Is Nigeria ready for Fair and Clean Elections?

Amnesty International has urged the Nigerian authorities to act to stem a rising tide of political, ethnic and religious violence.

Nigerian authorities have decided to postpone Saturday's parliamentary elections to Monday. There are not able to organize themselves even though they have spent hundreds of millions of dollars in public money trying to hold this election which is already running at least three or four months late.

"The federal government has directed that all land borders be closed from 12pm (1100 GMT) on Friday, 1 April, 2011 to 6am (0500 GMT) on Sunday, 3 April, 2011," Emmanuel Ihenacho, the minister of interior, said in a statement.

Goodluck Jonathan, from the country's south, is expected to win the presidential poll. His main challenger, Muhammadu Buhari,running on the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) platform, has major support in the country's mostly from the North. 

I hope that Nigeria can break with a history of vote fraud and violence. Nigerians have a strong desire for change. They have been outbursts of violence, including bomb blasts and attacks on political rallies.

No voting equipment, no election officials, and no security. How do we expect people to go and vote!! Nigeria must organize elections for 150 million people across its 36 states.

Africa's most populous nation is facing its most unpredictable polls!

Ethnic Factor and Development in Nigeria

No Mr. Qaddafi! Nigeria should not split along ethnic lines! Mr. President, you have always claimed that you are the "King of African Kings" and that you are a champion of African Unity!! You have only succeeded in drawing Nigeria's anger.

But if only the people of Nigeria can transcend beyond the problems of ethnicity and ethnicism, I am sure that the rural communities will experience a positive devolopment.

Nigeria is a beautiful country endowed with a great deal of resources. Nigeria is blessed with unlimited arable lands, half of which remain fallow, leading agricultural products such as cocoa, rubber, groundnuts, cotton, beniseeds, cashew, mangoes, oranges, etc... with mineral sources such as oil, bitumen, mineral stones, raw gold and many other more.

According to the 2006 population census, the population stands around one hundred and forty million people! It is the largest African country but more than half of the population are still rural dwellers. 

The country is not properly managed so Nigeria remains one of the poorest countries in the world with very low per capital income, poor infrastructure development, neglected agricultural sectors, and a high rate of inflation. Because of the mismanagement of the abundant resources, Nigeria has a high level of poverty. High level of official corruption, bad governance, and prolonged military dictatorship have had a negative effect in the development of the country. Yes Mr. Qaddafi! not because of ethnic or religious problems! Ethnicity and ethnicism are not the factors that hinder rural development in Nigeria.

I believe that Nigerians can develop their countries and improve the quality of all Nigerian lives. The Hausa, the Igbo, the Ijaw, the Itsekiri, the Yorubas, the Fulani, and the Odua'a Peoples Congress can all live together and develop the country. There must be a strong commitment on the part of the Nigerian elites who should accept modest sacrifices for a common good.

A bon entendeur Salut!