THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY & NIGERIA'S 2019 ELECTIONS

Photo L-R: Sarah Fradgley (Press officer), Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (Conflict Transformation Expert) & Maria Arena Mep (Chief Observer) @ the EU Press Conference on Nigeria's 2019 elections

Yesterday, 11th March 2019 was indeed a busy day for me. The National Democratic Institute(NDI/IRI and the European Union (EU) held separate Press Conferences on the conduct of Nigeria's 2019 elections in Abuja. I was at both briefings. The concerns about the elections are similar.

Some of the findings are:

*Systemic failings and electoral security problems show need for 'serious reform'.
*There were operational improvements in the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections of 9th March over the Presidential election held earlier. However, these gains were overshadowed by systemic failings - lack of transparency, incumbency advantage ballot box snatching and a 'troubling electoral security environment'.
*Condemnation for the obstruction of citizen observers by the military and security agents on election day. International observers were denied access to collation centres in Rivers state.
*Overall, the elections were competitive, with freedom to campaign. However, there was misuse of state-owned media, which prevented a level playing field. Institutional websites were used to campaign by both the APC and PDP gladiators.
*Collation process: Inconsistent numbers, lack of clear checks/explanation and insufficient public information undermined confidence in the integrity of the  process.
*The absence of internal party democracy and the lack of effective mechanisms for resolving intra-party disputes contributed to 'highly contentious' party primaries in 2018, which resulted in over 600 pending court cases, some of them to resolve candidacies for state-level offices.
*Lack of women's representation: The percentage of women candidates running for governor and deputy governor increased slightly in 2019 from 6 to 17 percent respectively in 2015 to 8 and 26 percent. However, the two major parties did not field any female candidates for governor.. Additionally, of the 276 women running for deputy governor, only 5 were candidates from APC and PDP.. So far the Nigerian government has not applied the 53% Affirmative Action principle included in the 2006 National Gender Policy.

Recommendations

1) To the Executive branch of government

*Expedite the adoption of comprehensive electoral reforms.
*Implement fully and expeditiously the recommendations of the Nigeria-led reform initiatives, e.g. Uwais Commission (2008) and the Nnamani Committee (2017).
*Adopt and apply measures to achieve 35% affirmative action for women in both elective and appointive positions.
*Investigate the actions of the military and hold all those who violated the electoral and other laws accountable.


2) To the National Assembly

*Undertake and pass amendments to the election law that address the challenges and lessons learned from the 2019 electoral cycle.
*Prioritise legislation that would promote women's leadership and political participation by adopting the Gender & Equal Opportunities Bill.

3) To INEC

*Publish detailed state and national level results in a timely manner.
*Conduct a comprehensive review of the conduct of the 2019 polls.
*Review the recommendations of credible domestic and international observers.
*Ensure effective communication between the state and federal levels throughout the election process.
*Reconsider the order and timing of general elections in Nigeria.
*Fully empower presiding officers to exercise their authority to act on election offences when they occur.

4) To political parties & candidates

*Strengthen mechanisms for internal party democracy.
*Develop mechanisms for effective resolution of intra-party conflicts.
*Work across parties to identify common priorities and support electoral reform.
*Abandon electoral practices such as voter intimidation, vote buying and other disruptions of the election process.
*Develop state level platforms and policy positions that take into consideration localised priority issues upon which voters can base their choices.
*Strengthen relationships between party structures and elected representatives in the National Assembly and state level to support parties' reform agendas.

5) To civil society

*Convene national and state level multi-stakeholder dialogue to draw lessons from the 2019 election process while galvanising broad-based support for electoral reforms.
*Create broad-based coalitions and aggressively champion coordinated advocacy campaigns to increase the participation of women. Take a cue from the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign.
*Enhance effort to channel citizen priorities at the state and local levels to responsive and accountable governance.

6) To security agencies

*Work with INEC to enforce the electoral law by investigating and prosecuting perpetrators of election-related criminal acts.
*Investigate and sanction security personnel who violate the rules of engagement on election day.

The above represents some of the concerns and recommendations of some foreign observers as regards the 2019 elections in Nigeria. I hope the various arms of government, security agencies and civil society do their part by closely studying the extant commentary on the elections...

