By Emma Ujah
THE decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint activist and former Vice Chancellor, VC, of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Attahiru Jega as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, did not leave anyone in doubt that the necessary environment for credible 2011 elections was being provided.

It was more so, given the antecedents of the Professor of Political science who had endeared himself to many Nigerians from his days at the helm of affairs of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

Analysts say that the choice of Prof. Jega was most appropriate given the fact that he was not known to have any affiliations with any political party and could ,therefore, be relied upon as a man of integrity that can conduct credible elections.  Obviously Prof. Jega is aware of the high expectations of the Nigerian public and therefore decided to co_opt a large army of the members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members in the conduct of the elections which have been described as very crucial to the development of the nation’s democracy.

Having volunteered the support of the NYSC, its Director_General, Brig. Gen. Maharazu Ismaila swung into action with a view to providing thorough orientation for the top management and other staff who would play critical roles in assisting the corps members to conscientiously team up with INEC, security agents and observers to deliver credible elections next year.

While addressing the staff and management of the scheme during a two day sensitization workshop on the 2011 general elections recently, in Abuja, Gen. Tsiga reminded the participants that NYSC had been in the vanguard of providing the country with able bodied educated youths who were ready at all times to contribute to social transformation, since inception, 37 years ago.

He described the call to participate in the 2011 general elections as “another call to duty which must be answered with the seriousness it deserves.” Responding to concerns expressed by parents and guardians on corps members’ safety during the polls, the DG assured that there was no cause for alarm. ‘’We are not oblivious of the doubts that have been expressed in various quarters as to our capacity and competence to mobilize the required quality of personnel for the elections. Let me use this forum to inform all Nigerians that we are ready to do all within our powers to ensure that we do not let the country down.”

Perhaps, more than any other segment of the society, corps members must give their best to ensure that the philosophy of one-man-one-vote becomes a reality in the forth-coming general elections.

Those who snatched ballot boxes in the past couldn’t have succeeded without compromising electoral officers and security agents whose brief was to ensure free, fair elections.  Corps members that are to participate in the election must equally realize that if moneybags and rogues are allowed to rig the elections, then they cannot expect to find jobs at the end of their service year; uninterrupted electricity power supply; good roads, a network of rail lines; clean water; well_equipped hospitals; efficient educational system with  schools that have necessary infrastructure and with well_motivated, dedicated teachers.

The benefits of good governance, it is generally acclaimed cannot be delivered by those who steal the people’s mandate.  Rather they will, as they have been doing, corruptly enrich themselves in the most primitive way by looting the treasury and denying the public the much_needed resources for the development of infrastructure upon which a sound and growing economy can be built.  Those who steal the nation’s funds and take the money to other economies in Europe, Americas and recently the Gulf nations, can be told to their faces that it can longer be business as usual.

It is common knowledge that politicians who rig elections have no sense of responsibility to the people since their emergence has no bearing with the wishes of the people.  As shameful as it sounds, a former governor in one of the states openly told his “subjects” that he owed them nothing since he become government with the strength of his money.  This must stop.  The corps members can play a great role in this regard and should. It would be to their own good.