 419 election tribunals are going to be the ones who will hear the electoral complaints and will surely deliver a 419 verdicts.
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Where are we heading to?
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Iyke Onovo, Enugu, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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I sincerely wish to comment on this issue of all the 2003 elections in Nigeria. Following the incessant reports through BBC and CNN ,we the indigenes of Nigeria have come to the support of UNDP ,ANPP ,APGA and other political parties who are calling for the cancellation of both presidential and guber elections.
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From all indications, the election was not free and fair; therefore if we allows the sleeping dog to lie it means continuation of injustices ,abuse of human rights and the suffering of the poor masses.
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I am not saying this because I am the poorest but there are other Nigerians who cannot complain out of fear of victimisation. We need to revolutionise Nigeria for the younger generation, otherwise the ever living God cannot and will never forgive all the politicians in Nigeria .
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Chitto Obi H., Burgenland, Austria 23 Apr 2003
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I think that the evil that men do will continue to live after them. I will say three things.
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First, if Muhammadu Buhari was interested in democracy, why did he topple a democratically elected government in 1984 (that the government he toppled was utterly corrupt is irrelevant here)? And to make matters worse, guess who his running mate is? Chuba Okadigbo. I will leave you to conduct some investigation on his activities in the Senate over the last four years.
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Second, if Ojukwu was interested in democracy, why did he organise and orchestrate the rebellion known as the Nigerian Civil War from 1967-1970? Why should Nigeria be governed by an unrepentant rebel and secessionist? Will this create the stability Nigeria badly needs?
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And last, even President Obasanjo's cupboard may not be free of skeletons as well as past and present misdeeds, but it stands glowingly on the record that he remains the first military ruler in Nigeria to respect the rule of law and Democracy by conducting an election and handing over the reins of power to a democratically elected government in 1979. And to date, after four years as a civilian President, it is yet to come to my attention that Obasanjo has been accused of the corrupt practices that is the trademark of governance in Nigeria.
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The elections of April 19 may not have been free, but maybe it was fair that some people lost while others won.
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Ayopo Odunuga, Calgary, Canada 23 Apr 2003
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Nigerian leaders should learn to accept defeat in elections. They shold take examples from AD, Gali Na'abba,and Kwankwaso and even Al Gore. Rivers state, Bayelsa and Anambra state PDP spoilt our election which otherwise was free and fair. The fact that elections were manipulated in six out of 36 states is not enough to affect the integrity of the elections. I do not think the EU observers have the interest of Nigeria in their report. To be fair to INEC they did a wonderful job
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Isah Samaila, lagos 23 Apr 2003
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It is a statement of fact that in the field of human interaction, there are bound to be positive or negative results. The last general elections in Nigeria have gone a long way to prove this axiom.
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It is also in the nature of man that when he gets a little authority, he exercises unrighteous dominion. Such could be said of all the players in the elections, whatever part of the ideological divide they might find themselves.
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The elections were what Nigerians needed to confound sceptics on our ability to manage ourselves. We might not have been perfect, but at least, we have made a statement of fact that, given the right circumstances, we can conduct our own affairs.
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It will be foolhardy for anybody to suggest, or expect that the elections were free and fair. It was all a question of who had the upperhand in the perpetuation of fraud. But we must move on. Different parties had their different strongholds, and it would not have been possible to penetrate such strongholds to perpetrate fraud. So let us move on because the energy that could be dissipated on trying to right the wrongs in a country where injustice is a rule rather than the exception could have been chanelled into other productive sectors. Nigeria is in need of a conducive environment to move out of the doldrums and there is an urgent need to get going.
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Vincent Chukwuka Igbinedion, Apapa, Lagos. 23 Apr 2003
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It is very unfortunate that Nigerians don't learn in an easy way. Otherwise, Gen. Obasanjo and his PDP members should have been the first to make sure that democracy stays in Nigeria. Disenfranchising the masses is a crime and those who did it should not go unpunised, for this is the only way we can deter future criminals or riggers.
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From exprience, I can comfortably state that those who are managing the country are not capable of spelling democracy, not to mention defining it. I am calling on people of integrity, honesty to devise a workable system upon which we are going to run Nigeria with some degree of honesty.
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Until the interest of the masses become the interest of the public officials, Nigeria may not see peace.
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Chief Okaa Chima Ajoku, Miami, FL 23 Apr 2003
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The election was free and fair because in this nation we are just starting a democracy.
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Shola, Kwara State of Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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African sitting presidents never lost elections. Same applies to Obasanjo. Dictatorship on the way.
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Mike, Vancouver, Canada 23 Apr 2003
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It is high time we stop bringing shame to our country Nigeria. Those of you in Nigeria have failed to realised what we are going through here. Yes Obasanjo has won the elections. What next? Nigerians are suffering daily in the midst of glorious oil wealth. Our country is bleeding profusely because of what the "old woods" used by Obasanjo did to our treasury.
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Obasanjo should use young bloods this time around to invigorate and boost crippling Nigeria. We are tired of looters who pretend to be assembly men. If Obsanjo wants to avoid later impeachment, he should drop everyone he used. Nigeria needs progress badly. The only good news we hear about Nigeria in the United States and Britain is Corruption. I hope Obasanjo should recall the Auditor General to help him put things right.
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None of those who contested the election is good for Nigeria. We have seen leaders come and go. None has been able to feel the the pinch of the pains Nigerian masses are going through.Their main aim of venturing into politics is to loot the public till. Our money they speculated will continue to make them tremble like outcasts. To be sincere,none of those old fools are supposed to contest for any elective post. Their continuous nomination means that we are lacking youths that can redeem Nigeria. Jim Nwobodo, Ojukwu, Ike Nwachukwu, etc. should know that time for reckoning is nigh.
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Chris E. Obinwa, Reading, UK 23 Apr 2003
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It will be foolish to think that elections in Nigeria at this stage of our political life can be devoid of rigging. I am not justifying political cheats but only calling all concerned to the reality of present day politicking in nigeria.
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I think most of the candidates that won, especially Obasanjo, were always going to win. Most of the candidates that won were seen to be better than their counterparts or not as hated as the ones that lost.
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In the south-west, for example, the voting was against the incumbent AD governorship candidates which turned out an advantage for the PDP at least because of the Obasanjo/tribal factor. In the presidential election the two frontline candidates were hated by most Nigerians but Obasanjo was less hated because of his seeming statesman posture.
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I would not subscribe to reconducting the elections because it will trigger so much tension that might jeopardise the polity and because all those crying foul are not saints after all.
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Oguta Eniye, Lagos, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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I personally disagree with the results of the election because of its irregularities. The elections have been rigged in most local government areas of Imo states, just because Achike Udewan wants re-election through rigging; like Chief Gani Fawehinmi noted in his comment, how can anyone who has not been paid since six months to one year re-elect the governor of that state, Imo state?
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Governor Achike Udewan has not paid his people for four months, how then and with what eye will they go to the poll to re-elect him, not only that, his administration has not really done anything for the masses.
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Having visited home recently, it's hard to express the amount of sufferings the people are going through due to non-payment, yet they expect them to show up in the office everyday. When you see the city itself, it's a dumping ground, very dirty. I strongly believe that the results of all those states that were re-elected was rigged, and the truth of the matter now shows on the national level with Obasanjo's case.
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Nigerian leaders lack morals and every one of them in government are corrupt - once they taste power, they do not want to leave it.
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We arenot yet matured to handle democratic system of government, and as such need to put our selfish pride aside and ask the Western world to help us and conduct a free and fair election, this election should be cancelled, because there is enough evidence to justify the fact that the election was rigged.
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Nigeria has not got a leader and until we have a leader who will run an open door policy, a leader who will think of what he can do for his people and not steal, then we will know we are ready for a new system of government. We need a change of government,a change of attitude, honesty and fairness to build a better Nigeria.
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Uzoma C. Onyekuru, Canada 23 Apr 2003
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Uncle Sege has won. Let Buhari give way to the lasting peace that he could not give birth to, at his time.
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Personally, I expected he would make his usual noise. God will make Nigeria great again ! Amen.
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Rev Lani Stephens, Jos City, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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Am so thank to God for the election was going on peaceful.
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Taiwo, Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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Some Nigerians are still stuck with the mindset of civilians under a military regime. The foreign press wanted the Nigerian president to "ORDER" a stop to the implemenation of Sharia court directives, some Nigerians want him to "order" a trial of corrupt persons, "order" lecturers back to the universities, "order" electricity supply and so on.
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We operate a democracy in a civilian dispensation. The Nigerian president can no more stop the stoning of a convicted adulterer in Zamfara state any more than the president of the USA can stop an court ordered execution in Texas.
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To fight corruption you need a legal process. Things take time. The two-man sniper team that harrassed the USA last year are STILL in court.
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The foreign observers spoiled the fun with their generalizations. One oberver was quoted as stating that "There were scores of alleged fraud in many states across the country, often with collusion of election officials and security personnel". That observer spoke of "alleged" frauds, he was reporting hearsay.
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There are 36 states in Nigeria. If there are irregularities in some specific sections of some particular states then these should be evaluated in terms of its impact on the elections generally.
