Presidential Polls: Democracy Is Evolving-miivoc

As voting in Nigeria's 2015 Presidential and National Assembly election continues and results awaited, a non-governmental Organisation, Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC has commended Nigerians for coming out en mass to exercise their franchise.

Executive Director of the Initiative, Walter Duru, who gave the commendation while addressing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Sunday, further urged the citizens to remain steadfast in their commitment to participation in governance.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of political awareness in the country, describing the country's democracy as evolving.

Speaking on the implications of the elections, Duru, a Communication expert explains:

“Whoever wins the Presidential election will know that it is not cheap and will not take Nigerians for granted any longer. This is the most keenly contested Presidential election, since the return of Democracy in Nigeria in 1999.”

Continuing, he says, “Whichever Party that wins, be it PDP, APC, APGA, NCP etc. will sit up, realizing that it is no longer business as usual. Opposition is very strong now and it is a welcome development. If it continues, Nigerians can now have hope of better governance, as whoever that is in Power will realize that opposition is on standby to wrestle power from it, if it fails.”

He however warned against manipulation of the results of the election by any of the parties, describing it as an invitation to chaos; even as he advised stakeholders to desist from taking steps that could throw the country into crisis.

On the country's war against graft, he described Nigeria's anti-corruption agencies as 'dead and buried, even as he challenged those in authority to take the country's anti-graft war more seriously, in order to secure the future of the country.

He further spoke on the need for the strengthening of the legal framework against corruption, in order to close the loopholes in the war.

Part of the things requiring immediate attention, according to him, is the timely passage of key legislation being considered by the present National Assembly, including the Proceeds of Crime and Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters bills.

He further urged the President, Goodluck Jonathan to make haste to sign the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Center (NFIC) Bill into law, in order to lay a solid foundation for the war against money laundering and terrorists financing.

Phillip Inyang
MIIVOC Public Enlightenment Coordinator