Related Links

*The 'Propaganda Secretaries' behind Nigeria's 2019 elections   https://twitter.com/CDDWestAfrica/status/111885...
*8 rules for Biometric Voter Registration   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/8-rules-successful-biometric-voter-registration/
*How are young Africans engaging the electoral processes? Lessons from Nigeria & Senegal   https://allafrica.com/stories/201904231157.html 
*Why Presidential Election Petitions fail   https://leadership.ng/2019/03/21/why-presidential-election-petitions-fail
*Nigeria's election law: Matters & petition cases   lawnigeria.com/judgement/election-matters-law-judgement3.php
*Justice Bulkachuwa withdraws from Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal   https://www.youtube.com/watch...   https://punchng.com/breaking-bulkachuwa-withdraws-from-presidential-election-petition
*Why I asked Justice Bulkachuwa to withdraw from Presidential Election Tribunal   https://www.premiumtimesng.com/.../331202-why-i-asked-justice-bulkachuwa-to-withdraw...
*Presidential Election Tribunal dismisses suit seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari's inauguration   https://www.channelstv.com/.../presidential-election-petition-tribunal-dismisses-suit-seeking...
*Nigeria's 2019 elections   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/special-issue-nigerias-2019-elections-in-perspective/
*Displaced but not disenfranchised: IDPs and the 2019 elections in Nigeria   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/displaced-but-not-disenfranchised-idps-and-the-2019-nigerian-elections
*Women and Nigeria's 2019 elections   https://kujenga-amani-ssrc.org/2019/02/15/women-and-nigerias-2019-elections/
*The international community and Nigeria's 2019 elections   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/the-international-community-and-nigerias-2019-elections/
*Security agencies and the 2019 elections in Nigeria   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/security-agencies-and-the-2019-elections-in-nigeria/
*Bullets and ballots: Exploring insecurity in the 2019 elections in Nigeria   https://kujenga-amani-ssrc.org/2019/02/15/bullets-and-ballots-exploring-insecurity-and-the-2019-elections-in-nigeria
*Not ready to run: Youth and Nigeria's 2019 general elections    https://kujenga-amani-ssrc.org/2019/02/15/not-ready-to-run-youth-and-nigerias-2019-general-elections/
*Political campaigns in the 2019 elections: Economic debate takes back seat   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/political-campaigns-in-the-2019-election-economic-debate-takes-a-backseat/
*INEC says only 21 recommendations by foreign missions can be implemented internally   bit.ly/1HyuNuk   https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/339714-2019-elections-inec-says-only-21-recommendations-by-foreign-missions...
*Atiku's turbulent journey from polls to Presidential tribunal loss   https://www.premiumtimes.ng.com/news/headlines/351962-atikus-turbulent-journey-from-polls-to-presidential-tribunal-loss...
*2019 elections: INEC involved in over 1,600 court cases   https://www.premiumtimes.com/news/.../356938-2019-elections-inec-involved-in-over-1600-court-cases.html
 

18th June, 2019

FINAL STATEMENT OF NDI/IRI ON NIGERIA'S 2019 ELECTIONS

On the 18th of June, 2019, NDI/IRI presented their final statement on the 2019 elections in Nigeria. It is a follow up to their preliminary statement in February after the Presidential elections. I should not fail to mention a new innovation during the release of the final statement. As far as I can recall, this was the first time Nigerian stakeholders were invited to join the IRI/NDI team at the 'high table' for the presentation.

The invited Nigerian stakeholders were:

*Prof. Remi Sonaiya - Professor of French and KOWA Party candidate for the 2015 Presidential election.
*Honourable Simon Karu - He was elected in 2019 to the House of Representatives for the constituency of Kaltungo-Shongom in Gombe state. He emerged as the first youth under the age of 40 to be elected into a federal seat at the National Assembly.
*Chairman Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim - He is a Nigerian politician and businessman. Bashir is the National Chairman of the People's Democratic Movement (PDM).

The three stakeholders listed above gave a good account of themselves while giving their unique perspectives on the polity and nature of the electoral system in Nigeria. The following constitute the main thrust of the statement:

*The 2019 general elections fell significantly short of standards set in 2015.
*Citizen' confidence in the elections was shaken. Election stakeholders should take concrete steps to address the concerns of citizens with regard to the polls.
* The 2019 elections highlighted for many Nigerians the need for a national conversation about the country's democratisation since the 1999 transition to civil rule.
* The report provides recommendations to enhance the credibility of elections in Nigeria, going forward - political party conduct, civic engagement, election security and legal frameworks around election disputes.
*In previous years, suggestions for improvement by reputable citizens and international observation missions went unheeded.

I sincerely hope that these useful recommendations are carefully studied and implemented to a large extent.

Related Links

*The sophisticated ways WhatsApp was used in Nigeria's 2019 elections   https://qz.com/africa/1678202/how-whatsapp-impacted-nigerias-2019-elections/
*Journalistic framing of electoral conflict in a politically fragile society: A comparative study of the Zimbabwean weekly press   https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/fill/10.1080/23743670
*Sorting fact from fiction: Nigeria's 2019 elections   https://t.co/fFXsiH6iAI
*Judging an umpire: Observers' verdicts & INEC's scorecard   https://tribuneonlineng.com/226147

ADIEU PROF. PIUS ADESANMI: PUBLIC INTELLECTUAL PER EXCELLENCE

'Here lies Pius Adesanmi who tried as much as he could to put his talent in the service of humanity and flew away home one bright morning when his work was over'
- Pius Adesanmi, August 21, 2018

