The recently held elections in Liberia had been adjudged to be peaceful, free and fair. Contrary to what happens in Nigeria when elections are conducted, stories of violence, kidnapping, maneuvering, ballot box snatching, killings of opponents, rigging, intimidation, among others, were not heard. The general assessment is that it was conducted under a peaceful atmosphere.
Speaking to The Next Edition, some Nigerians expressed their views on the elections and what lessons Nigeria should learn from it.
Mr. Philip Balepo, a Journalist, said, “Liberia has a lot to offer Nigeria, nay, Africa. They have shown that peace pays. Greed never invaded their veins and even the evils of 14 years of war have not caused them to rig elections or produce politicians who cherish lies and deceit more than urban development.”
He also noted that Liberia not only produced the first female President in Africa, they gave Africa the first President Nobel Laureate for Peace in 2011. “Peace might be another name for Liberia,” he said.
Mr. Balepo applauded the contestants in the elections as well as the voters for their peaceful conduct. “The Presidential election was peaceful in spite of the number of contestants (20). The voters showed maturity, same for the contestants. The Media was unbiased even with 29 African Languages and some American and Caribbeans making up the country.”
According to him, Nigeria has a lot to learn from the Liberian elections and in all areas too. “Party supporters were faithful and loyal to their party and candidates. In Nigeria, there are party supporters. What we have are supporters for loot sharing,” he said
Dr. Vitalis Etim, thinks the major lesson Nigerians can learn from Liberians is patience. “Liberia is a small country. The entire registered voters there is like a local government in Lagos so it is easier to organise in such a situation. But where I think we can learn a lot of lessons is patience and not taking elections as if it is a do or die affair.
The incumbent Vice President was in that election but the President didn’t show any partiality to him. She just allowed the Liberians to vote.
Again, there were little number of voters but it took the electoral body close to six days before they came out with the final result. But in Nigeria, they do elections on Saturday, by Sunday evening people will start complaining that they are delaying because they want to doctor the results. We should learn how to be patient and allow the people who have been given the responsibility to organise elections do their job,” he said.
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Mr. Patrick Anyatonwu, an Author and Public Commentator, says the government needs to learn how to organise elections “because here, it seems efforts are geared towards abusing the system. From all indications, the Liberian system allows all participants equal opportunity so at the end, the best comes out.”
Mr. Anyatonwu also suggested that politicians or aspiring politicians need to also learn how to play the game. “Take George Weah for instance, he came out in 2005 to contest against Ellen Johnson, but the elders asked him to wait and learn, he listened; he has a listening ear. He didn’t leave politics but became a senator, added value at the floor, learnt how laws are made, sponsored bills that will help his people and encountered how separation of powers work; he acquired knowledge. These processes are important and necessary. But more importantly, the system never imprisoned him or put mines to liquidate him. They allowed the best to come out. But in Nigeria, the reverse is the case.”
He lamented that in Nigeria government creates loopholes for people to exploit while government agencies are used to abate irregularities.
In a telephone interview with Channels Television on the Liberian elections, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, observed thus, “on comparison with Nigeria, I must say there is a little comparison because the entire system of voting in Liberia is manual while in Nigeria it is electronic.
” But one lesson, I think we can learn from what is happening in Liberia is the importance of early preparation for elections particularly in the area of logistics. In the area of voter education, identification of polling units, ensuring that people know where to go on election day to vote,” Prof. Mahmood said.
