Solutions to electoral malpractices

The following solutions can bring an end to all the negativities caused by electoral malpractices in our country and also fix our electoral system which is now producing sour instead of sweet grapes:

If our country is going to become what we want it to be, then our political system which is the industry responsible for recruiting into and retrenching out of our leadership sector must become an epitome of sanctified patriotism.

The first and the most important is for this country to call a national reconciliation and reconstruction conference like what happened in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. This will involve the acceptance and recognition of all tribes, language, ethnic nationalities, religions, communities, cultures and traditions. This step will help in giving a sense of belonging to all and sundry and pave a way for a really peaceful co-existence of Nigerians. This peace will give people the assurance of free and fair elections, fair hearing and equality before the law, which will gradually role away all forms  of electoral malpractice in our nation. Once this has been done, other issue can now be addressed.

The issue of corruption, (looking at bribery, money laundering, diversion and misappropriation) can be solved in Nigeria if, the government is ready to make the Naira more valuable. But we have been hit by the falling oil prices which has led to the devaluation of the Naira by CBN and austerity measures put in place by the economic team.

Not only this, the salaries and allowances of political officers should be reduced to the barest minimum. Again, the legislation of how much one can transfer as an individual or corporate organization should be further strengthened and made more effective. Unless, the amount an individual can have (in cash or in bank) is officially reduced, in respect to their source(s) of income being monitored by financial intelligent agencies, the rate at which people will be scrambling for money will be going higher and the level of corruption will be aiming at the sky like the tower of Babylon.More value must be placed on intellectual capability and positive contributions rather than on how much people are worth in millions.

The annual national merit award should be restructured in a drastic way. The restructuring should allow for recognition of people who are working for the development of their community, students who have excelled like Daniel in their studies, vigilantes who ward off all form of robbery and attack on their local districts, teachers/lecturers who are genuinely special in their field. Broadcasters who specially appeal to large audience on national issues, Medical personnel who have been clinically tested and proven to be a true life safer, people who return stolen/lost/missing items (especially money), Prisoners who are found worthy in learning and character and so on.

Economic policies must be changed and youth focused. Since youths are the most unemployed in this country, then the government should see it as utmost importance to get them into self-sustaining jobs. The issue of years of experience request from youths/fresh graduates should be barred. The government should guarantee, transmit and distribute electricity that will be constant and enough for all places, households, industries, factories, workshops and so on. By the time this happen, the rate of unemployment will be colossally reduced, because millions of jobs rely on constant power supply to survive. It should also be noted that Nigerians will pay less for services like transportation, telephone, fabrication, document processing etc. if the power supply is at per with the population demand. Industries should be established with industrial training students, national youth service corps members and internship students in mind.  These industries will run by the aforementioned groups. By this, the necessary job experience will be obtained and they can even get an appreciable capital to start their own businesses.

In conclusion, there is nothing happening in the physical, that does not happen in (have its foundation and running) in the spiritual. In lieu of this, there is an urgent need for the church in Nigeria to take charge of Nigeria in all sphere of our daily living. Ye are the light of the world and whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bind in heaven… The church in Nigeria (Christianity) is not a religion; rather it is a total way of life, so the ‘take charge’ here does not mean one religion domination. Leaders like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Mordecai, Daniel, Peter and Paul have to be groomed under biblical leadership manual. Such people should be taught intellectual and biblical principles of discipleship and leadership but must be made to know that, the only time a country can be good is if it is governed under the ‘kingdom principles’.

Nigeria will be great again, if the church will lay-hold on the seat of authority and operate as biblically instructed.

Assessment

Identify four solutions to the problems of electoral malpractice.