'Thinking is really the only debt the public intellectual owes this society, thinking is all I believe I owe Nigeria and Africa'
- Pius Adesami, 2011

'Africa is the forward that the world needs...'
- Pius Adesanmi, TED Talk, 2015

'A great deal of our problem in Nigeria is because our people have been strategically under-educated and dis-educated by the ruling class because of the advantages of using illiteracy'
- Pius Adesanmi, #AkeFest15

'I have drawn this profile, not because I have hope for change. Sadly, I think our people have been psychologically defeated and have come to accept and love these things about Nigeria. They turn on whoever tries to awaken them. Nigeria's irresponsible leaders have us where they want us. I write basically these days for the purposes of archaeology. A thousand years from now, archaeologists would be interested in how some people called Nigerians lived in the 20th and 21st centuries. If they dig and evacuate, I am hoping that fragments of my writing survive to point them to the fact that all of them accepted to live as slaves of the most irresponsible rulers of the era'
- Pius Adesanmi, 'An Archaeology of Nigeria' in the Tribune, March 9, 2019, a day before he died in an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash

Pius Adesanmi, author of 'Niger no dey carry last' etc. quoted Ps. 139:9-10 on his Facebook page in the airport in Ethiopia few hours before he boarded the crashed plane. The jist of the passage is simply that Almighty Father knows everything about us and none of us can escape His presence. Did he have premonition of his death? He even wrote his epitaph, probably not intending to do so, while engaging in social satire.

I am still mourning! Candle in the wind? Adieu Pius Adesanmi (27th February 1972 - 10th March, 2019). Please tell me to wake up from dreamland where I believe Pius would simply walk into my living room in flesh and blood to say news of his demise was just a ruse...But I need to face reality, the cold fact that Pius is gone, at least from this earth life. Although fourteen years younger than I, I was always in awe of his intellectual prowess each time I encountered him. Nigeria, and indeed Africa has lost one of its very best - eloquent, fearless, articulate, speaker of truth to power, accomplished academic, loving husband/father, a strong link between town and gown, generous, respectful, respectable, polished and relentless advocate of the undeniable potential of the black man/woman...PIUS.

Pius lost his life in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight of Sunday 10th March, 2019 with 157 passengers on board from 35 countries! Pius traveled with his Canadian passport (He had dual citizenship: Nigerian and Canadian). This caused the delay in identifying the fact that such a precious Nigerian was on board. He was en route Nairobi as a participant in the ECOSOC meeting  organised by the AU. Until his death, Pius was Professor of Literature and African Studies, Carlton University, Ottawa, Canada. He was also former Fellow, French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) and French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).

A thorough investigation into the cause of the plane crash is the very minimum demanded by citizens the world over. What can I say? He came, he saw, he conquered. It is not how ling you live that matters, but the impact you make while on earth. I extend my condolence to his wife and two daughters at this critical time. I am confident that the family will keep the flag flying and continue from where Pius stopped...abruptly. The best all of us can do to his memory is to constantly reinforce the noble ideals he stood for in his lifetime...

Related Links

*Greek man, Antonis Mavropoulos, who missed Ethiopian Airlines fight by mere minutes shares emotional post   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/11/africa/ethiopian-airlines-crash-missed-facebook-post-scli-intl/
*Passengers killed in Ethiopian Airlines crash came from 25 countries   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/10/africa/ethiopian-airlines-crash-victims/
*The Institute of African Studies at the Carleton University calls for submissions of a Poetry Anthology in honour of Pius Adesanmi   bit.ly/2FobSGG
*Pius Adebola Adesanmi: Like a dew on grass by Bamidele Ademola-Olateju   https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2019/03/18/pius-adebola-adesanmi-like-a-dew-on-grass...
*Tortoise folklore & national leadership: A tribute to Pius Adesanmi   https://www.thenewsguru.com/news/.../tortoise-folklore-national-leadership-tribute-pius-adesanmi/
*Finding meaning in Pius Adesanmi's self-prophesied death by Ogaga Ifowodo   https://opinion.premiumtimesng.com/2019/03/17/finding-meaning-in-pius-adesanmis-self-prophesied-death...
*Pius Adesanmi's mother & daughter sue Boeing over Ethiopian airline crash   https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/.../333902-pius-adesanmis-mother-daughter-sue-boeing-over-ethiopian...
*Wreaths for a Wayfarer: An Anthology of Poems in Honour of Pius Adesanmi (1972 - 2019), Nduka Otiono &Uchechukwu Umezurike (eds), Co-Publishers; Daraja Press/Narrative Landscapes Press   https://web.facebook.com/photo.php

'BECOMING' BY MICHELLE OBAMA: LESSONS FOR NIGERIA

In spite of the fact that today, 9th March 2019, Nigerians are trooping out to vote for candidates of their choice in the Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections, I cannot resist the temptation to highlight lessons for Nigeria and indeed the electorate from Michelle Obama's New York Times best-selling book, 'Becoming'.

