Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, has identified five danger signals which must be adequately taken care of if the 2015 elections are to succeed. These include electoral violence, pervasive influence of money on politics, the mindset of Nigerians, lack of internal democracy in the political parties and low level of female politicians elected into political offices.

“These five factors are intertwined,” Iwu said while delivering a lecture on ‘Nigerian Democracy: Getting It Right in 2015’ to mark the Second Anniversary of Realnews Magazine.

He stressed the need to check violence before, during and after the 2015 elections and “reducing the pervasive influence of money on politics.” Iwu, who described money politics as “very corrosive,” also advocated the changing of the mindset of Nigerians, “promotion of internal democracy in the political parties” and “enhancing women participation in our politics.” He delared unacceptable a situation where “only about 10 per cent of our women are elected into political positions” despite women’s numerical superiority and better performance when elected into office.

The event, which is on-going at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, will witness the presentation of a book entitled Paragon of Journalism, co-edited by Maureen Chigbo and late Mike Akpan, Publisher/Editor and Editor-in-Chief of Realnews magazine, respectively.

The event is being chaired by Prof. J.C. Ezigbo, Managing Director, Falcon Corporation Limited, the first indigenous gas distributor in the country. Dignitaries in attendance include Prof. Anya O. Anya, Prof. George Obiozor, Mr. Ray Ekpu, and Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Benjamin Dikki.

Realnews, a general interest magazine, is an online publication which debuted on November 19, 2012. It thrives on investigative journalism, focusing on the oil and gas sector with its attendant environmental challenges as well as issues relating to business and economy, politics, power, health, women and youth.

The magazine’s aim is to unearth exclusive stories about real people and the challenges they are facing in their day-to-day activities. It does this bearing in mind that government can only act to influence the lives of people positively if they are aware of their true situation. Hence, its objective is to use its investigative skills to ferret out information in the sectors it focuses on and produce an unbiased report which will actually influence the government and decision makers to take actions that will make the society better.

•Photo shows Maurice Iwu.

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