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Nigeria Needs the Favour of God for Good Leadership to Emerge-Prof. Olagoke

Before the February 23, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Military and the Police to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers, who were caught in the act.

Security experts insist that this paved the way for all that happened during the elections. According to them since ballot box snatching is a security issue, President Buhari ought to have  addressed the issue professionally. 

The security experts argue that the President's directive is not within the purview of all that has been said and done about leadership by example.

Interestingly, there were several cases of ballot box snatching across the country, with a number of the snatchers meeting their untimely death.

Nigerians insist that the ballot box snatchers were acting on the directive of the political class who cut across party lines. Most of them met their  sudden end, while some made good their escape.

Without doubt, the President's directive has affected the outcome of the  general elections in several ways.

In this interview with Federationews2day, the Founder, Spiritual Head and Grand Imam of Shafaudeen-in-Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabitu Olagoke  asserts that Nigeria urgently needs the favour of God for the emergence of individuals who  shall offer positive leadership by example. Excerpts :

  What are  your views on the President's  directive to the Military and Police on ballot box snatchers ?

The problem with Nigeria as of this moment, is that of people who are already lost in the wilderness of politics.

In Nigeria, politicians wrestle and struggle for power, rather than competing through the spirit of sportsmanship, based on evidence of developmental programmes.

President Buhari could never have meant that ballot box snatchers should be killed because the victims could also be from his party, though without his direct involvement.

Nigeria 2                                                                  

Atiku abubakarInec 10Ballot box snatching is as grievous as felony, hence it has to be prevented at all costs.

The President might have considered the huge amount spent so far, on the conduct of the elections as well as the security effect on ground, hence the statement that ballot box snatchers could be playing with their lives. However, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) expectedly, turned against him and interpreted  his directive to mean ''kill at sight''.

Only those people with the intention to rig will catch cold over the President's directive.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has been explicit enough on the code of conduct expected during the elections, a violation of which should be expected to be in line with the dictates of the laws of any  decent society.

The security operatives should therefore avoid accidental discharge and stray bllet syndrome  before, during and after the period of the elections.

The 2019 general elections must not be allowed to be hijacked by the enemies of Nigeria, who believe in  taking advantage of any crisis to carry out heinous acts that could lead to the unthinkable.

This is the very time Nigeria and Nigerians need the favour of God to choose for us, because consideration for amnesty for treasury looters or pursuit of zero tolerance to  corruption with kid gloves, for those who dance to the tune of  plea bargain, may not necessarily help the nation.

What we need are people that will offer leadership  by example through sacrifice and sense of direction and purpose, for Nigeria to become a strong institution with a well informed citizenry who will enjoy  visible care from their government.

The 2019  general elections must be committed to the good hands of God, through Nigerians' determination to look and vote for credible people with verified track record of love, discipline and passion for the people.

THE 2019 general elections will determine the pace at which Nigeria will move forward, that is if we allow the voice of wisdom to prevail at every level of the strata of Nigeria's hierarchy.

Nigerians should think well before  reacting to issues in the polity, as a step towards avoiding hate speech and ambiguous words, so as to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the polity.

 

 

 

 
 

Independent National Electoral Commission Politics Prof. Sabitu Olagoke President Muhammadu Buhari Nigeria