'Becoming' is a lucid, down to earth rendition by Michelle Obama (former First Lady of the US) on her journey so far this earth life. I can relate to the contents of the book because it has valuable lessons for women and indeed men in Nigeria at both the individual and national levels. Some of the lessons I can decipher are:

*In spite of anyone's success, there are times when we humans still feel insecure. Let Michelle speak for herself: 'I have become, by certain measures, a person of power and yet there are moments still, when I feel insecure and unheard'. Could this insecurity at the personal level be the reason that many otherwise successful persons seek political power by all means?

*Becoming isn't a static notion. 'It isn't about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as a forward motion. It means evolving. A way to reach continuously towards a better self. The journey doesn't end'. Are we Nigerians constantly trying to improve ourselves at the personal level which should eventually translate to a better socio-political and economic life. By this I mean constantly refining our Electoral Act in good faith and in line with our realities to ensure free, fair, credible and inclusive elections. The lessons learnt each election season should be reflected in the conduct of subsequent elections. Remember: Election is not war. It is only one significant element of any democratic process. Others are clear separation of powers between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary; respect for the place of the fourth estate of the realm (the press) in the polity; etc.

*Becoming is not about being perfect. It's not where you get yourself in the end. There's power in allowing yourself to be known and heard. In owning our own story. In using your authentic voice. There's grace in being willing to know and hear others. This, for Michelle, is how we become. We in Nigeria need to commit to using our 'authentic voice', we should own our own story while being open to ideas from all sections of the country.

*There are lessons for us in Nigeria, especially before, during and after elections. We should embrace one another, while playing down ethnic and religious sentiments in the name of politics.

*In Nigeria, as advised by Obama, 'let's invite one another in. Maybe we can begin to fear less, make fewer wrong assumptions and let go of the biases and stereotypes that un-necessarily divide us. Maybe we can better embrace the way we are the same'.

*What struck me about the book was Michelle Obama's candour about her concerns, fears, insecurities and pain throughout her life so far, including as First Lady. The major lesson for us in Nigeria this election season is to remember that after the elections, Nigeria remains in spite of the winners and losers. We have no other country to call ours, let's embrace peace!

Related Links

*Michelle Obama's memoir has sold over 10 million copies   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/26/politics/michelle-obama-memoir-10-million-copies/

*Michelle Obama's DNC speech   edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/08/17/michelle-obamas-dnc-speech/

*15 inspiring quotes by Michelle Obama   https://idscreate.com/2020/05/29/fifteen-inspiring-quotes-michelle-obama/   

*8 ways to improve your posture   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-improve-posture-back-tips-success-confidence/
*How to be kinder to yourself   ideas.ted.com/how-to-be-kinder-to-yourself-self-compassion/
*Tips for middle-aged women who want to look stunning in photos   newyorker.com/humour/daily-shouts/tips-for-middle-aged-women-who-want-to-look-stunning-in-photos
*The 'Neuro-biology of Affiliation': Why 'care' & 'scare' are inseparable when you love someone   aeon.co/essays

*How the failure of multiculturalism led to the rise of 'Black Lives Matter' (BLM)   https://theconversation.com/how-the-failure-of-multilateralism-led-to-black-lives-matter/

*Maya Amgelou's myth   next-element.com/maya-agelous-myth/

*Michelle Obama discusses going through menopause as First Lady   elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/a33594028/michelle-obama-menopause-white-house/
*Don't stress: Scientific secrets of people who keep cool heads   newscientist.com/article/mg24532700-600-dont-stress-scientific-secrets-of-people-who-keep-cool-heads/

*21 year old Special Olympics athlete with Downs Syndrome (DS) Chris Nikic, has made history as 1st person with DS to complete an Iron-man triathlon   cnn.com
*When a smile is not a smile: What your facial expressions really mean   newscientist.com/article/mg24532690-900-when-a-smile-is-not-really-a-smile.../
*4 myths about 'finding your purpose'   thriveglobal.com/stories/myths/finding-your-purpose/
*How to disappear: The art of listening to silence in a noisy world   brainpickings.org/2019/10/14/gordon-hempton-silence-in-noisy-world/

*Larry King's children die within weeks of each other   edition.cnn.com/2020/08/22/media/larry-king-children-died-trnd/index.html
*Michelle Obama's 'Becoming' set to become best-selling memoir in history   nypost.com/2019/03/26/michelle-obamas-bocoming-set-to-become-best-selling-memoir-in-history
*How to love: Mastering the art of 'Interbeing' - Thich Nhat Hanh (Budhist teacher)   brainspickings.org/2015/03/31/how-to-love-thich-nhat-hanh
*Perfectionism can make you sick   thriveglobal.com/stories/perfectionism-how-to-deal-advice/
*5 ways to finally break a bad habit even if you've had it for years   thriveglobal.com/stories/break-bad-habit-strategies-healthy-lifestyle/
*7 tools for making sense of Life & Death   WillowEoL.com/shop

