by Kolapo Olapoju
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the initial loss of data from its machine is behind the loss of finger prints of some Nigerians.
According to the Commission, the loss is one of the reasons why the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, among others could not get their permanent voters card.
The information was communicated by the Deputy Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Nick Dazang, at a one-day workshop held for journalists in Kaduna on Monday, February 2.
He said: “Initial loss of data led to the loss of finger prints and why the Sultan of Sokoto, Governor Fashola of Lagos, and others could not get their PVC. What I know is that those whose data were lost and those who did the Continuous Voter Registration, their cards are now ready. Attitude of some INEC staff led to the loss of the data.”
The Deputy Director said in spite of the challenges being faced by the commission, 65 per cent of PVC’s had been distributed nationally, while assuring that the percentage of PVC distribution would increase before the election. “All cards (PVC) are on the ground and are being distributed to the states,” he added.
He disclosed that as of January 31, 42.7 million, representing 65 per cent national average distribution, had been achieved, adding that some states had achieved distribution up to between 79 and 80 per cent average.
Dazang gave a breakdown of the distributions, which includes: Adamawa (79.5 per cent), Gombe (78 per cent), Jigawa (79 per cent), Katsina (79.4 per cent), Osun (70.7 per cent) and Taraba (80.5 per cent).
He said: “There are states that have done very well, but the national average is 65 per cent. This figure (65) is conservative. At the end of the one week extension, we are expecting between 79 to 80 per cent national average. Even in an examination, if you score this figure, nobody will say you did badly.”
“The best INEC has done is the extension of one week and by statistics, within the first three days of distribution of PVC, cards going into millions were distributed. If we have one week extension, what stops us from distributing the balance.”
WE DID IT 4 YEARS AGO – NIGERIA LET’S DO IT AGAIN.
When President Goodluck Jonathan became president he was quickly confronted with an unexpected rise in insurgency funded by the very same people who did not want him to succeed and who would turn around and use this to assess his performance or lack thereof.
The president had to deal with saboteurs both within and outside and his government, how can you win this type of war waged on the basis of who you are and where you come from? Things that the president is not responsible for and cannot change. How can you win a war that has primarily turned to into an ethnic and religious one? All over the world the war against terrorism has taken many years to fight and still the end does not seem to be in sight.
Despite all those odds President Jonathan has made formidable strides in all other sectors. Today, Nigeria is the number one economy in Africa and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. This is to the eternal shame of those actively trying to destabilize the country, and afterwards declare the President incompetent.
Jonathan took on corruption in fertiliser and seed distribution, ending four decades of corruption in the sector and saving the government over N25billion in 2012 alone. Through his transformation in Agriculture he reduced food import bill from N1.1trillion in 2011 to N648billion in 2012. The road networks are being rehabilitated, railways have been resuscitated. Although there is still more work to be done there has been real progress in the last four years.
We have gone too far to turn back now. Vote Jonathan to keep us moving forward.