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We should also put Obasanjo's performance in perspective. The National Assembly has frustrated his efforts at bringing corrupt persons to court. He has waged a one-man crusade at recovering Abacha's stolen billions without support from the National Assembly or any of the other presidential candidates. The foreign press annoyingly emphasize the significant number of casualties from tribal and ethnic conflicts, as if it was the president that caused these tribes to fight each other.
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Paul Quassim, Mississauga, Canada 23 Apr 2003
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I am not Nigerian, but have visited the country on several business trips for my company. It is clear that its recent gubernatorial, parliamentary, and presidential election were far from fair and free. While Nigerians came out in droves to participate - itself a blessing - their true choices may never be known.
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In any case, I would suggest that those suggesting fraud was at play should use the courts to press their case. If fraud has been found, then new elections should be called. Finally, the election process my continue to be strengthened in Nigeria.
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Christopher, Manassas, VA 23 Apr 2003
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Elections in Nigeria can never be free and fair until we have a stable political class. So far we are still riddled with emergency politicians like Obasanjo and Buhari who come out to achieve the selfish motives of themselves and their sponsors.
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A man [Obasanjo] with no political ambition came out of the prison to win the presidential primaries and subsequently the election over the likes of Ekwueme, Rimi and co. who had been warming up for the polls after fighting for democracy. The party machinery was hijacked and Obasanjo was given the ticket to appease the Yorubas. Even the Yorubas rejected him but he still won.
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The north has now seen that the Yorubas have accepted him (like a father would to a rejected son turned successful) and are defending him with all they have. So they do again what they did in 1999, that is, hijack the party machinery and give Buhari the ticket but Ooops, he (sorry they) lost this time. Can’t they see what happened to Afenifere? When will these our so-called elders learn that though they have almost wrecked the educational system, they have not wrecked the brains of their subjects?
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The greatest agony the so called politicians are experiencing now is that instead of the "mass action" they expect from the populace, Nigerians are being entertained by the policitians' theatrics claiming they have the wishes of the people. It is a pity that PDP rigged the elections. They unfortunately are products of the same elders who Nigerians have left far behind in the aspect of political consciousness. We are wiser now. Any other government would still have made Nigeria the most corrupt country.
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What I would like the losers and "winners" to know is that we are no longer fools. The Western world can't fool us either. The British robbed us of true democracy by promoting the northern elite into power and have done so since then. The mistake of the 60s brought the military. Northerners led all the military governments who intervened. That Obasanjo won in 1999 was just to enable us have a taste of the national cake they've been enjoying. Unfortunately Obasanjo did not only bite the cake but he also bit the fingers as well.
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Sadly enough, like Abacha did to Abiola and co., he's not ready to let go of that cake yet. Can you imagine a group of silly people deciding for us how long we should rule? Who decides for them? Nigerians have read the lips of Buhari in the past 3 years of civil rule and we saw the contents of his heart. If they actually believe that they wanted equity in power-sharing, they should have promoted Ekweume, an Ibo to contest for presidency on the ANPP platform. Buhari had just two motives, viz:
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1.Regain northern hold on the presidency
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2.Fully implement sharia so as to restore the slipping hold the northern elite has on the gullible almajiris.
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Yes he's honest. He has always been honest - to the Kaduna mafia vision in ensuring that power remains in the north. Hence he intervened in 1983 to save their face when Shagari was failing.
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I hope Nigerians would read between the lines that return to military rule will only make things worse. No subsequent military rule improved the lot of Nigerians. All I needed from my seemingly affluent father (as he was then) was two naira as pocket money for a school term. 1 Naira will fetch me a paint bucket of garri, 20 years later still under military rule I needed 90 times that amount to purchase the same quantity.
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I was born in a house with a telephone line as standard equipment. (My father was just a graduate of a year's experience). After close to ten years of graduation, I could not afford a phone line because I could not afford the extra tips demanded, aside from the official 35,000 Naira fee. Thank god for the GSM. Who knows maybe I would have had to be a top executive before I could own a phone.
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All said and done, we need to move from military-created democracies to civilian-created ones. That the last election was fraudulent is very true. But what do you expect, free and fair elections? No way. A military government annulled the only free and fair election held in Nigeria. This was because it would be the last time they ever tasted power. Hence they always installed fraudulent democracies because they anticipate chaos and thereby come back in the name of intervention.
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We will have none of that this time. No more military interventions. Who ever seeks the mandate of Nigerians must go to the soap box not the radio station.
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Femi Obiomah, Lagos, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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We must agree that there is no a perfect country on earth, Nigeria is no exception. All we need is individuals to try and change to good. Buhari should come back for Nigerian president when he is 90 years old. We want Obasanjo as our president in nigeria.
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Ride on, Uncle Sege.
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John Olagbemi, Houston, Texas USA 23 Apr 2003
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It will be unfortunate if we allow sentiment to becloud our sense of reasoning as per this elections and hold ourselves down. Historically, all democracies passed thruogh this kind of teething stage. we should simply accept this result, even though it is full of "imperfection", and plan properly for next dispensation. Nigeria and Nigerians will eventually outlive the election riggers and this set of politrickians. We can only be getting better with future elections.
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Lastly, we should remember the popular saying that the election of a master by slaves does not change the status of slaves. And elections and electioneering are not an end but a means to democracy, which simply means bread and freedom.
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Olumide Olaniyan, Satellitte Town, Lagos, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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Anyone living in Nigeria, who is not connected to Abuja or other official channels of fraudulent access to sustenance must be thinking of how to survive in this country for another four years. It is sad, bizarre and puzzling that Nigerians have to live with the same frauds who have consistently told us that what we think, what we say, what we feel do not matter.
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What is democracy if it refuses to place food on the table, provides darkness for electricity, dry boreholes (where they are available) for water? All this hard work has removed billions of dollars from the national treasury and the perpetrators of these evils gloat over their sterling leadership qualities.
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Why are the people who voted massively for the ruling party not out on the streets celebrating? I shudder to think of how our country would survive in the coming years (months) with people who delight in attributing their actions, including the improbable election results, to God. They would think that they know God better than the rest of us. When God finally speaks, Nigerans would see the result.
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Ikeddy ISIGUZO, Lagos, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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I think the only way forward is for people to accept defeat and move on. PDP did their ground work and they worked really hard for the election and it paid off; it is only hard working people that can get the best out of life. AD, for example, are still using the old idea of politics to tell people what to do; people are grown-ups in Nigeria and they've voted for the party of their choice and I think the wish of all Nigerians should be allowed to stand.
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WELL DONE PDP. KEEP THE FLAG FLYING. GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
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Agbolade Okenla Esq, london United Kingdom 23 Apr 2003
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Nigeria will hardly conduct a free and fair election as things stand today because the politics is controlled by thugs at the grass root level. These thugs never believed in free and fair play, all they know is who pays more and he/she gets all the votes (or the higest figure).
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They cut across all the political parties. Until responsible people are participating in managing politics at wards and local government levels in Nigeria, free and fair election will continue to be a mirage. My advice is that whoever rigs more and wins should please do at least the minimum to improve the lives of poor Nigerians.
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Salihu Jamari, London, UK. 23 Apr 2003
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I see no reason why we shouldn't move forward; we do not want to allow the military, who are meant to see to the nation's security, to take over the government because of a reccuring factor that has decided to be part and parcel of our life in the country (corruption).
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Without mincing words, I make bold to say that the last election is not fair, though it is 'free'. The electorate has taken their time to study the candidates well enough to know who they really want to vote for.
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This happened in areas where opposition parties had their way. You will wonder also that some hardworking incumbents were shown their way out of office and you won't understand the reason for such. These are what I summed up to be a free but 'fairly fair' election.
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Gbenga Da Sylva, Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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The foreign observers cried 'foul', the local observers cried 'chicken' some politicians cried 'we no go gree'.I say let's give peace a chance and see what we make of this current setting.
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If we start all over again to organise fresh election, INEC would ask for fresh funds - from where or from whom?. Parties would campaign for how long?
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If the funds do not come, what next? What time frame are we looking at for another election? It's all questions and questions .
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Let's accept what we have for now. Four years is a very short time. I pray Almighty Allah grant us all good health and at the expiration of this period , may He grant us the Nigeria we all desire
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Ma-sallam.
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Halidu Musaliyu, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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I think every politician should accept defeat because all of them were involved in the rigging of the election. So the party that did his homework well wins the election.
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Aloko Remusadert, Dublin Ireland 23 Apr 2003
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I believe that those who had rejected the result are not very fair with themselves .These elections might not be free from rigging but how do we expect to get perfect elections in a new democracy .How many of those parties where on ground. How many went to different places around the country to campaign for votes? How many advertised to the public.Lets keep quiet and see how they play the game.
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Taiwo Adeolu,Abuja,Lagos, ,Abuja,Lagos 23 Apr 2003
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I do not subscribe to the opinion that the elections were completely free and fair. Given this, one would expect me to go further by suggesting an outright cancellation of the results. This is not my argument!!! What I would like to see at this stage is for the judiciary to play the impartial role of an arbiter in resolving all established cases of electoral fraud.
