Postponement: An appeal to Nigerian voters

from 14th and 28th February, to 28th March and 11th April, 2015 purportedly on the advice of the security chiefs and partially, on the need for citizens yet to collect Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) to do so.
I wonder how possible or feasible it is for anyone to expect 100% collection of PVCs by voters since registration began few years ago and revalidation of voters register took place some months back, and definitely, many owners of the PVCs may no longer be alive considering the time elapsed. Unless INEC has a miraculous way of resuscitating the death in order to collect their PVCs, the issue of non-collection should not be a factor in determining the conduct or postponement of elections as there is no time in the history of elections worldwide, that a country has achieved that.
I am, however, appealing to all of us Nigerians to understand and sympathize with INEC over the postponement of the elections on the basis of insecurity because one of the pre-requisites of conducting free, fair, credible and violence-free elections is for all the processes leading to the elections to conform to international best practices. Partnering and enjoying the services of security agencies are parts of conforming to that. Doing so guarantees the security of election materials, election officials and for voters to fully participate in the elections without much anxiety due to the fear of the unknown or electoral violence. Though the role of some security personnel in previous elections in Nigeria may be viewed as controversial by many owing to allegations of unethical conduct, it is still not enough excuse to ignore the strategic role security personnel play during elections.
For now, we have to give INEC and the security agencies the benefit of the doubt in the hope that there will be no further postponement of the elections beyond April 11th, 2015. Otherwise, as laymen in military strategy, we are bound to wonder on what prevented the security chiefs from carrying out this kind of special military operation against Boko Haram in previous months, until the time elections were scheduled to hold.
In the light of recent events, it is important for all of us Nigerians of voting age not to be distracted or lose focus in our resolve to vote wisely and elect the best candidates in the presidential, national assembly, gubernatorial and state assembly elections at the appointed time. Who knows, this postponement may, after all, either be a blessing in disguise. Granted it could have been aimed as a diversionary measure to weaken our determination to choose credible candidates. We have waited years already, so 6 weeks aren’t such a long time.
We should therefore remain firm, calm and positive, and come out en masse to exercise our civic duty and God-given right to make sure that our votes count. We should also be ready to endure all the difficulties, frustrations, provocations and unfavourable weather conditions that may come our way at our respective polling units on Election Days. Finally, we should choose the best candidate free from any sectional, religious or tribal sentiment, but with the interest of Nigeria at heart.
Zongre wrote in from Yerima Bappa Sanda Road, Turaki ‘A’ Ward, Jalingo, Taraba State.