I wish to use this medium of communication to write you this open letter to articulate the issues on ground and possibly reject going into this coming elections by a boycott.
It is imperative to stress to you that from all indications, the ruling party and the president are desirous of having free and fair elections. This is because from the look of things, the electoral umpire has already been compromised with appointment of Hajiya Amina Zakari head of the collation centre coupled with the recent suspension of the chief justice of Nigeria.
The opposition PDP should not participate in an election that has already been compromised. It is therefore necessary for PDP to halt its participation in February 16, 2019 election as it is clear that elections will not be free and fair. The ruling APC is doing all within it power to hijack the process in order to perpetuate itself in power.
There is no level playing field provided by the APC for the conduct of the election from the pronouncements of APC stalwarts at their various rallies across the country, especially the statement of the party’s National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.
The mistake PDP will be committing is going into this election without checkmating the governing party.
They will to regret if they allow APC to lure them to participate in the elections.
They should ensure that the proper things are put in place so that the elections are acceptable by the international community and the opposition parties.
PDP should be at alert for the fact that APC are out to outwit them. This is because they are jittery about the outcome of the result if the PDP participates in the elections.
The ruling party is not serious in conducting free and fair elections as there are indications that the elections will not be a smooth sail for the party.
The PDP should ensure that there is smooth sailing for the party by insisting that the elections are conducted in a conducive manner where each vote would count so that development can be spread across Nigeria.
The present administration from the look of things is not ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections. Therefore, the PDP should not allow any room for rigging by making sure that no hanky-panky game is played.
Usman Santuraki, No2, Santuraki Close, Demsawo, Jimeta, Yola; 08032333546
My first campus journalism award
Journalism is long-time a passion for me. So, my joy knew no bounds when I was offered admission to study Information and Media Studies at the Faculty of Communication, Bayero University, Kano.
During the orientation exercise organised for the 100-level of my department, Mallam Yushau Shuaib of PR Nigeria and Economic Confidential Magazine urged the students to be acquainted with the dynamic and revolutionary changes in communication midwifed by technology.
Shuaib said: “The social media has taken over the way and manner we communicate. In today’s world, we should never ignore the potentials of the large population of social media users, the reliability of instant information, the accessibility to timely response to enquiries and the opportunity to share data and media sharing platforms.’
Malam Shuaib later created a blog for us, where he selected some of us to be posting on different things such as entertainment, sports, news, campus, health, politics, international, interviews, and several others
After some months, I encountered a report on Youths Digest, an online newspaper in Abuja, asking interested students to fill in their details for the 2019 Campus Journalism Awards (CJA) that will take place at a later date. I was really surprised and at the same time felt happy. I filled the form on the site with my details such as my name, phone number, institution, category I belong to, and my email.
I later received a text telling me that my entry was successful. Few months ahead I received a message on my email saying, “we are very pleased to receive your submitted article(s), among the over 200 entries sent between November 1 and 30, 2018, for the Campus Journalism Awards 2019.”
I was very excited and prayed to be among the finalists. But then I became very hard working and was posting regularly on the blog. Few months later, I again received a message on my mail saying,
“Congratulations, you are a finalist with your entry for the Campus Journalism Awards (CJA 2019) which is organised by the Publishers of Youths Digest.”
On the 18th of January 2019, I travelled to Abuja for the award ceremony. And at 9:30am, after we all gathered to take our dinner in downstairs of the hotel, one of the organisers, who is also in charge controlling and taking care of all the finalists, arrived in front of our door and said we should all check our emails where there is a message for us. I checked my email and later discovered a written text directing us to write on a topic called “Anti-Corruption Measures Towards Transparent, Peaceful and Credible 2019 General Election.” The article should be 700 words maximum, and the article must be submitted not later than 8.00am Saturday morning of January 19, before the Interactive Workshop at PR Nigeria Office. I wrote the article and submitted it around 1:30am.
While speaking at the workshop organised for the 30 finalists, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz of Premium Times said accuracy, clarity, originality, creativity and unique style of delivery, were the criteria used to assess all entries, and selection of the final awardees.
After the keynote address, the presentation of awards followed. I was really shocked and hoping that I will be among the winners. I thought I was dreaming when I heard my name being called as the winner of Best Entertainment Writer. I stood up and walked slowly to the podium amidst excitement.
After the presentation of awards, we had refreshment and took pictures. Later in the evening there was a barbecue party for us, and we also received the handsome cash of N10,000 for transport to our various destinations. Early Sunday morning, the 21st of January we all left our hotel rooms, and I travelled back to Kano. The CJA was indeed a memorable adventure for me, which I will never forget in my life.
Abdulhamid Abdullahi Aliyu, Bayero University, Kano
Minimum wage conundrum
The national minimum wage conundrum has decorated Mr. President with additional clothes, apart from integrity and honesty. The working class invariably constitutes the majority of the population. The timing is superb. One must also congratulate the labour unions for the focus-driven and united front they presented to fight for the workers’ well-being and by so doing, protecting their rights.
This is a fine example of the strength of organised labour. The next level should be a struggle to save the poor from unbridled treasury looting plots and habits of public office holders.
Unfortunately, the governors complaining have no clue whatsoever on how to accelerate internally generated revenue to fund the increases.
Their advisers seem not to understand the urgent need for government to intervene to remedy the plight of the ordinary poor workers.
Let them key into the APC’s slogan of moving the country to the Next Level and I add, with all we can do being all we can do.
John R. Jimoh, Legunsen, Sagamu, Ogun state