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Particularly in states like Enugu, Katsina, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross-River and Imo. This would go a long way in entrenching our nascent democracy and ensuring transparency in coming elections. Otherwise, this massive rigging campaign would continue endlessly!!!!!
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Tersoo Bossua, Lagos, Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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The election may not be free and fair, but can Buhari defeat Obasanjo in an election? NO
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Obasanjo has ruled Nigeria for four years in a democratic era and many people are saying he did nothing. A nation that has been spoiled for many years by senseless military men. How could people expect him(Obasanjo)to refurbish such a nation in just four years? and the man really tried, because during the military era someone cannot call Nigeria from abroad and get through but now the communication system is okay. So he deserves the second term and let us wait and see what the next four years will look like. About the election, Buhari should accept his defeat; he can go and wait till 2007. It may be his turn then.
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Waheed Olayinka Sowunmi, Amsterdam,Netherlands 23 Apr 2003
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Nigerians have a common disease which is greed and that is simply the reason for their failures.
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amaka, Enugu,Nigeria 23 Apr 2003
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Nigeria is a big disgrace to humanity and the cause is that they are all greedy.Nobody wants to be left out.
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anuli, Enugu 23 Apr 2003
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The elections have gone and the results heard but the question remains whether that what the country calls democracy should not be renamed democrazy? It´s quite unfortunate that a great country like this after 40 years of independent practices do or die election under the name of democracy. Who won the election may not be of great important but how to move the country ahead is. Providing the things that enhance economic growth, life security etc.
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Nzekwe Chukwudi, Vienna, Austria. 23 Apr 2003
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One does not claim to have expertise on the history of Nigeria, nor the recent performance of the Nigerian President and his administration. Nonetheless, one agrees with the spirit and intentions of Taofik Onasanya from Canada, with his comments on 22nd April 2003. For all intents and purposes, the progress on Nigeria ensuring a democratic election far outweigh the need to declare the election a farce and a sham.
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This progress shall be a great assistance in entrenching democracy in Africa's most populous country. It is important that Nigeria and Nigerian's recognise that they are a country in transition to entrenched and unimpeachable democracy. Therefore all their efforts is to ensure political stability so as to make certain that the socio-economic challenges placed before them are overcome. It is of vital importance that the other institutions that form part of the democratic architecture, are strengthened so that no real precedence can be instilled, such as the courts and the police.
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In this case where evidence is received on electoral fraud it should be handled as a pure criminal act, and whosoever is found guilty they should be sentenced appropriately. For President Obasanjo, it should be remembered that he is regarded as one of the leaders of the continent, in particular in his role in NEPAD, and therefore, it is not just the eyes of Nigerians that are on him but the entire world. When he realises this he shall note that his behaviour and procedures have to be of impeccable morality and virtue. If, indeed, he is found to be an integral part of vote-rigging, then the Nigerian society and the African continent shall deal with President Obasanjo appropriately.
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Not withstanding the above, let us accept that the Nigerian Presidential and national elections reflect the will of the Nigerian people, and therefore, reinforce the institutions evident in Nigerian society, as well as ensuring productive, critical, and, democracy-enhancing civil society.
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Donovan E Williams, Johannesburg, South Africa 23 Apr 2003
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Fellow Nigerians, let us be reasonable in our judgements. Don't let us be fooled by those crying wolf because things did not go the way they would have wanted it to.
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Put it this way,-If Obasanjo did no win, who should have won? ,is it Buhari,Ojukwu,Yussuf, Nwachukwu, Nwobodo,with their appalling track records? Gani Fawenhinmi who had a chance but no strong base or many other contestants we had never heard about before?
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I know, Obasanjo is not the best for Nigeria, but there is no credible alternative.
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The same applies to many states where there was a change of power. People voted on party lines because they want change.
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And what we have to understand is that in any election there must be a winner and a loser regardless of how we come to this conclusion.
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Bola Salam, London U.K 23 Apr 2003
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Nobody is contesting who should be the Democratic President of Nigeria. The most important thing to All reasonable Nigerians is to be governed by someone who is really God-fearing, someone ready to serve the people of the Land by improving the standard of living and bringing out the glory that God has endowed in that Country.
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It is very sad to find the same people who have been in authority since we had our Independence, still ruling till now and with no progress.These people get to authority to enrich their private pockets and accounts. They are still the ones that are interested in ruling the Country,WHY.....
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They all should go and sit down and never be allowed to take part in the political affairs of Nigeria. They have been given their chances since 1960 and they ALL have really messed-up.
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When Obasanjo came into power four years ago he promised heaven and earth....The reverse is the case. The the rich are getting richer ,while the poor are getting poorer. The standard of living of an average Nigerian has dropped drastically. The Educational system is nothing to write home about. The security of an average Nigerian is dangling, except in the hands of God. The price of food has skyrocketed. Fuel scarcity all the time. Insufficient electricity since 1960 etc...People are really suffering in a land that God has really blessed so much with natural resources.
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They should give the Younger Generation a chance to contribute their own quota to the development of Nigeria.
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To All of them that were there before, four years ago and still want to be there now ,"SHAME TO THEM ALL. "
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We all are tired of all these "Hope raised and Dashed promises".
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Funmi, London 23 Apr 2003
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Buhari should not make noise about rigged elections. If he is wise he should be able to know that Obasanjo is a better choice than him. Obasanjo could be bad but Buhari is not a match for him. It is high time these noise makers know where they belong ,and not try to bite off more than they can chew. Things could be moving very slowly now. But it is better than taking it into the hands of people who will make it move backwards.
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Larry Naija, Tokyo 23 Apr 2003
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AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THE ELECTIONS WERE VERY GOOD. THE COMMENTS FROM THE OPPOSITION IS A NORMAL PHENOMENON WITH ELECTIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD.MY WORDS TO THOSE WHO LOST IN THE ELECTIONS IS THAT THEY SHOULD ADOPT SPORTMANSHIP ATTITUDE AND SETTLE DOWN TO WORK WITH THE WINNING TEAM.
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THANKS.
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PETER ADELEKE, LONDON ENGLAND 23 Apr 2003
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Obasanjo knows he rigged, Buhari knows he rigged massively, Ojukwu knows he rigged. All other candidates rigged as well. If this election is nullified and repeated ten times it will be rigged and a minimum of 500 lives would be lost and many tugs will satisfy their earns meat.
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But for the preservation of our unity and the nascent democracy let the aggrieved parties rest their case in God's hand and forgive.
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In the sane and natural world, virtually all the contestants should be behind bars .They have no moral standing and justification to contest any election in Nigeria. It is only in my noble country an accused murderer wins a senatorial election from jail.
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The election in Edo State was a true reflection of the electoral mockery. Despite the catastrophic performance of the incumbent governor he got re-elected because there was no credible opposition as they were schemed and rigged out of the system in the primary phase.
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Let us forgive and move forward.
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Jerry Igbinoba, London 23 Apr 2003
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As far back as I can recall, I am above 40yrs. old, no election has gone without fraud, misconduct or irregularities. From countries with the most sophisticated technology like the United States of America or Britain to Nations that count the ballots with their fingers like Liberia or Nigeria, there has always been accusations of election rigging when the result does not favour the opposition party. Nigeria lives by the doctrine of survival of the fittest. Regardless of how you supervise the election, those who want to win at all cost will pay to rig it.
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Please stop the killing of people and move on. Move on to finding a better way of electing public officials. Teach our young people in schools that there is another way of surviving than the above mentioned way. And that by refusing to take or to give bribe, we will begin to see better and fare elections. Teach the school kids their rights and they will grow to defend them. That will make the future generations law-abiding citizens.
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Agbara, Theodore, Washington D.C., U.S.A. 23 Apr 2003
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What has taken place in Nigeria, is a selection of leaders not elections. I wonder how long it will take Nigeria to get real democracy. thank you
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Okenwa Augustine, Luedenscheid ,Germany 23 Apr 2003
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Although our electoral process may not be up to par with others, we must nevertheless be proud of the fact that we survived our first real test as a democracy. We must work together to make our democracy stronger and more grassroots. Complaining will not get us anywhere. This is much better than the military being in power. Enough. We must move forward.
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God bless Nigeria and Democracy!!!
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Nate, California 23 Apr 2003
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Shame; Shame; Shame; Shame;
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This is another sad day for Mother Africa. I am not a Nigerian but I feel the pain. Shame on those who suggest that the fraudulent elections results should stand. Nigeria has played the role of a policeman in some parts of Africa. How will Nigeria play this leadership role when Mr. Obasanjo and his groups are elected based on frauds? The results of any fraudulent elections should not be supported.
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Alfred Droe Peters, Minneapolis, Minnesota 23 Apr 2003
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Buhari
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(For ANPP)
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"Mamma, mamma Obasanjo rig this election pass me"
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Obasanjo
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(For PDP)
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"Na lie, you rig pass me but I come manage win you"
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Mother Africa
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(For the masses)
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"Shut up Buhari, for age OBJ na your senior. Remember when you dey Army, he thief power before you ba? For this election he come teach you sense. Make you dey learn. Next time you fit rig better"
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VERDICT
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All Nigeria's elections to date have been rigged. The masses know no better.Rigging was the excuse of the military to take power.
