Explains why elections are contentious in Nigeria
Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, has revealed that Nigeria spent N84 billion on voter registration that cost only N3 billion.
The ex-INEC boss made this disclosure during an interview he granted yesterday, while stating how the Commission was able to conduct the 2007 elections with such a paltry sum compared to the money INEC got in 2011.
According to him, “We did it with less than 10 percent of the current INEC budget. And people were shouting. Even when we asked for N3 billion for the same voter register that they now spent N84 billion on, it was in all the newspapers that Iwu asked for more money.
“The issue here is that we were able to do what we did because our whole focus was on delivering that transition from civilian to a civilian regime. Remember, it is just four years apart 2007 to 2011 but the cost was monumental”.
On who is to blame for bad elections in Nigeria: the umpire or politicians, Prof. Iwu said, “INEC, is one of the best in the world. Look at the calibre of staff they have, the structure and the wherewithal. But one thing is for the umpire to be ready.
“The nature and beauty of the play still rest with players. If Nigerian politicians dont want any rigging to take place, it will not happen. It is they (players) that decide to do the rough tackle. It is neither the umpire nor the coach. It doesnt matter what the coach tells you, when you enter the field of play, you are on your own. It doesnt matter how rigid the umpire is, all he keeps doing is to blow his whistle.
“But some players are so rough that they dont mind how many times you blow the whistle against them or ultimately remove them from the game, but they will still make the game rough”.
He further said, amongst others, “Nigerians are learning the lessons, but the political elite are so bent on holding all of us to ransom. They are so bent on making sure that Nigeria doesnt rise. They are so bent on making sure that the will of the people is never realised. It is a cabal. They are into a bubble of their own. They know what they want.
“So, how can you change that? The president cannot do it. INEC chairman cannot do it. It is the Nigerian political elite. When they are ready, the changes will happen. But they are not ready”.
