Office Closed Early

It was around 9:45. The weekly staff meeting was wrapping up when the Administrative Assistant walked in.  He announced  the office would be closing immediately and that we were to all go home until further notice.  Though international and national media have announced the incumbent Goodluck Johnathan as the winner based on reports from the majority of states, many opposition supporters were not happy and old prejudices and emotions came to a head in some areas, including here in Bauchi.  People were in the street in a nearby area. 


 A gentleman who is a Christian just informed me that his home in a village close to the city and that of 7 others was torched.   It's  important for party leaders appeal for calm.  All indications are that this is the fairest election ever conducted in the country. These statements came from voters as well as international observers. While this young democracy experiences growing pains, I hope that the kind of self-destructive behaviour happening now will be eliminated.

Rain

It rained here in Bauchi during the mid-morning hours of Palm Sunday.  The sand and dust in the air was tamed-even though temporarily. It's the first rainfall I've seen in six months.  What a wonderful day for it to happen! 

Presidential Elections Underway

According to reports more than 73 million Nigerians will cast votes to elect their president today. The current president, Goodluck Ebele Johnathan, a Christian from the south is favored to win from among a field of 18 candidates.  Johnathan who was vice president, assumed the presidency when,  Umaru Yar'Adua , a Muslim, died last year in office after a protracted illness.  


The 'new' election system seeks to elevate the process above  very complex and complicated situations.  Johnathan, who represents the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) was supported by the House of Assembly in assuming the presidency during the period when Yar'Adua was receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia. During his absence Yar'Adua never formally transferred power to Johnathan.


In addition, there has apparently been an agreement in the ruling PDP party to alternate candidates between the Muslim north and Christan south.  For some, Johnathan's year in office meant that the partys' next candidate should be Muslim. Tribal heritage, religion, regional and party alliances are all factors.  The culture of corruption in the country is also a factor. Recounts of the 2007 elections include stories of snatched ballot boxes, under-aged voters and results being announced before ballots were completely counted.


Some Nigerians feel, despite the problems and delays, that these elections are the fairest since military rule ended about 12 years ago.  One poll predicts Johnathan is favored to win though of course this is disputed by the 4 major contenders, one of whom previously served as president under military rule and another who was in charge of dealing with corruption in government contracts.  



 Nigerians I have spoken with are passionate in their views both for and against the current government, but feel the transparency of this current process will fairly represent the voice of the people. They say people are voting more for individuals who they feel can move the country forward (or who had paid the biggest dash) rather than for parties.


I can see a polling place from my window.  People have been lined up since before 7 am in order to be accredited. Their voter registration and identification are checked, verified and they are counted or given a number.  Actual voting started about 45 minutes ago.  Even though an election office in an area of Maidugari, in the north eastern part of the country was bombed so we pray for peace through the remainder of the election.

No transportation Today

It's Friday. During the elections, the offices close at noon.  I have just been back in Bauchi, an area that has experienced some unrest in the past,  for a few days.   After having planned my morning with one of the drivers yesterday afternoon, this morning I was informed by him that on Fridays the project vehicle does not travel out of the compound.  They can only pick me up from the Zaranda and drop me off.  For security purposes, none of the project vehicles leave the compound  on Fridays until after elections.  


For everyone this election period has meant a serious slowdown of activities because of the unavailability of stakeholders and security reasons.  May will be formidible in order to meet end of quarter projections.

A Long Ride (posted on the wrong blog) 4/11

My 'belongings' expanded during my 2 month stay in Sokoto, so I decided to ride back to Bauchi in a project vehicle rather than fly.  It is about a 9-10 hour trip and actually involves two vehicles.  The  "car swap" arrangement was developed, I think, as a cost cutting and program support measure. Drivers can return to their home base the same day with no overnight stay at the alternate location. So the idea is that drivers from both offices meet in Zaria, the midpoint, passengers and goods move from one vehicles to the next and everyone returns to home base.

We left Sokoto around 7:30 in the morning, stopped in Gusau for a quick bite to eat and arrived in Zaria about half past 12.  The roads were good.  We passed through town after town and observed lots of political activity taking place this Monday after what were termed to be a successful round of voting for the House of Assembly this past weekend. Crowds of men were gathered along the streets.  Packed into cars, vans and trucks  youth were seen, especially in larger towns waving banners and poster for the candidate who had paid them for their support.  According to Adiamo the driver during the political season many people 'abandon' their jobs and businesses to give full support to a politician (in hopes of reaping from the spoils).  He complained that so many young men and some 'area boys' (thugs) are lazy and look for handouts from politicians for their livelihood. Last week in Sokoto I saw what must have been an attempt at intimidation when a pickup type truck loaded with machete and stick wielding youth pulled up outside the gate of the home of a member of the opposing party.

But I digress..the ride from Zaria to Bauchi was exhausting and spine altering.  In order to avoid going through Jos, a city that is a hotbed of political and adversarial religious activity, an alternate route over an pothole riddled, dusty, gravel unpaved is required. OMG! I tried to close my eyes, relax and sleep through that leg of the trip..impossible!

Finally arrive in Bauchi, back at Zaranda in bed by 8! Where's my heating pad???

