The revelation came from Donald Duke. Well, not much of a revelation as its always been an open secret. Perhaps it is the dramatic blow by blow account of how the electoral system is manipulated to produce phony results that made the expose particularly interesting.

Being a former state governor and one who reigned under the wings of the ruling PDP, he should know. While we can not ascertain what has informed his sudden repentance and decision to be generous with hitherto ‘confidential’ information complete with tales of how money for bribing election officers is stashed in “Ghana Must go” bags, I think Nigerians should be grateful to him, for once again he has reminded us of the need for us to participate in the electioneering process or else leave it for the usurpers of our collective will to continue to have a field day.

Elections in Nigeria have continued to be the means by which the citizens legitimized their disenfranchisement. For no matter how much of a charade it is, it produces a government which is recognized by the constitution as legitimate but which has no moral obligation to us as a people. Donald Duke’s confession posits that it is essentially not the law or the identity of the Chairman of the INEC that influences the outcome of elections. It is instead, a function of the people’s interest or lack of it in the process, that is the culprit.

For while we look the other way, attending weddings or catching up on movies at home on Election Day, we leave them free to their activities without the very least of opposition. It is thus even morally wrong for us to grumble when the taps refuse to run and the bulbs remain out. It is like they say, a people deserve the kind of leadership they beget.

So it would be foolish of us to roll out the drums and cheer as most of us are currently doing, hoping that with the removal of Professor Maurice Iwu and the entrance of Professor Attahiru Jega, all our electoral problems are solved. Jega is first of all a mere human who has inherited an electoral body in bad shape. Plus, irrespective of how smart or sincere he is, he certainly can not be there at our wards and polling units to protect the sanctity of the ballot on Election Day.

The responsibility is ours.

We must transform the palpable national fury into concrete actions by resolving not just to make angry remarks against Government online but in joining and participating in the process. Nigerian youths should form or join political associations and parties. We should make inputs in efforts to plan the next elections. We must form ourselves into advocacy groups and carry the message to the grassroots. Our people should know the value of their thumbs. We must register to vote. Campaign for credible candidates. Turn out on Election Day and protect our votes by monitoring the activities of presiding officers and their polling staff.

That should be the lesson learnt from the sensational confessions of Donald Duke. For this Country to change, we must make ourselves available and advance new ideas all of which can only find expression through the ballot box. Make up you mind to play a part today. KOWA provides a worthy platform.

For details of the talk by Donald Duke on “How Governors Rig Elections” Click Here