NIGERIA, take a cue from America

As they exchange pleasantries

With great delight, we hail the entire outcome of America's election, whose results were finally declared as early as 1.30 am (about 4.30am Nigerian time) on Wednesday, November 7, 2012.

 





Without misrepresentation of the results, which saw the Republican Party taking lead in the US lower chamber (House of Representatives) and the Democrats taking lead in the upper chamber (Senate), we highly laud the competitive spirit of both top contenders in Democrat's Barrack Obama and Mitt Romney of the Republican.

The Democrat's candidate, Barrack Obama emerged victorious after pre-election hurdles worth $4 billion, two dozen presidential primary election days, a pair of national conventions, four general election debates, hundreds of Congressional contests and more television advertisements.

Shortly after the election results were finally collated and announced, in favour of his top opponent, Republican Mitt Romney came out public to congratulate Obama, even after calling his mobile to say “congratulations.” This is worth emulating. Both top aspirants took America's interest in mind before their or that of their political affiliations. However, in Nigeria, this may not be the case.

Aside the aspersions that are usually cast against one another by Nigerian political candidates, before, during and after elections, the mass assemblage of 'armed-to-the-teeth' military personnel, mobile policemen, customs officers, immigration officers, civil defence corps, LASTMA, KAI, VIO, FRSC, and even 'Agberos' to man election centres is heart-shattering.

As we all watched the American situation, these were not the case, as candidates, their party chieftains, members and teeming supporters conducted themselves during the pre-election, election and post-election periods.

Incessant court suits filed against victorious candidates after every election portend a clog in the wheel to the progress of Nigeria’s young emerging democracy. Perhaps, our political gladiators should henceforth desist from all forms of electoral malpractices, if we must forge forward.

This is a wakeup call for our so-called political parties and god-fathers, who preach 'true democracy' with their 'undemocratic exuberance' glaring before the global community.

It’s laughable of the situation obtainable on the front pages of our newspapers, if the just concluded US election was a typical Nigerian election:

· Don't celebrate yet, Romney tells Obama (TELL magazine)
· Concede defeat, Obama urges Romney (Punch newspaper)
· Rigging Galore (The Sun newspaper)
.Romney supporters riot in Kaduna (Daily Trust)
· Romney demands vote recount (Vanguard newspaper)
· Elections rigged (Guardian newspaper)
· No evidence of manipulation (NTA news)
· The Church declares elections free and fair (News Line)
· There will be violence if we lose; Romney declares (LTV 8 news)
· Election results for Arizona awaited (Channels news)
· Trucks with suspected ballot papers crosses into USA from Mexico (Tribune newspaper)
· Romney is an opportunist- Obama (Leadership newspaper)
- Go back to your farm, Romney tells Obama (AIT news)
· I will not accept results, Romney tells Obama (STV news)
·Romney heads to Election Petition Tribunal (MITV)
· White Majority rejects results (Moment newspaper)
· Kenyan Big Boy Senator Obama throws lavish Party to celebrate election victory (City People)
· Free for all fight at Obama rally in Grant Park (Galaxy TV)
.Northern elders, Arewa and Sultan rejects results (ThisDay)
· Republicans and Democrats supporters clash in Ketu and Ajangbadi, 14 dead, Romney threatens more heads will roll (PM News)
· The people behind Obama's victory: True story uncovered (Newswatch)

NOTE BENE:
Well, the press is not to be blamed. They report what the society says and does. However, public interest must be put first by every journalist before partisan interests.

Obama and Romney thanking Americans for their support

The cocktail settles it all