By Val Igwebuike
Ongoing PVC Registration and revalidation exercise in Nigeria has posed some indebt and critical questions, considering glaring disparities in the conduct of this important civic responsibility by the umpire, INEC.
A visit to any of the local government councils, where this particular exercise is going on will leave you with consternation.
First, you will be confronted with angry faces of citizens, who have been frustrated by the gross failure of a system they have no means to correct. You will see patriotic citizens, who have spent their hard earned money to transport themselves from miles away to obtain a certification that will give them the right to exercise their franchise.
Again, you will be shocked to observe a clear demonstration of political malady of the highest order, when it downs on you that only one computer is provided by INEC to serve an entire local government area, having a population of over three to four hundred thousand.
That is not the end of the crazy situation: this grossly inadequate provision by INEC is also not always in good condition as the computer is periodically faulty or having consistent network glitches, making it impossible for INEC staff to attend to a considerable number of people in a day.
This is the unbearable situation our people, Ndi Imo are subjected to on a daily basis. What is obtainable in Owerri North LGA is obtainable in other LGAs in the Eastern Heartland.
Now, let's compare this tormenting situations in Igbo States to other states in other parts of the country. In the Northern Nigeria for instance, INEC adhoc staff carrying out this important voter registration exercise go to the houses, kindreds and other closer amulets to ensure that everyone, including under aged children register or revalidate their PVCs in readiness for future elections.
Similar situations occur in South West Nigeria, where voter registration exercise is done in all major streets, just to ensure that long distances do not stop eligible citizens from revalidating their PVCs.
From close monitoring of this exercise in these other geopolitical zones cited as examples, our interactions with the people of these zones pointed out clearly that the advantages enjoyed by the northern and Western Nigerians are created by their politicians, who are known for considering the collective interest of their people before any other pecuniary interest.
In the South East geopolitical zone, the story is different and unpalatable. Current Igbo politicians have been accused of extreme insensitivity and indifference. They are defined as politicians, who consider first, and allow their own personal interest and aspirations to submerge the collective interest of their people. This is the reason for the present excruciating pains being experienced by our people in their efforts to get their PVCs revalidated or obtain new voter registration cards.
It is gathered that when some people complain of spending between N6,000 to N7,000 to go to their LGAs to revalidate their PVCs, some selfish politicians were said to have brought out few buses to take people to the venue, where they were totally frustrated, owing to the fact that the computers brought by INEC at the centers were not functioning optimally. This is a sad development in our geopolitical zone.
The question available to ask is simple:
Why are our politicians this insensitive to the plights of the electorate in their state, knowing the whole efforts is to get prepared to vote them into elective offices?
Why is it difficult for these Igbo politicians to speak out and challenge the ignoramus activities of INEC in South East?
Are the Igbo politicians not aware that it is unimaginable to attempt to use only one malfunctioning computer to register the whole people from one LGA, numbering into thousands?
By all means possible, Igbo politicians should learn to speak for the interest of Ndigbo in general. What is happening in Lagos State, and the disdainful way the present government at the federal level treat or address the concerns of Ndigbo in present Nigeria has exposed the detriment of individualistic disposition of current Igbo politicians and sociocultural leaders, which has reduced Ndigbo as third class citizens in Nigeria.
In all, the success of the ongoing voter registration exercise in Igbo Land shall be determined by the number of people that get registered at the end. The voting strength of the Igbo speaking states can only be truly ascertained when all citizens, who are willing to exercise their franchise are allowed by the system to register without manipulated situations or orchestrated restrictions.