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Now we are making progress gradually. Some day soon the masses shall demand a rig-free election.Meanwhile let's move on.
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The masses demand from OBJ and his PDP to fulfil election promises!
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Mother Africa, London 22 Apr 2003
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Every time there is an election the hopes of the people are raised and dashed at the same time. These politicians have no intention of carrying out progressive programs for the people. All they want is the opportunities to loot and abuse their power for their own selfish and greedy reasons.
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The political system and structure in Nigeria is designed to bankrupt the resources of the land, create divisive techniques among the people in order to stay in power and continue to maintain their stronghold on the nation. Nigerians will never enjoy the true meaning of democracy as long as there is no system of accountability for these thieves who are parading themselves as politicians.
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Another four years of looting is about to begin so stand by and watch the drama unfold over and over again.
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Gerald Ajayi, NYC, USA 22 Apr 2003
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From all indications, the elections were free, but fraudulent. Obasanjo and his cohorts would have won anyway without the fraud. In speaking to people at home, some people witnessed how the electoral officers stuffed the ballot boxes and in some cases police was paid as little as six hundred naira to look the other way.
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Having said that, I believe Nigeria must move on. We need to recognize that mistakes were made, admit them, and learn from them to make the next elections better. I do not believe that the chairman of the electoral commission is the right man for the job. His integrity has been highly compromised especially with him blaming the independent observers. They must find the right person for the job if they do not want to repeat the same mistakes in 2007.
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Okoli Nwamalubia, Texas, USA 22 Apr 2003
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The elections in Nigeria have come and gone. Yes there were irregularities in some of the canters, but the trend started during the party primaries. The main opposition ANPP, had a sham of a convention in Abuja where Buhari was SELECTED and IMPOSED on the party. He should be a good loser and accept the results. Obasanjo has not performed well in the last 4yrs,but let us see what he has to offer in the next 4yrs.
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Osa Guobadia, New York City,U.S.A 22 Apr 2003
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In this era of globalisation, no nation or village, including the underground tokombo ideas and houses could be hiding secrets from the rest of the world. As such, national elections reveal the culture and character of a country, and the habits of its peoples too.
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That Nigeria is a monumental factor of electoral malpractices is not short of the pre-electoral analysis and warnings. Research showed it had been happening and that it might happen again. As predicted, reported and alarmed by participants, it turned out just that way. Beginning from the rigging of the party selection of Obasanjo, no Nigerian is surprised that he is still there for the next four years. This election is not something for jubilation. Rather it is something for constant prayers to change the military hearts of these leaders into civility.
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Now there are unhappy participants already challenging the results of the elections. Such is a part of the democratic exercise and should be tolerated within the system. As a matter of priority for Nigeria, let Obasanjo and his PDP party re-organize themselves and serve the country better than they did. A clear message for all Nigerians is that electoral fraud will never produce the best leaders ever. Where a government has been frowned at without any reference point of credit of success, it is a signal that such a government should now think twice and set out to do the right things people are asking for, to help their day-to-day lives.
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Patrick Iroegbu (Ph.D), Alberta, Canada 22 Apr 2003
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From all indications, the election was free, but fraudulent. Obasanjo and his cohorts would have won anyway without the fraud. In speaking to people at home, some people witnessed how the electoral officers stuffed the ballot boxes and in some cases police was paid as little as six hundred naira to look the other way. Having said that, I believe Nigeria must move on. We need to recognize that mistakes were made, admit them, and learn form them to make the next election better. I do not believe that the chairman of the electoral commission is the right man for the job. His integrity has been highly compromised especially with him blaming the independent observers. They must find the right person for the job if they do not want to repeat this same mistakes in 2007.
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Okoli Nwamalubia, Dallas, Texas 22 Apr 2003
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Thank God that our country is at least being managed by Obasanjo. Elections should be fair and peaceful, but we have a long way to go in Nigeria before having a fair election. Those of us who are "self imposed refugees" in the United State will like to come home to a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria!! Long life Obasanjo. God bless Nigeria.
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Toni Dru, United States 22 Apr 2003
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Nigeria is internationally noted for its fraud, or 419. That has brought untold hardships to honest Nigerians. Now we have a 419 government emerging from a 419 election in the country.
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The central government knows that it has performed below expectation, that was why it did what it is very good at - fraud. At the onset of the incumbent government, we were promised steady power supply, that was a 419 promise; we were promised improvement in education and healthcare, that too was a 419 promise; The list goes on... We were finally promised a free and fair election, that too as we have seen, was a 419 promise.
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If we want Nigeria to move forward in this 419 robe, then we must be moving to our doom. Excuse me for sounding pessimistic, I am only being realistic!
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All the electoral frauds should be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators made to face the full wrath of the law, otherwise we are digging our graves.
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Ifedi Obioma, Saskatoon, Canada 22 Apr 2003
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It is a sad day in the history of Nigeria - for our leader Obasanjo to commit fraud to win an election is very sad. The people's rights have been taken away, mostly in Edo state where people came out to find freedom. We should not allow the result to stand but fight and cry for freedom. If this result is allowed to stand, then this will continue year after year. This is the time to tell those involved it is wrong and they can not take people's right to chose their leader. The people of Nigeria should stand out for their rights and the rest of the world will join them in their fight for freedom. Mr Obasanjo has just lost his respect from thousands of Nigerians overseas who used to look up to him. Nigerians should stand up for their right.
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Benson, Sac 22 Apr 2003
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You cannot achieve anything by contesting the election; instead you will be wasting time and money that are needed for viable projects. Give power to the people by creating an independent judiciary and a respectable police force and it will not matter who won or rigged the election at any time because the criminals will always be found out and disgraced. The court system at the moment is the same as the incumbent leadership. Do you really have a choice?
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Victor Okeke, London 22 Apr 2003
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When I hear people complain about irregularities, I am reminded of the 1983 elections, the complaints and the eventual descent into the hell of military rule.
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The election was not free and fair, so what? The last time we had a free and fair election in Nigeria, it was annulled for very flimsy reasons. Personally, I think a loaf in hand, is worth two come May 2007.
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Nigerians everywhere, I beseech you to be patient with the stumbling, but real progress we're making towards democracy. It is my hope that the fire of democracy will burn brightly in our country so that those of our generation (Gen X) can participate in the nearest future and put things right.
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When that time comes, we all can return home and contribute our two cents worth and in case you have forgotten why we are abroad, it is because we had no opportunities then to achieve our potential, what with all the cronyism, nepotism, corruptionism, tribalism and political fraud of the current generation of politicians.
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Finally, I leave you with the thought that "what is worth having is worth waiting for." If there is a God, and I believe in one, then surely, our time must come and I hope sincerely that my generation has learned how not to govern and maybe then, the sleeping giant of Africa that is Nigeria will awaken from her slumber and throw its weight around in the International community.
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Ladies and gentlemen, we deserve respect and by God, we are gonna get it!
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Taofik Onasanya, Canada 22 Apr 2003
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I am very sorry for Obasanjo and his stupid caucus that believes that power sholud not move around. I wonder why Nigerians should sit down and allow someone like Obasanjo to rule all of us, the same man that preaches about corruption is the same old idiot that is corrupting the democracy system in Nigeria.
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I as a person that live and was born here will not make Obasanjo and his associates be happy or have rest until they are forced out of Government; let all Nigeria youth wake and take the challenge and let's fight a battle of change instead of sitting down thinking all is well. All is not well at all so wake up and let's make moves.
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Uwubare Ariakpore, Lagos,Nigeria 22 Apr 2003
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Well, I congratulate Mr President (Obasanjo)for his victory but I am not really confortable with the way things go in Nigeria as a nation up till this present time. A lot of things are in a mess in our country. Personally, I am not for or against Obasanjo, or anybody, but I think we are still very far from democracy. We as Nigerians have not yet started to choose our president or people in government by ourselves. First of all, this Obasanjo administration was not instituted by the people of Nigeria. Anybody that follows events in our country, most especially the Oputa panel will agree with my reasoning.
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Nigeria as a country or nation is in error. You see, doing the right things in the wrong way is wrong and doing the wrong things in the right way is equally wrong as well. This is just what's going on with us as a nation. I think it is time for us as a nation to reason together, let us stop deceiving ourselves. It is time for us to begin addressing issues rather than all this mess.
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In Nigeria today, people will tell you that our problems were caused by military even those in government always says the samething; but the question is, "who are the military?" Where are they now? Are they in government trying to deceive us more, or what?
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What we need now in that country is Constitutional National Conference, I don't want to recommend a "Sovereign" National Conference because the powers that be will not accept that. I am not saying that we should stop all this so-called Democracy in Nigeria but I think that it will lead us to nowhere.
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Hyacinth Chidiebere Okwuowulu, Southfield Michigan USA. 22 Apr 2003
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Fellow Nigerians, l am amazed at the recent happenings in our political forum. Do you know that we as a nation have arrived?
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I am very much happy that in my lifetime we are discussing elections as a democratic nation rather than witnessing coups. So why worry about riggings? l have adopted the position of letting things mature before you pluck them. By this l mean rigging is okay because the ordinary person can participate, either by being the rigger or the rigged. No more shall I not have my say because it's Abacha or Buhari, the gun slingers. Rather, we can do it somehow the civilian way.
