Presidential election a reflection of Democracy at play in Nigeria – Prof.. Salewa Olafioye.
– Steve Ovirih.
The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Think Tank, Detroit Michigan based Prof. Salewa Olafioye has noted with delight that the evolving results of the Saturday election as been released at the National Collation Center , Abuja have showned that Nigerian Democracy has come of age.
Olafioye in an exclusive telephone chat with thepolity.net from his base in Michigan said, ” I have looked inwards and examined critically some early results of the on going Presidential Elections and I hasten to say it may not be a perfect one, albeit I discovered Democracy at play and spreading. The Democratic process all over the world is not perfect, but all nations of the world which have keyed into democracy seek and work towards the perfection of the fine civilized governance template.”
Prof. Olafioye noted that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP won in the core Yoruba stronghold of Osun State, Peter Obi LP in the Tiv stronghold of Plateau State and most surprising of all, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of APC lost the Yoruba stronghold and Cosmopolitan City and State of Lagos ,yet won notable States in the North.
He added that Nigeria should be congratulated that her people voted according to their conscience devoid of monetary inducements.
” My thinking as a Former United Nations Consultant, the Head of the most powerful Organisations of Nigerians in the Diaspora and Think Tank (NDTT), is that Nigerian Democracy is growing and blossoming and it has left the track it was about a decade ago. The banana peels have been expunged from our electoral act and the unnecessary ballot box hijacks and unrestrained electoral violence at election period have been banished from our election trajectory.”
The Ikale born Diasporan maintained that as a critic who had experienced incarceration under military rule in 1964 and as an outspoken critic of of the then Military government, he believes the youths of Nigeria deserve some commendations for their resilience and participation in the on going elections.
” However, I am appealing to all Nigerians home and abroad to allow INEC to perform its constitutional duties. The Electoral Tribunal is also ready for grievances on malpractices to ensure fair play.
“We need a stable government to restore leadership not only in Nigeria but in Africa. The stability in Nigeria will stop brain drain, enhance investment and progress.
” Nigeria can then take up her giant position in Africa and in the World,” Olafioye enthused.
It will be recalled that Nigerian Diaspora Think Tank, which Prof .Salewa Olafioye chairs has 400 active members across America, Europe, Middle East and many more with over 1000 followers around the world.
Olafioye charged the political class in Nigeria not to heat up the polity by any unrestrained remarks that can ignite Nigeria and incite avoidable violence, stressing that government is a continuum and if we all are passionate about The Nigerian Project, we should allow Independent National Electoral Commission to carry out its constitutional duty without let or hindrance.
He said Nigeria is greater than all the politicians and they should not because of their whims and zeal to govern Nigeria light up the country and cause Civil unrest within the precinct of the country they want to govern.
Prof . Olafioye also charged the electoral body to continue to strive to be above board in the coordination of the collation of the election results, stressing that all eyes are on them.
” At the end of this exercise, a winner shall emerge; all contestants cannot win an election, so let the winner be magnanimous in victory while those who will lose bear in mind that in this 2023 election, it’s a no winner , no vanquish experience, noting that Nigeria’s Democracy which is consolidated by the 2023 general elections is the winner.
Among the Exco of the Nigeria Diaspora Think Tank are Alhaji Baba Gana Mustapha, Vice Chairman, Chief Titus Amadi , Chief Strategist, Madam Emem Asikpo and others.
