By Orkula Shaagee, Jude Opara, Tseaa Armstrong, Abuja 

The Federal Government has been charged to devise modern electronic voting system to safeguard fear, intimidation and molestation of electorate.

Immediate past governor of Bayelsa state, Seriake Dickson said this would guarantee safety of voters, non-exposure of electoral materials and provide dividends of democracy to the people.

Dickson said until the nation’s electoral process was reformed and tailored towards digital age, Nigerians might not enjoy the expected dividends of democracy.

Dickson, who stated this in a keynote address at the third edition of the annual DAILY ASSET awards and lecture in Abuja, said what the country, presently practiced as democracy, was an aberration.

The former Governor, who was represented by the former Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, spoke in a lecture entitled: “Election, Good Governance and Democracy in Nigeria”.

He stated: “We cannot talk of good governance when the elections are flawed. Our electoral process needs to be reformed and refined because most of the elected officials don’t have the capacity to lead.

“Democracy in Nigeria is an aberration. We need good people in Nigerian politics, but that will be possible if the process is refined.

“If a politician buys his or her way into office, he or she has no obligation to the people; don’t expect good governance from him,” Dickson said.

He, therefore, called on political leaders in the country to continue to work for the sustenance of democracy.

He noted that democracy had suffered setbacks due to lack of respect for its institutions by those saddled with the responsibility to protect, preserve and defend its tenets.

“When the rule of law, freedom of speech and association is not allowed to thrive, then there is danger. The three arms of government must have mutual respect for one another. No arm should be overbearing.

“Democracy is in decline in our country and we must all be worried. Of course, the correlation between democracy and development has since been proven and we must take note of that.

“Without a sound democratic system, development will continue to elude us. Democracy as we know it in Nigeria is nothing but an aberration.

“I also think we should take a second look at our leadership recruitment process. Sure we need more good people in politics who can help to safeguard sound leadership and the important question of good governance.

“But that itself would come as a product of a functional democratic process, imperative to give democracy a chance to flourish in Nigeria by keeping to its universal best practices.”

Dickson further lamented that elections in Nigeria has fallen short of expected standards

“Elections in Nigeria has been characterised by violence, high level rigging and manipulation. Vote buying and ballot box snatching are also part of the common features of our elections”, he noted.

“All of these are caused by the lucrative nature of political offices. Politicians acquire guns for youths and pay them some little money to disrupt elections and force their way through.

“The associated impediments above do not guarantee true democracy as government of the people by the people and for the people as most acceptable definition of democracy.

“This is because the people are not usually allowed to decide election results. In this situation, election as we have witnessed in recent times, does not truly serve its purpose and this is unfortunate.”

 Suswam Thumbs Up DAILY ASSET Over Balanced Reportage

The chairman, Senate Committee on Power and Senator representing Benue State North East, His Excellence, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, has commended the management of DAILY ASSET Newspapers Limited for keeping the flag of truthful and balanced journalism flying.

Suswam gave the commendation at the weekend during the third annual lecture and award ceremony of the Asset Newspapers Limited, held in Abuja.

“Dr. Cletus Akwaya and his editorial team have made Nigerians proud by keeping to strict ethics of print journalism. In spite of his closeness to me, he tells stories as it is.

“I have known Dr Akwaya as a man of taste. This has reflected on the quality of of his newspaper, its news content and colourful production, objective and fair reportage and these have made the newly established newspaper to rank high with contemporaries in the print industry.

 “Akwaya and his team have kept the newspaper above the murky water of low patronage for newspapers in sterile economic situation.

“The paper is rich in content. Its news items both local and foreign are incisive and symbol of fair, truthful and balanced journalism,” he noted.

Suswam, who was chairman of the occasion, had earlier called on the gathering to patronize newspaper to keep doing the good work of informing, educating and entertaining the reading public.

“I called on other Benue indigenes to emulate Akwaya by establishing national enterprises. It’s my honour and a rare privilege to present on behalf of Daily Asset, the award of politician of the year to the Senate President, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ahmed Lawal.

“A man, who has been able to accommodate all shades of political opinions. He has reduced rancour in the Senate and has succeeded successfully return Nigeria to the January to December budget cycle,” he eulogised while presenting the award to Lawal who was represented at the occasion by senator, Bello Mandiya, representing Katsina North senatorial district.

The occasion had the executive governor of Benue state, His Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom as chief host, represented by Dr.  Shima Ayati, Special Assistant to the governor on intergovernmental affairs, Professor emeritus, Prof. Iorwuese Hagher, Hon. Terngu Tsegba amongst other dignitaries.

What Daily Asset Award means to me—Lawan

Senate President Ahmed Lawan has described his DAILY ASSET Man of the Year award as as a clarion call on him and the senate to do more in contributing to the stability and development of the country.

Lawan who was represented by Senator Bello Mandiya said already the senate has accepted the task of working in the interest of the people, adding that they will continue to be focused in their efforts to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerians irrespective of their creed or tribe.

The Senate President also used the occasion to reiterate on the resolve of the National Assembly to engage Nigerians and other relevant stakeholders on the raging debate over hate speech and fake news, assuring that the legislative arm of government will be dispassionate and open-minded in the discussions that will follow, bearing in mind that the overall impact on the future of the country.

“As a media organization, I am sure you are conversant with the raging debate over hate speech and fake news. The conversation is sure to continue for a long time, particularly because of changing technologies of communication. Regardless, we are all supposed to be dispassionate and open-minded in our contributions to the arguments. Our duty as citizens is to engage the issues, with the future of our nation in mind.

“This can happen if we are critical and if we rely on facts to support our position. My charge to you as practitioners is to help the populace understand better. This is consistent with your role of educating, informing and entertaining consumers of news. This role is constitutional and you cannot afford to abdicate it.

“The responsibility of moving this nation forward is a collective one. The media as a major source of awareness are central to the functioning and growth of democracy. While you can be proud of this role, you can similarly excel in carrying it out. The media have been outstanding in the past, and are committed in present times.”

The Senate President equally advised that moving forward, Nigeria must improve her quest for transparency and on mobilizing the citizens towards the fulfillment of a collective national agenda anchored on peace, prosperity, growth and development.