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Finally let's all support the incoming government and implore all these ex-military juntas to at least start learning all about a civil society before they start crying rigging. There are words in the English language that clearly explain the meaning of all this hullaballoo. These words are nothing but WINNERS AND LOSERS. All is well, folks. I like what I am seeing. Long live Nigeria and congratulations to Uncle Sege!
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PAP SOLO MANKIND, HOUSTON TEXAS. USA 22 Apr 2003
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Buhari (For ANPP) "Mamma, mamma Obasanjo rig this election pass me"
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Obasanjo (For PDP) "Na lie, you rig pass me but I come manage win you"
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Mother Africa (For the masses) "Shut up Buhari, for age OBJ na your senior. Remember when you dey Army, he thief power before you ba? For this election he come teach you sense. Make you dey learn. Next time you fit rig better"
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VERDICT
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All Nigeria's elections to date have been rigged. The masses know no better. Rigging was the excuse of the military to take power. Now we are making progress gradually. Some day soon the masses shall demand a rig-free election.Meanwhile let's move on. The masses demand from OBJ and his PDP to fulfil election promises!
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Mother Africa, London 22 Apr 2003
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Every time there is an election the hopes of the people are raised and dashed at the same time. These politicians (thieves) have no intention of carrying out progressive programs for the people. All they want is the opportunities to loot and abuse their power for their own selfish and greedy reasons.
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The political system and structure in nigeria is designed to bankrupt the resources of the land, create divisive techniques among the people in order to stay in power and continue to maintain their stronghold on the nation. Nigerians will never enjoy the true meaning of democracy as long as there is no system of accountability for these thieves who are parading themselves as politicians. Another four years of looting is about to begin so stand by and watch the drama unfold over and over again.
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Gerald Ajayi, NYC, USA 22 Apr 2003
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The elections in Nigeria have come and gone. Yes, there were irregularities in some of the centers but the trend started during the party primaries. The main opposition ANPP,had a sham of a convention in Abuja where Buhari was SELECTED and IMPOSED on the party. He should be a good loser and accept the results. Obasanjo has not performed well in the last 4 yrs,but let us see what he has to offer in the next 4 yrs.
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Osa Guobadia, New York City, U.S.A 22 Apr 2003
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In this era of globalization, no nation or village, including the underground "tokunbo" ideas and houses could be hiding secrets from the rest of the world. National elections reveal the culture and character of a country, and the habits of its peoples too.
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That Nigeria is a site of electoral malpractices is not short of the pre-electoral analysis and warnings. Research showed it had been happening and that it might happen again. As predicted, reported and alarmed by participants, it turned out just that way.
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Beginning from the rigging of the party selection of Obasanjo, no Nigerian is surprised that he is still there for the next four years. This election is not something for jubilation. Rather it is something for constant prayers to change the military hearts of these leaders into civility.
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Now there are unhappy participants already challenging the results of the elections. Such is a part of the democratic exercise and should be tolerated within the system.
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As a matter of priority for Nigeria, let Obasanjo and his PDP party re-organize themselves and serve better than they did at this time of the poverty situation, illnesses, unhealthy roads and broken down school institutions. A clear message for all Nigerians is that electoral fraud will never produce the best leaders. More than ever there is a desperation and need to have charistmatic leaders to make progressive change take place.
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Patrick Iroegbu (Ph.D), Alberta, Canada 22 Apr 2003
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Long live Nigeria. I love my country I no go lie. Na inside am I go live and die. If it push me so I go push am back. Buhari, take defeat like a man and stop crying like a baby. Even Shagari accepted the result. Listen to him.
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Dr Ola Ayo , USA 22 Apr 2003
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There is no doubt that Obasanjo won the election, we should move ahead. It is high time we embrace the transparency in our democratic dispensation; let the loser accept his fate and try again another time.
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I am happy that the Yorubas now know it is time to be at the mainstream of Nigerian politics. No more politics of and by bitterness.
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God Bless Nigeria
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Akinbobuyi Franklin Django, Merrillville, IN, USA. 22 Apr 2003
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This Election must be a Joke.
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I didn't believe that Obasanjo could be having more than 62% of the result when he contested with about 29 parties, come on, it is a child's play.
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I didn't also support Buhari but it is high time Nigeria should be pratising democracy instead of what they are doing.
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Prince Eze, London 22 Apr 2003
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Making the probable election malpratices a focus could pose a threat to our nascent democracy, time stands between the culprits and the honest compatriots if really the winning party swindled. It is time to forge ahead to seek socio-economic and political stability. Chaos and anarchy in the Nigeria of these days remain a luxury we cannot afford. Thanks for your commitment.
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Edwin Fidelis Okeh, Forli, Italy 22 Apr 2003
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It is unfortunate that after four decade of freedom we still cannot be able to have a credible leadership in Nigeria. It is always the same crooks that continue circle around. As a Nigerian I am ashamed that we never grow up at all. All that are so elected or re-elected are corrupt and have no focus but to continue to amass wealth and think they may go free without paying for it. Rest assured, the day of reckoning is at the corner. Let it be for now as we need peace, for it is the masses that continue to suffer even if there is a continuous reappeal. May the Almighty deliver us, Amin.
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Ahmed Usman Belel , London,United Kingdom. 22 Apr 2003
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Since I'm just 15, I'm not supposed to have any political experience, nor can I imagine the way the people ordinarily live in Nigeria or any other country in Africa - I'm too spoiled. But from several observations as seen on TV about the Nigerian elections, I honestly doubt the "overwhelming" success, as it is presented, the Nigerian government claims to have. Though I take Nigeria as one of furthest developed countries among the African Union, I also credit them to distort election results, simply because of the greed to preserve power.
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Andrew, Lübeck, Germany 22 Apr 2003
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Hi fellow Nigerians, right from the first day that Obasanjo was elected I knew he was a bad luck; imagine a common man can't afford to buy gari which is supposed to be the cheapest food in Nigeria. Even now in Nigeria parents ask their children if they have eaten, they never bother to ask whether the food was enough. Please brothers and sisters we have to reject or fight this because i believe the election was rigged. God punish all bad leaders.
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Tope Oluwakosebi 22 Apr 2003
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A REALISTIC TIME TABLE- 1999-2011.
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29th May 1999- Military disengaged from power politics.
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29th May 2003- Retired Military Civilians politicians commence disengagement.
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29th May 2007 a new breed of politicians trained in the Human Science of management begins to emerge.
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29th May 2011 the Nation of Nigeria emerges with the electorate's supremacy deciding the future of who should govern Nigeria. This is our timetable. I belong to the May 2007 timing.
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Bisong Takim-Tiku., Port Harcourt-Nigeria. 22 Apr 2003
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Thank God almighty, that an average Nigerian can now take part in electoral process (the second one for that matter). Of course there were irregularities, but we must not forget that this is part of the great recovery process 'Nigeria as a people' must undergo.
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Those opposed to the declared result should ask themselves, what they genuinely think they have to offer the Nation. I personally think that they are disappointed because of a lost opportunity to rob the country. We have all seen Al Gore of the US after he lost the presidential election to George W Bush. Today, he is a great US Ambassador all over the World. You do not have to be elected to help your Country.
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Michael Odiamehi, Glasgow, Scotland .UK 22 Apr 2003
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I think the best way to settle this political dispute that has arisen, or is going to arise, is for the INEC to cancel election in the states viewed as fraudulent and consult a new a election, in order to avoid violence. Because Nigeria is a turbulent state. I also call upon all Nigerians to eschew political instability because it does not lead us to anywhere, as we have witnessed over the years.
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Patrick Achibiri, Boston MA U.S.A 22 Apr 2003
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We are in a learning process. Mistakes are bound to occur. Even in the United States with all the technology they have, they could not conduct a free and fair election. Let's give ourselves some time to develop and correct our mistakes. Let's have a country where we can live to contest another day.
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Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
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Daniel Kwakpovwe, Oxford, United Kingdom 22 Apr 2003
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Politics is a corrupt business everywhere in the world, Africa and the West included. I'm sure this election process has been tainted, but let us not forget that some of our people somewhere have been honest and law abiding. Surely, it is not in every state and in every voting booth that fraud has prevailed? The places where the voting has gone well present us with hope for our nation.
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My opinion is that what feeds corruption in Nigeria is not just the politicians but the outlook and mentality of the everyday people themselves. How many have not gotten by or away with something? The question is, are we a reflection of our politicians or are they a reflection of us? Let us think about that.
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We are the people. We are Nigeria and each of us is accountable to what that means; not just Buhari or Obasanjo. More important than who wins the election is whether we as a people will allow civility and order to rule in our country and in our hearts.
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It is not the retaliation of whoever is defeated that we fear but our own reaction and response to this exercise of democracy, even with all of its failings. But democracy fails everywhere; it is an ideal that we attempt to reach. Greater than its failings, though, is that it is also about grace. What hangs in the air is, will we be violent or will we exhibit grace?
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Teju Omolodun, Indiana, USA 22 Apr 2003
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My patriotic spirit is uplifted to read through the responses to the current returns of the National Election; consensus - let's move on as Nigerians, winners or losers.