*Is spiritual growth possible without confronting whiteness?   https://www.hcn.org/issues/52.10/ideas-books-is-wth-possible-without-confronting-whiteness/
*2 ways to improve your Emotional Intelligence - Neuroscience: The RULER Approach   thriveglobal.com/stories/new-neuroscience-reveals-what-makes-emotionally-intelligent
*Have we found the true reason for diabetes, alzheimers & stroke?   https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24332420-900-have-we-found-the-true-cause-of-diabetes-stroke-alzheimers
*30 signs that reveal someone is middle class   self-made.io/30-signs-that-reveal-someone-is-middle-class/
*Why procrastination is about managing emotions, not time   bbc.com/worklife/article/20200121-why-procrastination-is-about-managing-emotions-not-time/
*A small glass of juice or soda a day linked to cancer   https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/10/health/sugary-drinks-cancer-risk-study-intl
*Cand crusher: The man who trned the world against sugar   https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23531420-800-candy-crusher-the-man-who-turned-the-world-against-sugar/
*Foodie calls: Women who date for a free meal more likely to exhibit dark triad personality traits   https://neurosciencenews.com/food-dating-dark-triad-14291/
*The joy of not ewaring a bra   https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/the-joy-of-not-wearing-a-bra/
'The bra is a product spring from a perceived necessity and from an attempt to create necessity where there is none or very little - Everett Collection
*Having kids makes you happier, only when they move out   newscientist.com/article/2213655-having kids-makes-you-happier-only-when-they-move-out/
*Does size matter?   https://africanpressclub.com/does-size-matter/
*Power of a mentor   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-mentor-sanchayan-d
*The human skills you should build to succeed in an unpredictable world   t.ted.com/oSkTx41
*Sitting for nine hours a day linked to early death   newscientist.com/article/sitting-for-nine-...
*How to spot little Einsteins (gifted kids)   econ.st/2N47OkG
*Too much sunscreen? How avoiding the sun could damage your health   newscientist.com/article/ng24132210-100-too-much-sunscreen-why-avoiding-the-sun-could-damage-your-health/
*How to deal with people disrespecting & undermining you at work: Rising above toxic difficult situations in the workplace   http://go.drkathyobear.com/turn-the-tide
*Happiness is being, not just doing - Richard Branson   https://web.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2555810397772259&set=
*People who are naturally slim have smaller and more active fat cells   newscientist.com/article/2214792-people-who-are-naturally-slim-have-smaller-and-more-active-fat-cells/
*How to make healthy financial choices   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-make-healthy-financial choices/
*You can train your brain to manage worries   thriveglobal.com/stories/train-brain-stop-worries/
*Autism can bring extra abilities   newscientist.com/article/mg3931860-200-autism-can-bring-extra-abilities...
*How much sleep is enough?   thriveglobal.com/stories/sleep-research-nocturnal-brain-neurologist-physician-advice-tips/
*Denmark's first country to ban PFA's chemicals which have been linked to cancer from food packaging starting 2020   edition.cnn.com/2019/09/04/health/denmark-pfas-food-packaging-ban.intl/
*Vegetarian diet linked with 22% lower risk of heart disease/
*A network in the brain is involved in a range of mental health issues   newscientist.com/article/2216175-a-network-in-the-brain-is-involved-in-a-range-of-mental-health-issues/
*The truth about intelligence: What makes someone smarter than others   http://bit.ly/2Q78V6e
*Happy life in retirement by Harvard Psychologist   thriveglobal.com/stories/harvard-psychologist-interview-retirees-happy-life/
*5 ways to find your purpose   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-find-your-purpose-life-wisdom
*4 ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable and work harder   wef.ch/2mDlE2e  #fashion #sustainability   weforum.org/agenda/2019/09/make-your-wardrobe-more-sustainable-and-work-harder
*A single bag can leak billions of pieces of micro-plastic into your brew   edition.cnn.com/2019/09/22/health-microplastics-tea-bag-study-scn-scli-int/
*Fathers and perinatal mental health: A guide for recognition, treatment & management by Jane Hanley & Mark Williams   https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#
*Why de-cluttering may be the most under-rated self-care strategy   thirveglobal.com/stories/organisation-tips-declutter-stress-mangement-pop-up-grocer/
*How neuroscience could explain the rise of addictions, heart disease & diabetes   https://t.co/OtVEnHiM3q
*I'm not the radical left, I'm the humane middle   https://johnpavlovitz.com/2019/09/26/im-not-the-radical-left-im-the-humane-middle/
*The key to a good life is avoiding pain   https://t.co/HYcWrEqKUq
*'Naps' may be good for your heart   https://t.co/B8onGDgsh4
*The book of 'Gutsy women: Favourite stories of courage & resilience' by Hilary & Chelsea Clinton (Published by Simon & Schuster)   https://www.simonandschuster.com>books>Hilary-Rodham-Clinton
*Happiness: Saying 'yes' to these 7 questions means you are happier than you think   thriveglobal.com/stories/if-you-say-yes-to-any-of-these-7-questions-you-are-much-happier-than-you-think/
*6 ways to give your mental health the daily care it deserves   thriveglobal.com/stories/give-mental-health-daily-check-in/
*The 'germiest' place in your home   edition.cnn.com/2019/10/07/health/germs-home-wellness/
*Being authentically you: 3 choices you can make   thriveglobal.com/stories/being-authentically-you/
*Owning a dog tied to lowering your risk of dying early, studies show   edition.cnn/2019/10/08/health/dogs-help-us-live-longer-wellness
