DESPLAY AFRICA: My Presidential Appreciation Speech

Dear Compatriots, I want to use this medium to appreciate everybody’s contributions towards making Semester 2 of Season 6 a huge success. Without doubts in my mind, I strongly believe that all the participants at the just concluded Semester will agree with me that the programmes designed for the Semester were very rich in contents and we all enjoyed it to the latter.

Fellow democrats, of memorable positive impact to us were issues on the election held on May 27, 2011 in which I was a presidential flag-bearer under the platform of Young African Democrats Party (YADP) and my respected colleague, Mr. Onwuakpa Davingson, who was my contender under the Blue Ocean Democratic Party (BODP). After two rounds of tied votes, the third round gave us a relief which resulted to my declaration as the 6th President of the DESPLAY Republic.

Based on the premises that we all agreed that the electioneering processes were free & fair and that the reputations of all members of DESNEC 2011, under the Chairmanship of Mr. ‘Sola Fagorusi, are of high standards, I want to appreciate all of them for conducting a credible election. Our election will go down a memory lane of DESPLAY history as the one that was keenly contested up to the third round!

My sincere gratitude to all the members of YADP and my campaign team, headed by Barr. Karen Opigo, for their strong believe in me as a viable presidential candidate. I also appreciate the sportsmanship hearts of all the members of BODP. Likewise, I will never forget to acknowledge the intercessional supports received from the ex-President Maxwell Ogaga (President of Season 4) and ex-President Babafemi Oyediran (President of Season 5) when the need be. I still count on their supports throughout my tenure. Sir Bola Abimbola is highly appreciated for passionately coordinating the activities of DESPLAY programme. All team members of Youngstars Development Initiative, under Pastor Kingsley N.T. as the Team Leader, are appreciated for uniting us through this platform and breeding emerging democratic leaders in Africa continent.

In discharging my duties as the President, everybody will be given equal opportunities of active participation in delivering the dividends of good governance through my experienced leadership. The tasks ahead are enormous and all members are enjoyed to make positive impacts whenever the need arise.

I thank you all and God bless.

Democracy Series: Participation, Learning and Active Youth (DESPLAY) is a project coordinated by Youngstars Development Initiative and sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USA. The project features capacity building programmes for African youths in leadership, democracy and good governance. The sixth edition known as Season 6 has participants drawn from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. NB:

For further details, please visit: http://youngstars-foundation.org/programme/desplay-africa/

Signed:

His Excellency,

Hon. Isiaka Olamilekan Popoola (GCFR),

President, DESPLAY Republic

May 29, 2011

Dear Compatriots, I want to use this medium to appreciate everybody’s contributions towards making Semester 2 of Season 6 a huge success. Without doubts in my mind, I strongly believe that all the participants at the just concluded Semester will agree with me that the programmes designed for the Semester were very rich in contents and we all enjoyed it to the latter.

Fellow democrats, of memorable positive impact to us were issues on the election held on May 27, 2011 in which I was a presidential flag-bearer under the platform of Young African Democrats Party (YADP) and my respected colleague, Mr. Onwuakpa Davingson, who was my contender under the Blue Ocean Democratic Party (BODP). After two rounds of tied votes, the third round gave us a relief which resulted to my declaration as the 6th President of the DESPLAY Republic.

Based on the premises that we all agreed that the electioneering processes were free & fair and that the reputations of all members of DESNEC 2011, under the Chairmanship of Mr. ‘Sola Fagorusi, are of high standards, I want to appreciate all of them for conducting a credible election. Our election will go down a memory lane of DESPLAY history as the one that was keenly contested up to the third round!

My sincere gratitude to all the members of YADP and my campaign team, headed by Barr. Karen Opigo, for their strong believe in me as a viable presidential candidate. I also appreciate the sportsmanship hearts of all the members of BODP. Likewise, I will never forget to acknowledge the intercessional supports received from the ex-President Maxwell Ogaga (President of Season 4) and ex-President Babafemi Oyediran (President of Season 5) when the need be. I still count on their supports throughout my tenure. Sir Bola Abimbola is highly appreciated for passionately coordinating the activities of DESPLAY programme. All team members of Youngstars Development Initiative, under Pastor Kingsley N.T. as the Team Leader, are appreciated for uniting us through this platform and breeding emerging democratic leaders in Africa continent.

In discharging my duties as the President, everybody will be given equal opportunities of active participation in delivering the dividends of good governance through my experienced leadership. The tasks ahead are enormous and all members are enjoyed to make positive impacts whenever the need arise.

I thank you all and God bless.

Democracy Series: Participation, Learning and Active Youth (DESPLAY) is a project coordinated by Youngstars Development Initiative and sponsored by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), USA. The project features capacity building programmes for African youths in leadership, democracy and good governance. The sixth edition known as Season 6 has participants drawn from Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa. NB:

For further details, please visit: http://youngstars-foundation.org/programme/desplay-africa/

Signed:

His Excellency,

Hon. Isiaka Olamilekan Popoola (GCFR),

President, DESPLAY Republic

May 29, 2011

ADDRESS BY THE CHAIRMAN OF INEC ON POSTPONEMENT OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS IN 2011

DEAR COMPATRIOTS

Since this Commission started work in July 2010, I have repeatedly promised Nigerians that in carrying out our duties we shall always be sincere and truthful with Nigerians. I have always said that this INEC will be upfront with Nigerians, telling you exactly how things are – sharing both our successes and difficulties with you. This is one such occasion. Indeed, it is an emergency. 

As you know the National Assembly (House of Representatives and Senate) elections are supposed to be taking place as I speak. You would also have noticed that things have not proceeded smoothly as expected with the elections.

The reason for this is the unanticipated emergency we have experienced with late arrival of result sheets in many parts of the country. The result sheets are central to the elections and their integrity. Accordingly, in many places, our officials have not reported at the polling units, making it now difficult
to implement the Modified Open Ballot Procedure that we have adopted. Not only do we have to enter the results in the sheets, the number of accredited voters is also to be entered in the result  sheet. While we could have proceeded with the elections in a few States of the country, where all the
materials are available, such as Lagos, Kaduna, Kebbi, Delta, Zamfara and Enugu, among others, in order to maintain the integrity of the elections and retain effective overall control of the process, the
Commission has taken the difficult but necessary decision to postpone the National Assembly elections to Monday, April 4, 2011.

I appeal to all Nigerians for their understanding in this difficult situation. We as a Commission appreciate the profound sacrifice that you have all made not just in turning out today, but also throughout this election season. We are greatly encouraged by you and our appeal is that you remain steadfast in this last lap of this electoral process in the interest of all Nigerians and in the cause of democracy.

The Commission will immediately be contacting all political parties, as major stakeholders to explain the situation. I appeal for their support in explaining the situation to their members and supporters.

May I also appeal to all other stakeholders, particularly national and international observers and our development partners for continued understanding. I realize that they have committed enormous resources to this process, especially in deploying observers in the field. However, we think that what is worth doing is worth doing well.

Finally, while we deeply regret this situation and apologise to Nigerians for the hardship this may have created, I would like to reiterate that we are fully committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections for Nigerians. The decision the Commission has taken is weighty; but it is also a very important step in further ensuring the credibility of the elections.


Professor Attahiru M. Jega, OFR,
Honourable Chairman