by Uche Nworah

Created on: April 06, 2007   Last Updated: April 19, 2007

Abstract

The forthcoming April 2007 general elections will be quite crucial to the future of Nigeria as a fully democratic and progressive country. While Nigerians continue to demand the highest standard of service from those that will be elected at the elections, it is the view of this writer that Nigerian citizens have an active collaborating role to play in the process through full participation in the elections. As a way forward, this author also suggests the introduction of the Nolan Principles of public service into governance in Nigeria as it will complement other ethical codes currently available but which may be grossly unused.

Introduction

Perhaps this year (2007) would be Nigeria's chance or perhaps not. A humble guess may probably reveal that majority of Nigerians would wish that the outcome of the April 2007 general elections should consolidate Nigeria's slow but steady match towards national rebirth. If we miss this forthcoming opportunity, we may be leaping backwards into our darkest past, unable to finally take our place amongst the global community of nations as one of the re-emerging economies and stable democracies in the world. The consequences of such a failed opportunity could only be imagined, and may even seem more sinister than the scenarios projected by America's intelligence agencies concerning Nigeria's disintegration within the next 15 years.

It is not enough for Nigerians to castigate the Americans for their prognosis; we should rather aim to get our acts together using the forthcoming elections as a litmus test, that way we will not be playing into the hands of the American intelligence agencies by fulfilling their prophecies for them.

Citizen Participation

I will urge the Nigerian people to take the forthcoming elections seriously because it is about time that Nigeria stepped out of the shadows and claimed its rightful place on the world stage. We have to endeavour to capture back our leadership position at least in Africa, a position that South Africa has since snatched from us, and rightly too. Apathy would not help and the days of throwing up our hands in the air and surrendering to the selfish elements in the polity to continue to direct our affairs should also be finally coming to an end. Those who have registered should make their votes count. This is not only the morally correct thing to do, but also the most sensible option; the other option is a retrogressive match to the place we have been before as a nation, an unfortunate

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