Between Jonathan’s Facebook and NIGCOMSAT eVoting solution
By Segun Oruame
Should
Goodluck Jonathan run in the 2011 presidential election? He would
probably get answers on his Facebook page where he daily interacts
with nearly a million Nigerians since he signed on the social media
network less than three weeks ago.
Jonathan has been talking with Nigerians. He has been hearing what
Nigerians have to say about his person; his office and his quiet
aspiration for change. According to the president, he rescinded his
decision to ban Nigeria out of international football competition
for two years based on the outpour of opinions he received on his
Facebook page.
His Facebook Wall is inundated with thousands of postings on what
his Agenda should be for good governance and economic development
before 2011. On Facebook, he feels the pulse of a nation in dire
need of change. He follows the passion of millions of young
Nigerians who are increasingly falling in love with him for finding
time to talk and share the burden of leadership with them. He might
as well get the critical momentum he needs to take that decision to
contest in the 2011 election on Facebook.
Jonathan is the first Nigerian president to employ a New Media tool
to interact with diverse people. He is the first to seek opinion
outside of the traditional confine of brick and wall governance; and
the first to talk with citizens; most of whom he will never meet
physically. Behold! Nigeria’s first ‘techie’ president. Behold! The
president we can talk to inside our bedrooms, our living rooms and
through that tiny wonder gadget called the mobile phone.
By signing onto Facebook, Jonathan has joined the league of
‘e-driven’ leaders such as President Barack Obama who has
effectively brought technology to bear on how people can make a
choice on who governs them and how they can consistently contribute
to how those in leadership can make that change consistent with the
desires of the people.
Obama broke through the traditional rank to speak with Americans on
the Internet. He spoke with millions who were led to him by the
windows opened by IT. He made himself acceptable to millions of
Americans online who would rather accept his political currency than
be persuaded by the arguments against his colour and skin. They were
the ones who mobilized for change and who finally helped to live up
to the conviction of Obama that ‘Change has truly come to America.’
That change was powered by technology.
Not many are aware of the change that is taking place with the
employment of a new media tool by President Jonathan. Not many are
seeing the shift in the rallying grounds for alliances and change.
Not many are following the trends. The forces that will oppose the
old order and propel Jonathan to assert his decision to contest are
gathering outside the traditional circle. Aided by technology, they
will create the momentum he needs to be encouraged to act
decisively.
Jonathan’s Facebook visitors are growing in numbers everyday.
Technology will definitely play a critical role in how Nigerians see
him. Technology will change the traditional perception about him and
the office of the Presidency. Technology will bring millions to
share in his conviction; damn the narrow ‘unwisdom’ of getting a
president by zoning; and encourage millions to file behind him for
the Nigeria of our dream. Yes! Technology and common aspiration for
change will connive to make Jonathan the first true Nigerian
president we missed when June 12 was callously murdered.
But if he must contest and win; he should win transparently and
convincingly. Here too, technology may come to his aid. And he does
not need to go too far to get this solution. The solution for a
rig-proof election is in his backyard. Inside NIGCOMSAT Limited, the
communication satellite company established by government to chart
Nigeria’s communication destiny. NIGCOMSAT has developed an e-Voting
System designed to make ballot thieves irrelevant and confine
election riggers to our immediate political past.
‘The Solution is 100% designed, developed and fabricated by Nigerian
engineers at NIGCOMSAT facility in Lugbe, Abuja. It’s been
demonstrated to be very workable and if given the financial support
needed to purchase materials, 40,000 sets can be produced within
four months.’ The chief promoter of this solution is the young and
ebullient managing director of NIGCOMSAT Limited, Ahmed Rufai.
Like many young Nigerians, Rufai represents a new idea yearning for
implementation and burning with the zeal to redefine a new Nigeria
that many can proudly lay claim to. You will see this zeal in Nasir
el Rufai, ex minister of the FCT; you will see it in Mallam Nuhu
Ribadu ex boss of the EFCC; you will see it in Raji Fashola as he
reconfigures Lagos; it is in Abubakar Umar, former Military
Administrator of Kaduna State; it is in Okonjo Iweala and many
others. These Nigerians represent the finest part of our common
destiny that must not be extinguished.
You only need to visit Jonathan’s Facebook page to feel the pulse of
change quietly unfolding. I am getting more convinced that
technology will help to snuff out the old order that has caused us
all these 50 years of woes. I am led to believe that technology will
set in place a new order where the convictions of these people who
share affinity with our thoughts will flower. Technology will
exterminate parochial, ‘come and chop’ politicians and bring
together those yearning to make new great things happen.
That is why Jonathan must pay a visit to NIGCOMSAT Limited. The more
reason also why Prof. Attahiru Jega, the new man at INEC, must talk
with Rufai. His immediate predecessor spent over 40 billion naira on
IT. But it was deployed without conviction. The money ended up in
private pockets. But now, there is a synergy of thinking among those
in position of power. Jonathan wants a rig-proof election. Jega
wants an election that is transparent. Rufai’s NIGCOMSAT Limited has
a solution that fulfills this common goal. Nigerians want an
election that will bring a leader that is truly elected.
Rufai’s NIGCOMSAT Limited owes Nigerians the duty to bring to public
perception this solution that can help add credibility to our
election process. And those that must take decision owe Nigerians
the duty to listen to NIGCOMSAT Limited and see if the arguments add
up. NIGCOMSAT says its eVoting System is cost effective. At its
Lugbe facilities, it already has the production line equipments
in-place. Listen to Rufai: “It has also been demonstrated to be
efficient because it is user friendly, a simple guide is embedded in
the system and as soon as an individual confirms his/her candidate
selection, the cast is recorded and sent to a central server, the
system is also designed in such a way that each candidate can
monitor the votes coming in and for whom. Remember also that the
pool of engineers involved is in FG employment. By way of
comparison, total cost of ownership will be 20 times as much if
imported from abroad as against being produced by NIGCOMSAT.”
NIGCOMSAT Limited supervisory ministry, the Ministry of Science and
Technology, is already pushing for acceptance of NIGCOMSAT’s
solution within official quarters. Rufai’s immediate boss, Prof.
Muhammed K. Abubakar, the minister of Science and Technology during
a recent visit to NIGCOMSAT was impressed enough to declare “based
on what I have seen here today, I am highly impressed and confident
enough to say that my ministry has developed a comprehensive
solution for an electronic voting system that will ensure that every
votes counts. I will bring this to the attention of Mr. President
and the INEC Chief for appropriate action. With what the young
engineers here have developed, biometric-based voters' register can
be produced before Dec. 2010 by NIGCOMSAT given the necessary
financial support. They have all that is takes to do this.”
Change is in the offing. It is left for Nigerians to make it happen.
On Facebook, President Jonathan has started the process. He might
not fully understand the implications now. But soon, the various
ingredients to spur change will come together and perhaps, and just
perhaps, President Goodluck will be able to mount the rostrum too
one day; and tell Nigerians; “On this day, change has come to
Nigeria.”