*John B. Goodenough just became the oldest person, at 97, to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for research on improving battery technology (lithium ion batteries)   edition.cnn.com/2019/10/09/us/john-goodenough-nobel-prize-trnd/
*5 scientifically backed ways to stop worrying   thriveglobal.com/stories/ways-to-stop-worrying/
*Oprah Winfrey opens up on moments that changed her life   people.com/movies/oprah-winfrey-moments-that-changed-my-life/
*15 things that ruin a first impression immediately   thriveglobal.com/stories/things-youre-doing-that-make-people-dislike-you/
*Fight self-doubt: You are stronger than your inner bully   thriveglobal.com/stories/physical-tips-fight-off-self-doubt-martial-artist/
*Becoming the primary earner? Female breadwinners share their advice   https://www.forbres.com/sites/biancabaratt/2019/09/24/becoming-the-primary-earner-female-breadwinners-share-their-advice/
*9 Science-Backed ways to reduce stress   thriveglobal.com/stories/9-science-backed-ways-to-reduce-stress/
* Do you have a hard time saying 'no'? Tips here   thriveglobal.com/stories/trouble-saying-no-tips-protect-time-well-being/
*Singapore to become first country banning ads on sugary drinks   edition.cnn.com/2019/10/11/health/singapore-sugar-drink-ads-intl-hnk-scli/index.html
*Scientific proof that happiness is a choice   thriveglobal.com/stories/happiness-is-a-choice/
*How to hurt less just by sleeping more   thriveglobal.com/stories/relieve-pain-quality-sleep-connection/
*About sleep   thriveglobal.com/stories/mental-health-deep-slow-wave-sleep-brain-science-emotion-decision-making/
*7 tips for late bloomers   thriveglobal.com/stress/7-tips-for-late-bloomers/
*All you need to know about the menopause (but nobody tells you)   newscientist.com/article/2145060-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-menopause-but-nobody-tells-you
*28 ASMR (Autonomous, Sensory Meridian Response) Triggers for anxiety, relief, sleep, etc   thriveglobal.com/stories/asmr-triggers for-anxiety-relief-sleep/
*Richard Branson's relationship advice: Healthy relationships are the foundation of a healthy life   thriveglobal.com/stories/richard-branson-profound-relationship-advice-love/
*Strategies to transform your relationships into strengths   thriveglobal.com/stories/turn-failure-to-success-mistakes-learning-strengths/
*The back pain epidemic: Why popular treatments aren't working   newscientist.com/article/mg24332450-600-the-back-pain-epidemic-why-popular-treatments-are-making-it-worse
*Why you should never forget who you were before having kids   thriveglobal.com/stories/never-forget-who-you-were-before-having-kids/
*5 ways to reach forgiveness   goalcast.com/2019/05/23/how-reaching-forgiveness-helps-us-live-healthier-lives/
*Dancing can reverse the signs of aging in the brain   https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-08-reverse-aging-brain.html
*Michelle Obama shares her workout, reminds us of the power of self-care   thriveglobal.com/stories/michelle-obama-work-out-exercise-self-care/
*MRIs show screen time linked to lower brain development in preschoolers   edition.cnn.com/2019/11/04/health/screen-time-lower-brain-development-preschoolers-wellness/
*The link between lack of sleep and cancer is now so strong that the WHO has classified any form of night time shift as a probable carcinogen   t.ted.com/BFWOfuD
*The kindness paradox: Why be generous?   newscientist.com/article/mg23130860-400-the-kindness-paradox-why-be-generous/
*How to deal with loneliness   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-deal-with-loneliness-in-your-thirties/
*Michelle Obama says it's important to become more than just somebody's wife   https://www.xonecole.com/what-michelle-obama-taught-us-about-becoming.../
*7 ways to get someone to like you by FBI expert   thriveglobal.com/stories/how-to-get-someone-to-like-you-according-to-fbi-expert/
*13 Resolutions that will make you more productive   thriveglobal.com/stories/new-year-resolutions-focus-productivity-microsteps-tips/
*How to deal with toxic family around the holidays   goalcast.com/2018/12/06/deal-with-toxic-family-holidays/
*20 brutal truths no one wants to admit   inc.com/matthew-jones/20-brutal-truths-no-one-admits-to.html
*Chance inheritance: The subtle power of birth order   newscientist.com/article/mg21929330-700-chance-inheritance-subtle-power-birth-order/
*How much sleep do you really need?   newscientist.com/article/mg23030750-300-how-much-shuteye-di-i-need/
*How do you know if you have found the one?   thriveglobal.com/stories/found-the-one-meant-to-be-relationship-advice/
*On how being optimistic actually re-wires your brain   thriveglobal.com/stories/benefits-of-optimism/
*14 most inspiring travel destinations on earth   https://www.goalcast.com/2019/06/28/most-inspiring-travel-destinations-on-earth/
*10 mindful new year resolutions: Focus on self-knowledge, not self-improvement   thriveglobal.in/stories/10-mindful-resolutions-that-might-change-your-life/
*Why new year resolutions don't work for you and what you can do instead   goalcast.com/2019/12/19/why-new-year-resolutions-dont-work/
*The difficult art of giving space in love: Rilke on freedom, togetherness & the secret of a good marriage (autonomy vs togetherness)   brainpickings.org/2018/09/03/rike-love-marriage/
*Strategies for success in the new year   thriveglobal.com/stories/tips-strategies-for-success-new-year/
*The trials of Sister Meghan   theinterview.ng/2020/01/24/trial-sister-meghan/
*BBC Africa Editor leaves role because of PTSD   bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51236199?ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source...
*Michelle Obama describes her family's daily routine during their CoV self-quarantine   edition.cnn.com/2020/03/26/us/michelle-obama-family-cov-routine-trnd
*Michelle Obama is hosting a weekly story time for kids during the CoV pandemic   edition.cnn.com/2020/04/17/politics/michelle-obama-pbs-read-aloud-series-trnd/