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My challenge to you, brothers and sisters as an individual: do something, wherever you find yourself in this globe, to bring our beloved country out of third world categorization. There is need for jobs, needs for basic amenities, learning from global events. Education should be a primary priority to the masses. Unity, irrespective of our birth tongue and geographical affliation, is needed to modernized our environment for security and advancement. Let us start doing something for the next generation, NOW!
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We need to be accountable, productive and devoted to transforming our people and the country to modern industrialized nation with our individual efforts.
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God Bless Nigeria and Everlasting Peace to wholewide World!
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Biodun Afuwape. Ph.D., Perris, CA USA 22 Apr 2003
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Why is it that when there is change in something, we Nigerians always find a fault to discredit it? Can't we just mature into a good sportman who would take defeat graciously? We should all thank God that Nigeria is getting politically matured in chosing their leaders without any fear, bias or sentiments, but on the bases of the leaders' ability and track records.
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PDP won in many states because of President Obasanjo performances at the top. I was in Nigeria during the time of Parliamentry election and I spoke to some people in Lagos, Abeokuta and Ibadan and from what I heard I knew that PDP will win in Ogun and Oyo state and Tinubu will survived by a margin in Lagos state.
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Everywhere you go people talk of Obasanjo and nobody else. And the reason AD won in Lagos is because there is no genuine PDP man in Lagos. Majority of the PDP contestants are from AD which Lagosians find not to be a credible alternative to Tinubu.
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The changes that occurred were a protest by the people to no changes in their living conditions in the past 4 years. And those who have mobile phone and regular electricity said a BIG thank you to President Obasanjo.
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Tunde Toyin Salam, London U.K 22 Apr 2003
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It is unfortunate for the opposition to say the election is rigged or is not fair. If they were to win, would it still be not free and fair? Whoever loses the elections in Nigeria is still a Nigerian. They should perfect their tricks so that they too will be able to rig in the future.
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Ekpojen, Kigali, Rwanda 22 Apr 2003
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May I ask whether party reprensentatives were at the various collation centres? If they were allowed to do their jobs at the collation centres there should not be any reason to complain.
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Ogie Omoruyi John, Belgium 22 Apr 2003
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The election should be verified by another independent body to give Obasanjo reasons to be the President of Nigeria. We need a statistical sample of some of these states to verify the amount of fraud that has happened. Here is a born again christian presiding over a large fraud in the country. The universities have been closed for months, no gas in the country. Vote for Baba he got 80% of the vote. Yes, right. So you want to tell me that the common man wants to live like this all the time?
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This "business as usual" is what has kept the country bad the way it is. If Ambassador (now senator) Jibril Aminu now says that the 'man on the street'... does not matter who does? You mean that common man on the street that constitutes 95% of the country does not matter?
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Such a statement coming from one that will soon legislate for the common man is poor judgement. So, when Jibril goes to the Senate, who will he represent? The big wigs or the poor Hausa-Fulani people? Hello...
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These big wigs think that they are powerful. Look at Iraq how Saddam was sacked. Every one thought that he has his stuff but when push came, he flew like the wind.
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The election is a fraud. Look at Imo State where the Governor was re-elected. Go to Owerri and come and tell me who from his grave will vote for that Governor. Yet he got 65% of the vote. The election is a joke.
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Andy Brown, USA 22 Apr 2003
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The election in Nigeria is something to be applauded, no matter the outcome. Those of us who live in the Western world know how long it took them to get to where they are. Nigeria is making progress and President Obasanjo is trying, notwithstanding all opposition from different quarters. President Obasanjo has only been given the mandate to govern by the Nigerian electorate for 4 years and there is much one can do in 4 years knowing how Nigeria was messed up by the so-called former rulers. So give another 4 years and things may turn around. Do you know how many years it took the good old USA to get to where they are today?
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Ogom Iwugo, New Carrollton, MD U S A 22 Apr 2003
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So sad: among all the people who gave their comments, only two (just two!)[now 7 out of 32 - moderator] are from Nigeria. That is, maybe, what Nigerian democracy lacks: transparency and participation.
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Federico de Girolamo, Brussels, Belgium 22 Apr 2003
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As regards the 2003 election, it was OK - just that many people are struggling to be there so they can have their cake, as we all know.
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PDP, AD etc. they are all bastards and good-for-nothings; if I had my way I would eliminate all of them. We just sit and hope for better days to come.
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I did not cast any vote; if you want to know why, I hate them with passion.
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Is all good. Cheers
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Afam Pusu, Lagos, Nigeria 22 Apr 2003
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We're still a baby in politics, either good or bad. We can stiil make it up to a good democracy therefore we should be given a better chance by our unshakeable faith and prayers.
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AJIBOLA GBENGA, SOUTH KOREA 22 Apr 2003
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From all indications this election is not free and fair. But from two evils, one has to choose a lesser one. Instead of putting our young democracy into a state of imbroglio just because of Buhari, we better settle for Obasanjo. The worst thing that can now happen to Nigeria is for Buhari to be the president of this country. Can Obasanjo deliver this time? This is a hundred million dollar question.
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Ezekwonna ferdinand, Fribourg, Switzerland. 22 Apr 2003
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Ex-Olusegun Osoba (Ogun State)- I'm glad you are gone; can you imagine I saw that governor frolicking at the Notting Hill Carnival in London's last year? He should have worried more about the hungry constituents who put him in power...
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As a Deltalite and a Nigerian I am unhappy about the irregularities that took place during this election, especially in my state. However I am willing to accept these results and move on - especially as I see Buhari as the worse of the two candidates.
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Interested Party, London, UK 22 Apr 2003
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Election 2003 has come and gone, the lessons of the whole process are numerous; our politicians should desist from manipulating the electorates the way this election was conducted. They should not forget that the ultimate power belongs to God almighty. Anyone who forces him or herself on the people, cannot do the same on God.
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Ekih Mack A, Agbor Delta state, Nigeria 22 Apr 2003
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I personally don't want Obasanjo to be president of Nigeria again or war, war, war in the country. Obasanjo is a 419 somebody and a thief also.
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Mohamed Musa, Nigerian 22 Apr 2003
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There is no doubt that there is tension. Tempers are high, nerves have been thoroughly overstretched and some people are ready to explode. But hold it.
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The honest truth is that any valid claim of love for our nation must be validated by the willingness to sacrifice, even when you have been wronged. The success or failure of this election will be debated for a long time to come. Once again, I make bold to say that we have fared well.
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Not because there was absolute fairness, not because there was no violence, not because the right candidates all won. For the love of our dear nation, let us move on.
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A time shall come in our nation, Nigeria, when all the evils that have been committed shall be righted. That time may tarry, but it shall come. What we have seen and shall yet see, are all preparations for that day.
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Augustine Nwankwo Ifedi Lecturer, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka currently in London, U.K. 22 Apr 2003
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It is better to 'let sleeping dogs lie.' From past experience we have never gained anythign from the litigations. After all, are there many differences between the old politicians and the incoming ones? If any of them (especially those of the south-west) had done well [in their posts], they would not have been defeated.
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Perry 'Buchi Ogbonnah, Sevilla, Spain 22 Apr 2003
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I think as a Nigerian we should accept what ever the result of the elction comes out to be. Remember many countries never thought we could ever conduct an election of this Standard.
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Whoever loses, for the sake of unity should accept defeat and show support for the greater Nigeria.
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Ambali, Minneapolis USA 22 Apr 2003
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The elections were far from being free and fair but don't forget, this is Nigeria we are talking about. Nothing ever goes the way it should, especially as we have the same set of political thugs trying to outdo one another all the time. They only get better at their tactics and it becomes a case of the more you look, the less you see.
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But we have to thank God that we did not witness any violence in any part of the country. This in itself is progress. I will rate Obasanjo very poorly in terms of economic reforms and provision of social infrastructures. Our health and school systems have all run down, roads are in deplorable state all across the nation etc.
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Majority of Nigerians are not so well educated which would account for obasanjo being re-elected. I still hold Nigerians themselves accountable for their predicament. When they are ready to have good governance, they will have it!
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After all is said and done,it will take a lot longer than 4 yrs to undo the evil that was done to this country during the military era. So let's all join hands and support Obasanjo's government; after all, we voted him back to power whether fraudulently or otherwise, and continue to pray that God will answer our prayers for a caring and able leader come next dispensation.There is no need crying over spilt milk. God bless Nigeria.
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Idara Archibong, Lagos, Nigeria 22 Apr 2003
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As a Nigerian I am proud of the undeniable fact that we are taking steps towards a mature culture of democracy. The chairman of the Alliance for Democracy made my day by his classic speech while conceeding defeat.
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In spite of reported cases of irregularities I would call on losers to place Nigeria above themselves like Al Gore did for the love of America. Buhari, in particular will surely give Nigerians the opportunity to decide whether he will lead them in 2007 or never again - Himself or Nigeria?
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Leonard Shilgba, Yokohama. Japan 22 Apr 2003
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We may be building a fragile democracy, if we allow the monumental electoral fraud perpetrated in these so-called elections to stand. In my opinion, we are about to enthrone governments in all levels that will not be accountable to the people - they were rejected at the polls and were imposed on the people by one or two "lovers of democracy". Big shame.
