NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD PALAVER PART 2

NATIONAL IDENTITY CARD PALAVER PART 2]

Nigerians had mixed feelings when the idea to introduce the national identity card scheme was conceptualized. This stems from the fact that it was politicized from onset about the merits and demerits of the entire program. The skepticism surrounding it’s introduction was viewed with suspicion and it’s inabilities to cognizance of defining who are eligible to be identified and also, there was the ever nagging fear that it would marginalized some sections of the population, which given our geo-political configuration was real and, or imaginary given what side of the fence one truly aligned.

No doubt the idea in itself was laudable, the intentions to the best of reasonable imagination were commendable, but however, the implementation was, and is the real problems lies. Knowing and grasping fully how policies are implemented in the country based on existing antecedents it did not require a crystal ball to periscope it pitfalls from the onset.

In my previous write up on this scheme, it was clearly demonstrated that the idea would help resolve some of our tinkering problems of identifying the nagging question of defining who is a "Nigerian" and also to provide reasonable statistics on the voting population and others to help policy planners to implement social reforms in needed areas like health care, social security insurance and for basically identifying Nigerians. The program was likened to the emergence of the introduction of a program, a prototype, that would resemble the United states social security scheme whose contributions in providing assistance for the infirmed, disable and needy in the society who needed to be helped by the society due to no fault of theirs and also to identity Americans as well as resident in all facet of their daily life.

Curiously, the antagonists to the introduction of the national identity card scheme had other motives, they reasoned that in some areas of the country with nomadic lifestyle it would be impossible to account for every one because of their sedentary life style, therefore the scheme was vehemently opposed to because it would disenfranchise some sections of Nigerians as a result of this and also to the high illiterate population of those who falls under this bracket.

On the other hand, proponents of this scheme, were resolute in their resolve that, besides the other merits attributed to this scheme, it would reduce the incidence of voting and electoral irregularities in the country as the card would be used to identify eligible Nigerians instead of the notorious practice where all nomads and illegal immigrants gain entry into our country during election time or census because of open and porous border to participate in those exercise thereby conferring undue advantaged to conniving politicians to manipulate figures.

It should be recalled that during the military administration, a program was introduced and funded by the federal government to support nomadic education and there was little or no vociferous attacks of the program even though it did not take cognizance of other ecological zones and habitation around the country. Then, Melford Okilo and other Citizens of the country from the Riverine Areas demanded for riverine education to take care of the needs of those who daily life center on the riverine community and activities like fishing etc. There was also the argument reasoned out that there was the need to introduce perhaps hinterland education to supplement the needs of those in the same hinterland areas whose social lifestyle and living was farming in the rain forest and hinterland zone.

The point here is that being nomadic, does not and will not disenfranchise any section same way being riverine or hinterland would not, it rather shows how Nigerians are suspicious of one another’s intentions. It would be recalled that that in 1979 during the presidential election, the nearly two million votes accredited to the winner of that election coming from sokoto state does not match the out come of subsequent elections with or without states creation, in similar vein, the over one million votes coming from rivers states then beats one’s imagination hence there is a need for a national identity card.

While the program was behest with teething problems from the onset, the Nigerian factor was introduced to its implementation and this is where the un- allayed fears are better understood. For one, there have been cases of corruption with the card contract involving unscrupulous Nigerians and their foreign cronies as well as " shortages of cards". This no doubt will create a credibility question with the card scheme.

The underlying issues here are, what is the standard procedure for the card issuance. Is it to be done by the federal government officials or by an independent agency or a combination of federal, states and local government? Whichever way it is done, it should not be seen by those whose duty it is to issue the card to Nigerians to act like the card is a privilege of sort or something that is going out of circulation.

Secondly, all semblance of the driver’s license or passport racketing scheme should be discouraged. Many people have already complained about the cumbrous process they experienced in obtaining the card. In this regard, there is the need for citizen re-education on a massive scale all over the country. In recent past census in some part of the country usually assume violent and tense dimension for census workers and volunteers, It is my perception that some unscrupulous people would try to hoard this cards, endanger the life of the identity card program workers, or use religious inhibition as a tool to manipulate this card program.

To all intent and purposes, the idea of the national identity card scheme should transcend electoral advantages or manipulation rather it should revolutionized a process for identifying Nigerians and helping law enforcement and security agency to up their work.

If the idea to oppose the identity card is hinged on the fact that with the rate of corruption and manipulation that has become hallmark of Nigerians in recent time, the card would loose it laudable intention during implementation, then that argument holds water other than that, it amounts to one conceivable conclusion, that Nigerians have no clear cut ideas on what type of nation they desire and that they are not in a hurry to do so within and reasonable contemplation. Therefore, Let us ask ourselves the question and seek answers ourselves why most programs fail to achieve its purpose based on north-south dichotomy or tripartite ethnic or regional suspicion or bi-polar religious divide. This is where the crux of the matter rest and unearthening them will provide the all illusive answers Nigerians have been waiting since independence, when will that be? If not now when, who calls the shot?

We as Nigerians should be able to see issues beyond religious, ethnic or regional microscope rather should take a national interest overall view that would be of benefit to the country instead of cabal using these centrifugal forces to boost their electoral chances. There should be an independent agency watching and monitoring the implementation of the card to ensure that it is issued to all Nigerians as a right and not a privilege, A national computer database be set up to eliminate double registration, which would be the major flaw and a big problem. We hope for a new dawn in our national life and aspiration of unity and growth.

Adieu,

Jan 2004