*Barack Obama's Memoirs (November 2020) - 'A Promised Land': I still believe in America    theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/11/barack-obama-i-still-believe-america/617073/...

*Michelle Obama reflects on how she put her anger aside for a peaceful transition    https://cnn.it/3puM7L.../

*15 inspiring quotes from Michelle Obama    idscreate.com

*Barack Obama's Memoir sells more than 887,000 copies on first day    https://on.wsj.com/35LXQgz

*Jack Ma's empire in crisis: How China lost patience with its loudest billionaire    bloomberg.com/news/features/2020-12-22/jack-ma-s-empire-in-crisis.../

*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's review of 'A Promised Land' by Barack Obama    nytimes.com/2020/11/12/books/review/barack-obama-a-promised-land.html

*All the celebrities Barack Obama name-drops in his new book    https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-11-18/obama-celebrities-names-memoirs-a-promised-land/

*Remembering some of the artistes we lost in 2020: The lives they lived    https://nytimes/3mMgyK8

*Dog missing for weeks wanders into local Walmart to find its owner at work   https://www.instagram.com/p/CJHfKs1jYjs/

*The son of an Iraq war veteran designed an App to stop his dad's PTSD nightmares    https://www.instagram.com/p/CJRZy23nFhl/

*10 takeaways from Barack Obama's memoir: 'A Promised Land'    https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a34670429/barack-obama-memoir-a-promised-land-takeaways/

*5 faith facts about Barack Obama's book: 'A Promised Land'    https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/11/19/5-faith-facts-president-barack-obama-a-promised-land/

*Barack Obama reacts to his memoir topping Michelle Obama's    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/barack-obama-reacts-to-his-memoir-topping-michelles/ 

*Michelle Obama inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame  cnn.com 

 

THE 2019 PRESIDENTIAL & NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa as Lead Analyst in the Election Situation Room (ESR) of the West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP) during Nigeria's 2019 Presidential & National Assembly Elections

The Presidential and National Assembly Elections were held in Nigeria on the 23rd of February 2019 after a one week postponement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Election Management Body (EMB). Many voters traveled with the intention of voting where they registered. They did so before the initial election date of 16th February, 2019. Alas! I woke up to the middle of the night to the announcement by the INEC Chairman about 3am, three hours before the commencement of polls that the elections had been postponed. The loss in monetary terms to INEC, international & local observers, businesses, etc was humongous. The postponement led to a level of voter apathy. However, in the patriotic spirit, many voters repeated their trip to enable them vote.

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa on Africa Independent TV (AIT) on the eve of the Presidential & NASS elections discussing the socio-political and economic implications of the postponement of the elections.

According to INEC, a winner has emerged. Muhammadu Buhari of the APC won 15,191,847 votes while Atiku Abubakar of the PDP came second with 11,262,978 votes. The PDP is set to challenge the results in court! Meanwhile, the APC candidate has been given the certificate of return by INEC. YIAGA Africa, which conducted a parallel vote count using the Parallel Vote Technology (PVT) came to the conclusion that official results fall within the PVT estimated ranges. But the PDP insists that it has enough evidence to go to court. Former President Abdulsalami Abubakar's Peace Committee has since embarked on shuttle diplomacy between the leadership of the PDP and APC. But this does not seem to be yielding much result in the direction of brokering peace out of court.