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Emma Ofielu, Nnewi, Nigeria 22 Apr 2003
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There is no doubt that this electoral process was greatly influenced by unholy forces. I do not need an international Monitoring group in Nigeria to say the obvious.
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It is rather shameful that Nigerians still considered what we had with Obasanjo a democracy, I did not see it. What I saw was a strategic rearrangement in positions of the same ruling class. A total caricature of the meaning of democracy in the strictest African traditional sense.
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Go back to the history of Nigeria since Independence and tell me how many of the old time politicians, that have brought nothing to our great nation but doom, are not represented in the present dispensation. Does it mean that after Obasanjo and his cohorts ruled Nigeria in Khaki and ordered the shooting of Nigerian students who were demonstrating to be heard, that we are yet to produce a Nigerian who is less dumb and more idealistic than Obasanjo.
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Why must we always settle for less and allow criminality as a norm yet we want to move ahead? Do you think that it was a coincidence that these other dumber, no-good aspirants made up of stooges, inciters of religious violence, selfish revolutionists and self-acclaimed saviors of our freedom were the only ones that scaled the hurdle of party nominations?
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The truth is that the system was set up to operate like that, from the day Obasanjo went into power through the day the party leaderships were instituted. Most times , we swallow our sputum and sink our objections because the thief is our thief. I want to contend that the apparent victory of the ruling party in the South west was not as a result of informed voting but because the voters have been programmed to vote a certain symbol, due to the limited literacy level of majority of the voters who have to choose from the gamut of party acronyms on the ballot paper.
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I have since resolved to hold my head high wherever I find myself on the earth's surface regardless of all attempts by our leaders, forty plus years after independece, to move us an inch forward. For personal reasons, Obasanjo will not give up the citadel of power and accept that the dynamism of today's Nigeria and the involvement of the Nigerian Nation as a member of the International community far exceeds what a training in the infantry unit of Nigerian Army prepared him for.
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What we see today around the world and in the region is a clarion call for our Nigerian nation to step up to its responsibilities of being a reliable agent in the continent by, first of all, catering for the needs of the people and providing those basic things which will enable the economy to be self-sustaining.
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Inasmuch as I appreciate the availability of cellular phones in Nigeria, I would still not award any political merit point to the Obasanjo admnistration, because it was not one of the fundamental basic needs of the grassroots, everyday people. I know some people would want to crucify me for this, but I would not tender apologies. I love my country so much to express my heartfelt opinions.
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Having said that, I do not have any pity for those that contested and lost either, because it was only another investment decision that has not yielded expected dividends; but never mind, it is still too early to cry foul... Obasanjo's government is inclusionary; when the new government is set up, individual differences and feelings will be considered. What better way of ending a series of stage managed law suits of electoral malpractices. My heart weeps for my beloved Nigeria!
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Johnken Anyanwu, San Francisco, California 22 Apr 2003
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From the beginning it was apparent that this election was leading Nigeria to nowhere. The only question was whether the polls could be concluded without mayhem and the transition without turmoil. On this last point we still have to wait and see.
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The election was a choice between the devil and the dirty deep sea with another generation of Nigerians as the only losers.
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The saddest part of all is that the returning incumbents and those coming in have hardly shown themselves to be aware of the grave task at hand, to pull the country from its spiral of despair. Obasanjo is a dim spark filling a vacuum that needs supernova light. Lucky Igbinedion`s father agreed that his son had "failed" in his first term - so that meant he should be allowed to repeat! What does his re-election tell us, that we are so far from redemption that the end of the bottomless pit cannot be far away.
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Gabriel Adeoye, London UK 22 Apr 2003
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My vote is useless... I can't see the reason why people go out there to vote. I am a student; I think the head of state, President Olusegun Obasanjo knows what the other countries do for people that don't have homes; before I can say we are really practising democracy the president [must] provide for the need of the poor by paying the people who has no work and giving out shelter, most especially to the students.
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Nigeria we are really going backward. Please, Obasanjo go away and others that follow you, let the youth rule. I think we can serve more better. Let the poor get to the top. None of you want us to move further. Please can someone tell me where they keep our oil money? I think that one alone can serve us.
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Now that Nigeria is painted black all over the world - what caused it? We are known as a scam country. I know of little kids of 10 to 12 that are into 419; what causes it? Please we Nigerians we need to ask ourselves.
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Thank You.
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Daniel's smile, NY USA 22 Apr 2003
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Those politicians calling for the cancellation of the election result are the defeated and discredited politicians who, in the first case, have no moral justification to remain a politician anyway. Their views should be ignored and we must move on.
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Kolajo O. Owolabi, Leicester UK 22 Apr 2003
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Elections conducted in any African country can never be presumed to be free and fair. It is unfortunate that citizens who have their country's interest at heart are not into politics, for reasons of being intimidated or assasinated by 'money-bags', whose selfish interests are to embezzle the treasury and transfer our money to already developed Western countries who use our stolen money to improve their economy, develop their countries and at same time accuse us of being corrupt.
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If our leaders use the money to develop our country and create jobs for the population, i don't think it will be difficult convicing the populace about their capabilities.
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Back to the topic, in the interest of peace in our country it is time politicians learn to accept defeat if they really have the country's interest at heart, which I doubt. Going to court to challenge the result will only prove the selfishness of the politicians who wants to win at all cost, without thinking of the repercussion.
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As Africans we have a belief that God's time is the best and whatever happens to us on this earth there is a reason for it.
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Olubukonla, Athens - Greece 22 Apr 2003
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Congrats, Nigeria,
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To you winners, remember your promise, and to you losers, wait 4 next time,learn from what has happened, make good use of it and you will get victory.
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God bless Nigeria. I love you all.
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Kunle, Limerick, Ireland 22 Apr 2003
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Perhaps the Elections were flawed in some states. But still, the results and the manner of conduct favours the future development of Nigeria. The most inportant thing right now is that Nigeria moves on and becomes a steel producing and agro-industrial giant. All talks about democracy dividend, improving people's lives and tackling poverty are just rubbish unless this is achieved. The responsibility lies with all Nigerians, not just politicians.
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Tariq Okan, Amsterdam 22 Apr 2003
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I am happy for this opportunity given me on the web to express my feeling about the geneal elections in Nigeria. Let me start by saying that Nigeria is yet to fully deviate from her fraudulent way of conducting elections. It rather unfortunate to note that the media have been bought-out by the incumbent administration and therefore don't truly give the public the right image of things happening the country.
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Elections have been rigged in most local government areas and, in other cases, the loser announced as the winner, especially in Benue State. It is surprising to note that the PDP failled in the state and were announced winner after tumbling the results. Same happened in the National Assembly elections. Plateau State also took the same trend. In Enugu, Bayelsa and other areas elections were not held, yet a winner emerged, how? Elections were cancelled in Dekina LGA by the resident electoral commissioner, yet a winner was announced.
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All I have to say is that these areas where irregularities have been noted should be revisited and if possible elections rescheduled. The INEC chaiman said he has no powers to cancel any elections but a residential electoral commissioner in Kogi state pronounced cancellation of results. So who has this power?
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Thank you for the time.
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James T.A., Abuja, Nigeria. 22 Apr 2003
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Which way Nigeria? Challenging the poll result can never change the system. Re-voting will worsen the situation so far. Nigeria is so vast to be administered from the centre there is the need for a devolution of government so that in future elections things can be seen and done in the right form. Thank you
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Tony, Italy 22 Apr 2003
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It is quite unfortunate; my country which is endowed with vast potentials, people of high moral values and intellectual capability has to be continually governed by this same species of human being.
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They recycle themselves along the corridor of power to the shame of that geopolitical entity called Nigeria. People who have no ideas and never willing to accept the ideas of the nobles either.
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To lift this beloved country of ours from the present ramshackle and scandalous situation it is, the issue of national rebirth cannot be overemphasized. Inculcation of a sense of belonging and patriotism to the citizens is paramount. For our much anticipated enduring democracy, certain structures have to be put in place otherwise, we are just postponing the evil day.
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Dedeigbo Olumola, Sydney , Australia 22 Apr 2003
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Nigeria's 2003 election was a proud moment for Africa despite the imperfections that, by the way, do occur even in advanced democracies. Anybody with specific evidence of electoral fraud should follow the established due process. I think it is an irresponsible distraction from the press to be fueling notions of electoral rigging based on disgruntled utterances by defeated candidates. It is a wonder how the vanquished candidates manage to accept victory where they won and see the polls differently where they could not prevail.
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Congratulations Nigeria !
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Evelyn Joe, Washington, DC 21 Apr 2003
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It is certainly gladdening to see beloved Nigeria take baby steps in the quest for an equitable approach to the administration of the land, resources, and people of our home. Our greed and lack of national interest are not furthering this objective.
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For once, in the interest of Nigeria, please give the rule of peace by an elected government the chance to try their hands at nation building. Somebody has to win. It does not really matter who does. The election is over. The next phase is nation building.
