2015, a zonal MRA election was to take place. An electoral committee headed by a reputable professor had communicated the guidelines to all contestants. On election day as we prepared to vote, a court bailiff walked in and served the committee a court order to stop the elections.
Ladies and gentlemen, for those who don't know, MRA means - Magodo Residents Ass. It was an election to elect new executives to run the affairs of a zone in the Magodo Estate. Residents in this estate are elites of the elites. Yet they couldn't organise a rancour free election.
I recall my wife's shock seeing what she was unfolding before her. Respected individuals in the community throwing caution to the wind and behaving like thugs just because they sensed that their favourite candidate was not going to win. We gave them a name that day - Cantankerous
It is why I am not surprised when I read stories about orgs unable to conduct elections without irregularities. If orgs like the NBA, the NMA and even elite residents of a residential estate cannot conduct free and fair elections, then why are we surprised when politicians can't.
There is something ingrained in the average Nigerian (whether elite or not) to win at all cost regardless of process, fairness or rules. The rule of law and guidelines are only good when they favor him and his people. If they don't, then they are bad and most be discredited.
How do you change Nigeria without changing the Nigerian?
