By Chukwudi Nweje
Acting Features Editor
The Nigerian electorate have been charged to use their votes to bring about the needed revolution that would put the county back on the path of growth.
Debo Adeniran, the executive chairman, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) gave the advice at the memorial anniversary for the late activist, Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti, put together by the Beko Right Klub (BRK) on Tuesday in Lagos.
While condemning the postponement of the general elections earlier scheduled to begin this Saturday, he faulted the engagement of the military in operations in the North East which was adduced as one of the main reasons for shifting the polls. The polls were shifted by six weeks because the military said the ongoing operation in the North East would make it impossible for them to provide security during the polls.
Adeniran however said such reasons were not tenable because the military ought to have no role in the election process.
He argued that provision of security during the election was that of the police band the National security and Civil defence Corps (NSCDC) and that even if there were no insurgency anywhere in the country, that the military has no role in the electoral process.
He argued that the only reason the election was postponedwas because the incumbent administration was afraid of going to the polls.
Adeniran also disagreed with the claims that the Permanent Voters Cards had not been widely distributed to registered voters, arguing that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has done its part and that it was for registeredvoters to go out and collect the PVCs.
He therefore called on the registered voters to collect their PVCs “and use their ballot to shoot down bad leaders and governance.” He said that unless the electorate use their ballots as a weapon of change, good governance will continue to elude the country. The Beko
Memorial Anniversary is an annually rally to immortalize the ideals of Beko Ransome-Kuti, who they described as “an indefatigable social right crusader.” The year’s edition held under the theme: ‘Using the Electoral Process as a Veritable Tool for Socio-Political Revolution in Nigeria’ is the ninth in the series.
Adeniran who is also the Convener of BRK said the memorial was not to mourn but celebrate the life of Beko.
SOURCE: Daily Independent