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All contestants need to sink their differences and join hands in the real job of providing life's basic needs to our people. Please team up and help build a virile and peaceful nation able to democratically elect its rulers. Good luck.
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May God bless Nigeria.
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Jon Aibueku, Downey, CA. 21 Apr 2003
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The AD Governorship candidates performed woefully and knew that they could not win election on their own merit hence they tried to pull the rug off the feet of Yorubas by not fielding a presidential candidate in return for a free ride to a second term. They were wrong. Yoruba voters are much more educated and politically oriented than they thought. Can anybody say Lam Adesina, Adebayo, Akande, Adefarati or Osoba performed well while in office? No. It is ironical that these selfish opportunists are the ones shouting foul when they were voted out. They should bury their heads in shame.
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Ayo Aro, USA 21 Apr 2003
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Take a good look at the profile of all the presidential contestants, and you will be convinced Obasanjo is a better evil among the devils. Would one have prefered a timid Ayatollah to be the president of Nigeria in this new dispensation?
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Sylvester D Egbai, Elkridge,Md.USA 21 Apr 2003
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My dear Ladies and Gentlemen, this election shows that Nigerians are still in darkness. What we need is fair election; if not,it is better to call the British to rule Nigeria again. To be authentic, since the British hand over power, my country Nigeria keeps on falling down. The economy is very poor, the roads are very bad and the poor people don't have food to eat. Only God will save us.
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Tiger Okafor, Fitzgerald, Georgia U.S.A 21 Apr 2003
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What I'm saying is that Obasanjo did not suppose to remain at the seat by now. Many Nigerians are suffering, what's the man doing there? What type of politics? He's not caring about the masses.
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Kingsley., North Kansas, America. 21 Apr 2003
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The elections are encouraging, given the fact that Nigeria is just beginning to build a real democracy after a long period of military dictatorship. The overall satisfactory conduct of elections would improve with time as long as democracy is given a chance to mature. The election results should therefore be accepted by all parties, stakeholders and Nigerians as a whole.
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Professor Edwin Arinze, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada 21 Apr 2003
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I am in total support of the last speaker's opinion [in the Viewpoint above] - Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi. I think the election has come and gone. I do not support voiding the election because Nigeria is too under-developed to expect a fair election. I actually see Nigerian elections as a nomination of the highest bidder.
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Really, what Nigeria ought to be doing to avoid all this violence and rigging of elections would be to have a little zoning of all citizens into little groups. These groups will then appoint an agreeable number of trusted people as will be outlined by the constitution to vote on their behalf.
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A lot of Nigerians are uneducated. In a society with massive illiterates as ours, how do you expect a fair election anyway?.
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But if we have groups sent in as representatives to vote for us, then we will expect to see some fair election. This system will obviate the coming of illiterates to vote for whom they do not intend to vote for but do because someone at the voting center says "make you just put your hand for here."
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Secondly and most importantly, we will have numbers to work with. We will have precise number of the voters.
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As a Nigerian, I know that we are not civilized enough to even conduct a fair population census, not to talk of election.
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The system above will work like miracle for us. I truly agree that there are downfalls to it but it will be a lot less than our problems with this general election that is tearing us apart. I intend to write more on this system to include planning, implementation and indeed educating our old parents and uneducated citizens about how it works.
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Again, I think we should accept these election results and move on for the progress of our country Nigeria.
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GOD BLESS
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Felix Osa-Oni, Nashville, TN, USA. 21 Apr 2003
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We live in an imperfect world with imperfect human beings. Although it is unfortunate that Nigerian leaders and their elites constitute the huge segment of our kleptocrats, we need time to weed them out from the body politik.
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Rome was not built in a day and the United States has not become a democracy overnight. Let us Nigerians move on and ahead. All that the ordinary man wants is peaceful co-existence, plus good drinking water, food, clothing, good roads, telephone and electricity. We are capable of building our country if there is peace.
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Emma S. Etuk, Ph.D., Washington, D.C. 21 Apr 2003
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President Olusegun "Ajasegun" Obasanjo and his party, the PDP, have won the elections. Let us support the president whole-heartedly to run a successful government. Nigeria has come a long way and it is about time we stop this nonsense of negative campaigning after the elections are over.
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Fellow patriotic countrymen/women, 'Put Nigeria first'. We need a better economy, good roads, better education, jobs, foreign investment, electricity, adequate water supply ,better communication systems, superior health management, competent managers and so on and so on . Many qualified Nigerians are only using their skills and intellect to better the economies of other countries while Nigeria is starving for skilled workers.
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Remember the late 70s when thousands of qualified Nigerians returned home to participate in the building of the nation? We should expect that era to return. May God bless Nigeria and fill it with God-fearing leaders.
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Alhaji Chief Abass Adebisi Bakarey, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A 21 Apr 2003
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I found your question very annoying and irrelevant. It reminds me of the role the Press plays in the West, asking the so-called "leading questions". What is it to be challenged in the elections? Those who lost deserved to lose. I am from Ekiti-state, and I know first hand that the now deposed Governor Adebayo did NOTHING for Ekiti people. Obasanjo CANNOT correct the damages done to the Country in 4 years. While everything was not 100-percent, all Nigerians should thank, and be proud of the excellent work the Director of the Indepedent Election body have done. To me, IT IS TIME FOR NIGERIA TO MOVE FORWARD. There is nothing to be challenged in the last elections. NIGERIA IS BACK & STRONG.
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Olusegun Ayanbiola, Washington, USA 21 Apr 2003
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It's absolutely important that we sustain our hard-earned democracy. Even if Obasanjo is not the candidate that will take Nigeria to the promised land, he sure is the best amongst the motley crowd of presidential hopefuls.
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In Nigeria, politicians never lose graciously and do not mind setting the country on fire if they don't get what they want.
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I repeat, we are still seeking Messiahs for the nation but in the meantime most of these guys are practically the same. So my word for the losers is, go home and join hands with the victors, or if you are too bitter then plot your strategy for the next elections.
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Our national peace is more important than anyone's ambitions.
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Adebayo Ajagunna, London 21 Apr 2003
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If this election is massively rigged, it is shame on democracy. However, I am not supprised because there is virtually nothing that has not been rigged or founded on rigging in that country. Not even the sacred, divine and supposed holy structures have been spared of this Nigerian culture.
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For the sake of unity let every looser and winner accept their fate and verdict as both the winners and loosers schemed and rigged. The only difference is the variation in magnitude.
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Jerry Igbinoba, London 21 Apr 2003
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I strongly believe that the just-concluded presidential and the Governorship elections was a total support from the Almighty God. Most of the incumbent state governors that were defeated are reaping the fruits of their labour.
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However, I must state here that gone are the days when one political party will come and deceive the entire populace about what they know they can not provide for the masses. I say it with total confidence and assurance - people don't really care about the party any more, they count on the performance of the candidate either at the state level or at the national level. An example is the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the executive Governor of Lagos state.
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Oladokun Omooba Niyi, Lagos 21 Apr 2003
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Well, as may be expected, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and his PDP have won the election of 2003 and there is no need to stampede each other. Who does not know in this world that it is difficult to unseat an incumbent president, especially in the developing and the under-developed worlds and especially in our country Nigeria where no one is interested in anything but his or her pocket?
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Even if angels descend down to organise the elections there will still be grumblings from whoever loses. Buhari, [Obasanjo's] major rival used the same flimsy excuses to upstage the civilian, democratically elected government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari 20 years ago. If in today's modern world of advanced technology and the age of ICT Buhari and his cohorts are shouting foul play concerning this election, then where is the justification for his own criminal action of 31 December 1983?
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Nigeria will continue to be Nigeria and all the losers should stomach their grudges and let's move the nation forward from here. Let's all support Chief Obasanjo who came to the throne through what has been described as a Divine Intervention so as to lay down a lasting Democratic Governance for the country once and for all. It is my prayer that Nigeria may be the greatest black democracy on the surface of the earth as America is to the whole world. May God bless and help Nigeria and Nigerians and myself, amen.
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Chief Olafimihan Awolola, Tokyo, Japan 21 Apr 2003
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From the comments of NUJ, women's group, AU observers etc., the election is free and fair. In any contest, there will winners and losers and if you are a loser this time, perhaps your turn to win may come in the next election in 4 years. To have the hope that you can perhaps have another trial next time, you have to help keep the peace in the country and not drag the economy of the country down the tube in any way. You should remember that whether you are in the government or opposition, you are all trying to build a healthy nation for you, your children and grand-children. So your help is needed whether as a loser or a winner. Good luck to all.
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G. Ishola, Canada 21 Apr 2003
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It was obvious who was going to win the presidential elections months before. This is because, there was no organized opposition/resistance. Methinks for now, it's better PDP wins, because what really matters is that democracy is stabilised. Elections based on issues will take root in later years. Stable democracy is the winner in this election.
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No sour grapes please. Everybody rigged!
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Tunmishe Oke, Lagos, Nigeria 21 Apr 2003
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Of course, yes the opposition has the right to challenge the result because if you ignore, as you said, and move on it would not benefit the future of the country; moreover democracy is for everybody and everyone has his or her own right to contest with whatever he or she feels.
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Tobas Anotchili, USA 21 Apr 2003
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