Back in Bauchi

So yes, it was a long ride, but it feels good to be back with my Bauchi ‘family’. The two offices have very different ‘personalities’, both have dedicated hard working staff, however the dynamics of each place is unique. Though one is supervised by a woman and the other a man, I don’t know that gender defines the soul of each. The character of each office I suppose is as complex as the society in which they operate—cultural, religious, gender and yes, even racial matters seem just under the surface-guiding, moving, sometimes limiting outcomes.

My homes:Sokoto State in upper left, Bauchi State at right

Yes, back in Bauchi, back at the Zaranda on the 9^th floor with nightly visit from my lizard friends who scamper through an opening next to the air conditioner.  Who knows what they do while I’m asleep! The Zaranda—no National Geographic channels, one movie channel, no music channels and almost nothing within walking distance to explore.  I guess I became a little spoiled in Sokoto.

Zaranda is under new management.  The lobby has been spruced up and the hallways are well-lit. The ‘new’ folk say the rate negotiated by the project I am working with does not entitle me (actually the type of room assigned) to tea service—no daily sachets of Nescafe,  no teabags, sugar cubes, cream and no hot pot!! They had been removed from the room! It’s a matter for the two contractors, but the difference in   published rates for the two rooms is 2,000 naira (about $13/night)—for ‘tea service’. Help me out here, other than maybe a hostel, I don’t know of a hotel or motel where coffee is not complimentary.  When I ask about something like this, of the response often is --’that’s Nigeria for you! Hmmm

Voting this Weekend

After a weeks delay, some 70 million Nigerians are expected to got to the polls to choose members of the House of Assembly on Saturday.  In some districts, where voting took place before the cancellation was announced last weekend, elections will be further delayed because the election commission was unable to get replacement ballots reprinted in time. Some appear to be working diligently to ensure fair elections against a backdrop of the 2007 elections which many  were fraudulent. One writer postured "this ritual must not be hollow" but spoke about the growing apathy of the citizenry over elections that are hijacked by politicians.


Headline from an article in the National Mirror " Man arrested in Ibadan for printing ballot papers".
And so the democracy continues to learn and grow.


A crowd has been gathered outside the gates of the Dankani since yesterday afternoon.  One gate has been locked only one way in-one way out. Wish I had a camera with a telephoto lens.


Anyway, the office closed at noon and I'm in for the duration of the weekend.  I need to pack for my journey back to Bauchi.

Elections Postponed

National Assembly elections scheduled to take place today were abruptly cancelled by INEC, the Nigerian national election committee.  Voting has been rescheduled to Monday, which means schools and offices will probably be closed again.


There has been a lot of finger pointing about the cause of the delay--a shortage of materials, items which were coming from outside the country were delayed, planes diverted to Japan, unable to clear customs--take your pick.  A number of scenarios were  presented as news. The Director of INEC blamed the delay on a vendor who was to deliver certification documents on Thursday but failed to do so.  INEC officials were not at polling place on time and the citizenry, eager to vote their choice were lined up since 5am this morning. Some officials were under equipped others did not show up at all. It was early this afternoon that the decision to reschedule was announced.


Political leaders are pleading for calm among the electorate, but people are understandably upset. I ran into an official election observer from the U.S. who verified the one piece of documentation contracted in country delayed the entire process.  It's a troubling commentary for the richest country on the continent to be plagued by such deep inefficiency.


I said I was looking forward to Monday.  Looks like it will be a long weekend for me! 

If You Can't Peel It, Boil It, Cook it, Forget It!

The first rule of travel, or pretty high up there anyway.  I'm just recovering from my second bout of.. Montezuma's, Travelers, whatever you might call it.  Up all night Sunday and in the bed most of the day on Monday- weak and lethargic. 


 I'm sure it was the "salad" which came with the grilled fish I ate Saturday night. Chopped cabbage with a few slivers of tomato, maybe some onion with a dollop of creme sauce, seemingly innocent, but those raw vegetables, even though I didn't eat that on my plate,  can wreak havoc .


If you're not eating at a reputable place like in a hotel or good restaurant and don't know for sure that the cabbage has been washed in vinegar or salt water, don't eat it--or so I was advised. Even with great care, problems can occur.


Because of the high carb content diet, I am constantly seeking a vegetable supplement,  usually in cooked form though.  All veggies will definitely be cooked before being eaten from this point on.

Election Time

My two-day book evaluation workshop wrapped up today on the eve of the first in a series of election dates . National assembly elections on the 2nd, presidential on the 9th and State Governorship / House of Assembly Elections.


This morning workshop participants announced that today had been designated a public holiday-schools, banks and public offices were closed on a days notice! In part, this was done to give individuals an opportunity to travel to their home areas in order to vote since there are no provisions for absentee balloting in this maturing democracy.  Travel and traffic will be seriously limited on election weekends.  Nigerians have been advised to travel prior to election day as security forces will limit access in and out of certain areas.


Keep a low profile, is what the embassy has advised along with advice to stock up on certain essentials.  My colleagues in Kano are already on high alert because of an incident at a political rally yesterday but, since our discussions at the embassy, everyone feels relatively secure about  plans put in place.


Looking forward to Monday!