Again, Where is the Political Reform?

Part of my morning routine everyday is to read a couple of Nigerian newspapers online and it is always one grim news after another.  Often , the story is about the circus that goes on in government and the performers both in the executive and legislative arms.  One of the stories that caught my attention this week was a suggestion that President Yar'Adua's political reform committee was mulling over the idea of open ballot in future elections and that got me wondering.

I wondered why? I wondered what for? and I wondered if the politicians were not in Nigeria during Humphrey Nwosu's option A4 and the subsequent June 12 crisis. Most of all, I really wondered if these 'reformers' understood that the problem with our electoral system is not how we vote but with the conduct of politicians, law enforcement and election officials.  It does not matter if the ballot is secret or open.   Those who rig elections in most cases just change the numbers on the results sheet as we have learnt from many election petitions which followed the 2007 polls. Why then do they waste time looking where the problem does not exist?

I'm Proud to be a Nigerian

I was driving to work in a busy New York morning when this sticker on the back windshield of a car in front caught my attention.  It was very legible, in bold prints on green background and it read: I'm a proud Nigerian.

The car was an old Japanese model, perhaps, a testimony to the owner's struggles in God's own country.  Perhaps also, it is just a modest reminder that "some day we shall return."

When i drove past the car, I honked in comradeship and looked back on my rear view mirror to catch a glimpse of the young man behind those wheels.  For one moment, I felt a little proud that there is at least one Nigerian out here who feels great about motherland.  Kudos to him for voicing it out in his little way.