UMU ANIOMA: WHY YOUR VOTES MUST COUNT FROM 2011

GLOBAL PRESS RELEASE

Nigeria’s political landscape has been hijacked by “vultures” who display gross insensitivity to the plight of the Nigerian people. The common man has always been at the receiving end of successive unrepresentative and imposed governments in the history of Nigeria. Since the inception of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999, we have been saddled with a mockery of democratic elections, just like the previous experiments.

At various levels of governance, including Umu Anioma, are men of questionable integrity who do not fight shy of reaping off their fellow countrymen and women.

We cry of marginalization of Anioma people, and rightly so. But if we must be truthful to ourselves, our politicians are the ones marginalizing us the most: Our politicians deny our people decent drinking water, good roads, electricity, quality healthcare and decent schools, even as they divert funds meant for these services into their private coffers. The story is worse at the various local government councils where the chairmen and their councilors, most of whom were never elected, in the first place, share monthly allocations without using them for the recommended purposes.

The truth is that any leadership not truly elected by the people can never be accountable or answerable to the people it purports to lead! Our political office holders treat the people like trash because they believe they can manipulate their votes at will without the fear of repercussions. That was the case in 2007.

This time around, however, Umu Anioma must be ready to take up the gauntlet and face our collective destiny with boldness and candour. Without prejudice to the promises from President Goodluck Jonathan of an error-free election, come 2011, Umu Anioma must be alert to our civic responsibilities.

This is a clarion call on all Umu Anioma, particularly, those at the home front. We must be conscious of our democratic right to vote in the 2011 elections. All Umu Anioma must troop out for the Voters’ Registration Exercise which runs from the 1st-11th November 2010. We must ensure that we have our voters’ cards, verify our names in the register, keep our cards safely and cast our votes for the right candidates at the polls.

Remember, the Voters’ Register will be displayed from November 20th-25th, 2010. (See below for the Timetable of events) and please pass the message to ALL Anioma communities. All Umu Anioma in the Diaspora should endeavour to educate their people back home. The use of town criers may not be out of place here.


TIME TABLE

• Party primaries: September 11 – Oct. 30

•Voter registration: Nov. 1 – Nov. 14
• Display of Voters Register: Nov 20-25, 2010
• National Assembly election: Jan. 15, 2011

• Presidential polls: Jan 22

• Governorship and State Assembly Polls: Jan. 29


To all Umu Anioma, please ensure that your votes count from 2011 onwards.

Ofu Obi bu ike anyi

Signed,


Vincent Ngozi Mokwenye Tony Ishiekwene
Co-chairman, Publicity Sub Committee Co-chairman, Publicity Sub Committee
nmokwenye@UmuAnioma.com tishiekwene@UmuAnioma.com