“Citizens are learning that their red card is actually their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and their actual use of the PVC on election day to scrutinize the quality of candidates on the ballot papers as fielded by parties, especially the new parties because for the PDP and APC, it is automatic red card; 99 per cent of our politics is governed by them and we don’t need to find if they have the character for leadership, we are giving them red card but for the new ones coming on board, we are saying if you will be voted in, it will be based on character, competence and capacity.
These were the words of Dr Obi Ezekwesili, the convener of the Red Card Movement at the regional launch of the Office of the Citizens in Ibadan on Saturday as part of its activities of the Red Card Movement to sensitise the people to their power in selecting leaders and also promote democratic rights, enhance electoral due process and eradicate lethargy among the voting populace.
The launch in Ibadan on Saturday was the sixth regional launch as the movement had been launched earlier in Enugu, Abuja, Jos and Gombe among others with the aim of removing decadent leadership at all levels and ensuring that candidates for leadership exhibit competence and are held to their electioneering promises by the electorates.
Dr Ezekwesili while speaking stated that it is time for Nigerians to say no to bad and corrupt leadership and hold political office holders accountable to the people, adding that the demand side of governance in Nigeria is lethargic and has consequently made the supply side a monopoly, giving leaders no incentive to provide good governance.
“We wish to elevate citizen’s awareness on their powers, position and role in politics and governance. It is time to remove Nigeria from the clutches of bad governance and corrupt leadership,” she said.
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According to her, only people that are comfortable with 60 per cent of Nigerians in the poverty bracket or anyone comfortable with an income per capita of 2127 dollars for Nigeria compared to almost 60,000 dollars for Singapore or those at home with a life expectancy of 58 years will not bother to raise the red card against bad governance.
“If you are not bothered that children who should be in school that are not in school are growing every year when we could have stopped it when it was identified as a problem in 2006 and measures were taken to stop it but those measures were abandoned, then don’t bother to raise your red card, if you are comfortable with a Nigeria where the dignity of life has gone completely and the lives of Nigerians have become meaningless, then don’t bother, keep your hand down. But if matters to you that we must be a society that puts a premium on life, productivity and equal opportunity for our children no matter where they are from or who they are to become the best they can be, then you must say red card to bad governance and vote so that you use the leadership criteria tool to look for character, competence and capacity,” Ezekwesili concluded.
The co-convener, Dr Tony Akabuno also stated that the purpose of democracy is defeated if people that are eligible to vote do not exercise their power, adding that the red card movement is determined to sensitise people on this.
The red card movement was established to educate the people on their power as citizens to elect and fire leaders, mobilize youths to register to vote and collect their PVCs and also protect their votes.
and then