Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Nigerians Speak On Cost Of Shift In Election Date

By OMIKO AWA and PAUL ADUNWOKE.
14 February 2015   |   11:00 pm
When last year, the election date was fixed for February 14, which falls on a Valentine Day, many Nigerians, especially the youth and the young at heart, felt it would deny them of the enjoyment associated with the period. Businessmen and women also felt bad over the loss of income they would have grossed from…

INEC-15-2-15

When last year, the election date was fixed for February 14, which falls on a Valentine Day, many Nigerians, especially the youth and the young at heart, felt it would deny them of the enjoyment associated with the period. Businessmen and women also felt bad over the loss of income they would have grossed from the love festival. But, grudgingly, all had to accept the development. Alas, the election date has been shifted to March 28 and many Nigerians consider this not only as unpalatable, but ill-considered. This is because many events, ranging from weddings to business programmes, symposiums and even house warming have to be rescheduled, as reported by OMIKO AWA  and PAUL ADUNWOKE. 

IT’S A Well Deserved Shift  

(Mrs. Tawa Ajayi, public servant)  It is a well deserved shift, at least, it will give us time to sort out our Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) issue, because before now, it has been difficult for my husband and I to get it. Besides, it will also enable us partake in the fun of the season and ease the fears of another unrest, which led to some of us stocking our home with food items. We were even planning to leave Lagos for our states.  

 It Is A Deceit

(Wale Adetona, a technician)

 I don’t think the election will hold. Look at all the excuses they are giving us about the shift; it is all lies. This was how Babangida started in 1993. Why are they just realising that not everyone has got their PVCs? Jega was given four years to do the job and up till now, he has not been able to get his acts together. Rather, he is full of excuses. Jonathan and his men know what they are doing, but let me warn them, they can’t deceive Nigerians again. We are now wiser than the time of Babangida. 

 Let’s Give Government The Benefit Of Doubt

(Shade Adebambi, hairdresser)

  We should give government the benefit of the doubt, especially as many people are complaining of not having their PVCs. Some corrupt INEC officials in my area in Ikotun, Alimosho LGA are demanding as much as N1000 before they would release people’s PVCs. So, there are challenges and we need to give government time to settle all that and create a level playing ground for all. But, despite this, the cost of the shift is more than we can easily quantify. From the look of things, however, it could be in hundreds of millions of naira, in terms of losses incurred by the cancellation. These are in the form of business deals, social events and even printing of posters for future events, which would either be cancelled or shifted forward to later dates.

 Govt Should Consider The Economy, While Fixing Future Dates

(Chief Akin Johnson, hotelier)

  I had wanted to go elsewhere, take a break and wait till the election is over. I cannot manage being idle just because of an election and every thing seems to be tied to it. For instance, business people tell you no fund until election is over and the events are not forthcoming. 

  But with this shift, I can easily put up something for the Valentine Day, maybe for the children because organising events for adults would require long time planning and publicity. But overall, I must say I have not made any money since the beginning of the year. I have been drawing from my savings because business is dry. 

  I would suggest that any future date should not be put on a Val’s Day. Nigerians should be up and doing with facts and statistics to know that festivals, whether you like or not, bring in money and as such government should consider those deriving benefits from such festivals, because that is where they make their money. 

  We are not considering the losses we have recorded in the hospitality sector because our economy is driven by oil. While we think of the political situation, we should as well think of the economy. Even politics cannot survive without the economy; they are like a twin sister.   

  Had the election held on February 14, I would have lost close to N10million on rental, lounging, party space and other sundries attached to my business. 

 The Election Is Forcing Business To A Standstill

(Akeem Adeyemi, printer)

  This is the worst election period I have ever witnessed in my over 25 years in the printing business. The politicians are becoming miserly, not spreading the contracts to non-party members. And the election period, with the shift, has not allowed the religious organisations and other organisations that normally do large printing jobs to do much. From the look of things, business is really at a stand still. I just want March 28 to come and go so that we can have our lives back and do our normal businesses.

 It’s The Circumstance Of The Time And We’ve To Accept It

(Kolawole Philips, schoolteacher)

  We all need peace and good governace. Indeed, without these two, live cannot thrive. The shift has actually made me to organise my marriage in a rush, despite the fact that this would likely reduce the number of expected guests because I do not know if the March date will stand. 

  But I do not want to wait endlessly. So, my fiancée and I agreed to do it in a low key with just a few people, who would understand the situation and we just have to take it like that. I can imagine many people in my shoes that cannot take such a steps, but it is the circumstance and we just have to accept it.

0 Comments