Nigeria's 2011 Election: What Should Be on the Post-Election To-Do List?

HUFFINGTON Post

28 May 2011

Nigeria's 2011 Election: What Should Be on the Post-Election To-Do List?

Amb. Robin Renee Sanders.Dr. Robin Renee Sanders, Former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria

Answer: Improve Education & Health, Build Agriculture & Transform Energy Sector, and Improve Anti-Corruption Efforts

The majority of international and local civil society observers saw the results of Nigeria's election series on April 9, April 16, and April 26, 2011, as credible. However, they, along with the opposition also noted irregularities such as underage voting, improperly used ballots, and mishandled/misplaced ballot boxes, coupled with the sad fact of election violence killing nearly 800 as noted by Human Rights Watch. Many of these same irregularities have been cited in past elections since military rule ended more than 30 years ago. However, in 2011, these improper actions were significantly reduced with much of the credit for this positive change going to the well-respected Chairman of Nigeria's Election Commission (INEC) -- Professor Attahiru Jega.

With a credibility stamp on the overall 2011 election results, even with the irregularities and violence, the post-election landscape is going to be equally as important as the need to respond to some of the underlying development issues that could have contributed to the election violence, as well as the need to transparently address the voting irregularities.

So how to reach out to all Nigerians, particularly the youth and especially the northern youth, so that they feel, as one nation, they can play a part in the country's future? ...