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa in YIAGA's PVT Centre, Abuja. L-R: Cynthia Mbamalu (Programme Director, YIAGA, Ryan Dalton (Senior Programme Officer, NDI) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

I am not a card-carrying member of any political party in Nigeria. However, I am a patriotic Nigerian and Conflict Transformation Expert interested in the peace and development of Nigeria before, during and after elections. I believe the Courts should be last resort in any election dispute. This is the time when all well-meaning Chartered Mediators/Conciliators like me should arise and see how we can assist the Peace Committee to help the two leading political parties close ranks, while the APC constitutes an inclusive government in the interest of our dear country, Nigeria. However, if all effort to broker peace outside the Courts fails, then I am still confident that we have enough incorruptible judges who would weigh the evidence and deliver sound judgement.

I intend to watch this space in the coming months...

                          Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa in full regalia as Election Observer/Analyst...

              Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (Lead Analyst) with the Analysis team in the ESR of WANEP

Related Links

*Is Nigeria about to become the next Venezuela? The signs are not good   https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2019/03/05/nigeria-become-next-venezuela-signs-not-good/
*Why does Nigeria need Peace Accords before elections? Roots of Nigeria's election violence   https://issafrica.org/iss-today/roots-of-nigerias-election-violence
*2019 polls: Increasing consideration for PWDs   https://leadership.ng/.../2019-polls-increasing-consideration-for-pwds
*Credible elections: How telephones played a major role in vote buying   sunnewsonline.com/credible-elections...
*Aperiod of consequences   https://guardian.ng/opinion/a-period-of-consequences
*Nigeria Army parades 11 NYSC members, 43 others over electoral fraud   a.today.ng/p/154633
*The Socialist policy of envy: What the world can learn from Nigeria's unfolding disaster   https://www.ccn.com/the-socialist-politics-of-envy-what-the-world-can-learn-from-nigerias-unfolding-disaster/
*Nigeria's winners and losers - from godfathers to rappers   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47400317
*The challenge of electoral management in Nigeria   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/22/the-challenge-of-electoral-management-in-nigeria
*Post election: 5 security challenges facing Nigeria   https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/5-security-challenges-facing-nigerias-leadership/
*Polls: Vote cancellation higher than 2015   https://www.sunnewsonline.com/polls-vote-cancellation-higher-than-2015-yiaga-africa/
*Why Nigeria's election won't change anything   https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/opinion/nigeria-elections-corruption-economy.html
*YIAGA Africa calls for systematic post-election review   https://t.co/lAicgOGCER
*What we learnt from the Nigerian election   https://www.bb.com/news/amp/world-africa-47385552-twitter-impression...
*Is Africa going backwards on democracy?   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46971250
*Buhari re-elected Nigeria's President   https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa...
*Why Nigeria's generation democracy didn't vote   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-47122192
*The international community and Nigeria's 2019 elections   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/the-international-community-and-nigerias-2019-elections/
*Women and NIgeria's 2019 elections   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/women-and-nigerias-2019-elections
*Displaced but not disenfranchised? IDPs & the 2019 general elections in Nigeria   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/displaced-but-not-disenfranchised-idps-and-the-2019-nigerian-elections/
*Nigeria's 2019 elections in perspective   https://kujenga-amani.ssrc.org/2019/02/15/special-issue-nigerias-2019-elections-in-perspective
*Nigeria's governance progress is lagging behind demographic growth and expectations of youth population   mo.ibrahim.foundation/news/2018/african-governance-progress-lagging-behind-demographic-growth...
*Election observer shot dead in Enugu during the 2019 Gubernatorial elections   https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-election-observer-shot-dead-in-enugu/
*Electoral dysfunction: Why democracy is always unfair   https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20627581-400-electoral-dysfunction-why-democracy-is-always-unfair/
*A young generation of divided voices: The 2019 elections and the fate of the Nigerian youths   https://www.panafricanvisions.com/2019/a-young-generation-of-divided-voices-the-2019-election-and-the-fate-of-the-nigerian-youths
*Atiku not a Nigerian, APC tells Presidential Elections Tribunal   https://wp.me/p2LdGt-1mAP
*20 'winning women' who lost 2019 elections tell their stories   https://www.yiaga.org/20-winning-women-who-lost-2019-election/  #ReadyToRun  #EU4DemocracyNG
*How women fared in the 2019 elections   https://www.cddwestafrica.org/how-women-fared-in-the-2019-elections/
*The 2019 elections and declining women's participation representation   https://skydaily.ng/2019-elections-and-declining-women-representation...
*Voter apathy in Nigeria clouds President Buhari's second term   https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-29/voter-apathy-clouds-buhari-s-second-term...   https://t.co/Rrp53w8bqZ