Ottoabasi Abasiekong: Politics And The State (15)

Well politics across the globe is getting interesting and exciting by the day, it was once again a great opportunity for Africa’s most populous black nation Nigeria to prove that its electoral process is progressing, when Ondo state held its Gubernatorial elections on 20th of October.

Major Contestants were Incumbent Governor Segun Mimiko of the Labour Party, Barr  Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of the Action Congress of Nigeria Party, and Mr Olusola Oke of the People’s Democratic Party,  at the end of the keenly contested elections Incumbent Governor Mimiko was declared winner polling about 260,199 votes to beat the other candidates.

Though there were slight hitches at the start of accreditation process, commendation must go to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its dedication and commitment to conducting  a  free and fair election .

From a Political analysis it is clear that the people of Ondo trusted Governor Mimiko as the man  that can sustain people-oriented programmes, infrastructural development, agricultural revolution, and industrialization in the State. They were not ready to experiment the Tinubu-domineered Action Congress or the Inconsistent Leadership model of the People’s Democratic Party, and despite the rejection of the results by the ACN and PDP, which the court will adjudicate in due time; it is clear that our democracy is on the march again.

President Goodluck Jonathan congratulatory message to Governor Mimiko once again showed the maturity of a leader that wants to fix one of the processes that has denied this great  nation credible leaders.

Talking about credibility it was a fireworks at the House of Commons on Monday the 22nd of October in the United Kingdom  between two dynamic leaders Prime Minister David Cameron and  the Labour Party leader Mr Ed Milband, and the issue to be debated was ‘Is UK Progressing or Retrogressing’.

Mr Ed Milband believed that UK’s economy has gone worse under Prime Minister David Cameron and there is no growth whether in Europe or in Britain and believed Cameron’s reforms was not working, and challenged the Prime Minister’s attendance of the European Union Leaders meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

Prime Minister in response stated that UK  was still recovering from the failed leadership the Labour Party gave the Country, and therefore stressed the essence of his reforms which is to reinvent the United Kingdom. On his being part of the European Union Leaders summit, he gave account of the reason why he attended and UK’s stand on the future of Europe. Noting that though UK is not part of the ‘eurozone’, policies made in the region would have its interest to protect.

First issue highlighted was the ‘European Central Bank’ new ‘Supervisory’ role over banks and vetoing of budgets of member states, which he said will not affect UK, as the Kingdom’s economic and monetary policy will be supervised by the Bank of England.

Second issue was ‘Increased Spending in the EU budget’, which UK and Germany kicked against. He emphasized that at a time where Europe was experiencing multiple levels of budgetary, monetary and fiscal challenges it was wisdom to put some restraint on its Financial. In his closing remarks, he reaffirmed his commitment to moving Britain forward and chided Ed Milband for mobilizing the Trade Union Congress for another strike action, when he should be thinking of evolving solutions to the challenges of the Kingdom.

Still  on the night of Monday 22nd October the  President Barack Obama  and Governor Mitt Romney had their final U.S. Presidential debate, after sharing jokes and pleasantries at the AL Smith memorial dinner in New York, several days ago. Bob Schieffer the quintessential CBS broadcaster was the moderator of the debate at the Lynn University Boca Raton, Florida and it was thrilling as expected the Issues of discussion was America’s Role in the Globe, Middle-East, National Security, Stopping a Nuclear Iran, Withdrawal troops.

It was really heated, first on the issue of America’s Influence and Foreign Policy Governor Mitt Romney believed the U.S has been weaker because of the Approach of President Obama that has seen a middle-east in turmoil.

President Obama disagreed that with ending the war of Iraq, killing Osama Bin Laden,  Co-ordinating the toughest level of sanctions against Iran in history, Supporting  revolutionary moves for democratic rule in Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia, America has been effective.

Governor Romney stated that if he is President America will be stronger, he will give leadership and coordinated support to responsible opposition freedom groups in Syria to topple President Assad, tighten the sanctions more in Iran with diplomatic isolation.

On National Security When President Obama  was asked who was  America’s greatest Threat? He said  the  terrorists were the biggest threat, while Governor Romney   said it was a Nuclear Iran.

On China Relationship Both Candidates believe that China must play by the rules, but Romney said he will work to reduce the trade imbalance with China, while Obama believed America through the Pacific region agreement is having leverage over China.

For Israel both said that they will stand by Israel in the case of any possible attack, and also agreed on the withdrawal of troops of the Afghanistan by 2014 something democrats will find surprising from Romney.

President Obama was convincing and won   the debate by CNN scientific polls while Governor Romney  looked calmer, composed and different in foreign policy approach from the traditional republican model, which makes November 6 a big election day to watch.

Ottoabasi Abasiekong writes from Lagos

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