By Laide Akinboade
The Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Idi Farouk, in this interview with Sunday Vanguard, expresses optimism that the ongoing nationwide voter registration would be successful, and best ever in the history of the nation.

Farouk, who also spoke on the level of enlightenment campaigns carried out by the agency so far, said the initial challenges were normal and which, according to him, the Federal Government has already addressed.

Alhaji Idi Farouk

The NOA boss also spoke on other burning national issues including the political violence and the role of security agencies in addressing criminal matters, as well as the difference between political violence and criminality.

Why did NOA fail to involve the civil society and media in creating awareness for the ongoing voter registration?

The voter registration is crucial in the current democratic process because it is a pre-requisite for free, fair and credible elections.
It is imperative to sensitise stakeholders on the importance of the exercise and also seek the support and co-operation of stakeholders with NOA to jointly mobilise Nigerians to participate in the exercise. The stakeholders include the media and civil society organisations. NOA State Directorates have already embarked on voters’ education campaign for the exercise in their respective states.

Reports across the country have it that the voter registration started on a shaky note, is there any hope of improvement on these challenges?

Nigerians have demonstrated their readiness to participate in the political process of the country, instead of being apolitical in the critical national issues.

The exercise provides Nigerians the opportunity to make informed choices of those who will superintendent over the affairs of the nation. To have a credible election, the nation must commence with the voters’ registration.

I am satisfied with the turnout of Nigerians in the ongoing voters registration. The initial challenges were normal and the Federal Government has already addressed them.

Political violence seemed to be on increase, especially with the build-up to the general elections, what is the agency doing to curb this ugly phenomenon in the political circles?

When we talk about the issue of violence, especially the issue of Ibadan and the killing of Eleweomo, I want to commend the Nigerian Police for the action they have taken so far over the issue. And, every violence is a crime, so there is nothing like political thuggery or political violence and there is nothing like political killing and if anybody is suspected to have commit such crime then the person should be so treated and sanctioned appropriately.

That is why I commended the Nigerian Police in apprehending alleged perpetrators of crimes and prosecuting them because that is the only thing that can stop the violence.

What is NOA doing about it? We have been working in collaboration with all the security agencies. In fact, as we speak there is a committee on INEC and NOA charged with the responsibility of raising awareness. I am calling on Nigerians to come out en mass to register and when it is time to vote because without registration you cannot vote and for them to use their vote properly.

All our locations are in the 774 local governments areas in the country and all the 36 states and Abuja and what have we been doing, we have been raising the required awareness using the resources available to us which is jingle and all.

Can you specifically tell Nigerians what measures the agency is putting in place to prevent the repeat of what happened in Ibadan?
Basically like I have said before, there is no violence in itself. Burning houses and killing people is a crime punishable under the 1999 Constitution and that is why I commended the effort of Nigerian Police on the issue.   We on our part will continue to create awareness.

Ours is to raise awareness, our mandate is continuous and even after election we will continue to do our bits.

Every election is important because democracy is all about change of guard. Assuming that your representative at all levels, from president, governors, chairman down the line to councillors, if they are not doing what they promised you to do, if you are unsatisfied with what they are doing, democracy afford you the opportunity every four years to make amends and that is why we say your vote is your power to make all the amendments. You want roads, hospitals and all the infrastructure; your vote is that power you have.

Democracy still remains the best form of government because it has afforded the citizenry the power to choose who should lead them.
I will like to stress the importance of democracy to our collective well-being; democracy can only be strengthened if Nigerians agree to work together with commitment to the development of our fatherland. I want to call on all political parties in the country to place the nation above any other considerations as we prepare for the general election in April.