For everything it does, Lagos State often wants to stand out. Standing out therefore has become a way to set the pace and usher in new ways of keeping up with modernity. Ask the Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA), Lagos State chapter, and you will readily get a positive response. When it comes to the issues that propel the writers’ body to a point of excellence and beauty, ANA, Lagos, has always served this pivotal role, dictating the pace.
At the last weekend election of its new executive officers to run the affairs of the association for the next two years, ANA, Lagos, promptly introduced a model that was enviable, good and progressive. The online voting started two days ahead of the conclusion of the electoral process ending with the physical voting. The idea was introduced in order to encourage and also allow voters affiliated to the Lagos chapter but who are now either in Diaspora or resident beyond reach, to vote. It was just to avoid deliberately disenfranchising members who were willing to vote irrespective of their location or state of mobility.
So, the exercise brought in the idea of online. The process, apart from being an easy way out of an otherwise electoral logjam, simplified the way for the voting to be seen to be very transparent. On the last day when the final physical voting took place, it was discovered that over sixty percent of the eligible voters had exercised their rights online. This way, a clarion call is being made on the leadership of ANA in Lagos to buckle up the more to face the rigours of an accelerated leadership.
Before the final stage of the election took place at Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba, Lagos, banters, heavy banters bordering on whether the online was proper or not, rocked the waves. Tempers were high; some members insisted that both the online and physical would have been held simultaneously. However, when tempers cooled off, sound reason took over. The processes continued and in the end, new executive council emerged. Not only that those who lost took it in good strides, sound reasoning prevailed; ANA became one once again.
Yet, it was time for the monthly reading when poets performed, some recited. Then some lyrics that are lugubrious or dilettante ruled. Some lines went on deeper to dissect the society. Dagga Tolar was there, so also was Tanko Mature. They read some lines that probed; that sent shivers into people’s spines. Writers sat with intentional and purposeful attention listening to the ideas that came off the inmost bearings of poets, deep thinkers, and great writers.
The moments ushered in ideal moments of sober reflections. Will the society suffuse under the weight of these words of forbearance orchestrated by its leadership? Or will it surmount the ordeals that proclaim themselves daily? The poets sang, they read, they performed; some even gyrated to the rhythmical nuances of an evocative, idealistic and indolent society full of confusion and idiocy.
It was quite a noble Saturday afternoon as love flowed, ideas blossomed and fermented. Authors bristled for the moments that also generated ideas that could result into more books. Concerning the lessons learnt about the online voting, some of the authors who voted online and still found time to witness the physical one responded thus. Dr. Akinwunmi said: ‘The online voting was not only interesting, it was indeed innovative, very inspiring, so to say. We need to start from somewhere which we have already done. To be candid, the online voting was transparent.
‘You needed not to cheat or be cheated. Everyone sees the votes come in and for whom they are meant. So, it makes it easier for people to vote. In other words, anywhere you are in the world you have the opportunity to vote. It was so good, so clearly done. I voted, but I have come here today to witness how what we started would come to an end. And you can see that the processes are clear and well followed.
‘This shows also how we have displayed the voters’ list and exposed the accredited members, eligible voters to cast their votes. So the general platform was not used because it may not be everyone in there is qualified to vote. So, the process is therefore transparent, credible and error free. The leadership was wise in creating a separate platform for the voting. This was a wise way to avoid rancor and cheating’.
On the whole about 67 – 69 members who were duly eligible to vote were put on this fresh platform for the purpose of voting. All the contestants were listed on it with the positions they were contesting for. ‘But then we still voted even when a candidate was unopposed. It was an ample time to show our unalloyed love for the contestants and fellow writers’, Akinwunmi said.
Another person who voted online was Joseph Yohanna Waliya who incidentally went unopposed as the PRO of the association. He said, ‘Yes, I voted online and it was good. The exercise was perfect. This is so, because in this era of digital evolution, we must follow the trend and make things easier for ourselves. We have noticed that even now that we can do many things online, on WhatsApp and so on, we will be able to hold our leaders accountable. It is so clear and transparent. No room for rigging or cheating or snatching of ballot boxes’.
Waliya, a poet and author, went on: ‘We are happy now because our votes counted. In the election that is now physical, even everyone cleared online could have as well voted online if you could not make it to this venue. So, that is one of the beauties of the experiment. This is very innovative and I really appreciate it. What the leadership did is good because even as a member in England or France or elsewhere, you can still participate and your votes count as well. Actually, any member that is of ANA Lagos anywhere outside Lagos is permitted to vote. And we did it and it gladdens the hearts of members’.
The evening closed with a brief convention and the swearing in of the new executives. Dr. Olatunbosun Taofeek retained the position of chairman, while Deborah Omoaregba became the vice chairman. The new secretary is Amarachukwu Obika-Stevens, Yohanna Waliya came in as the PRO while Ebuzhafe Ogunsanya is the legal adviser. Other vacant positions would be filled duly as the constitution stipulates. Members of the electoral committee headed by Yemi Adebiyi, Chuba Eluwa and Dr. Mary Joan Nwagwu.
The attendance was encouraging with nearly all former chairmen of ANA, Lagos, in attendance giving further credence to the age-long aphorism that Lagos is the centre of excellence.
Wole Adedoyin, the secretary-general of ANA came in to supervise the election as mandated by ANA national. His presence and wise counsel helped also to put proceedings in proper check. On behalf of ANA president, Dr. Dipo Akanbi, Adedoyin said: ‘The Lagos State chapter occupies a significant place in the history and development of the Association of Nigerian Authors. Its rich literary tradition and contributions to the growth of Nigerian literature place a special responsibility on every member to protect the unity, dignity and institutional integrity of the chapter.
‘Let us therefore remember that the strength of ANA does not rest solely on those who occupy elective positions. It rests on the collective commitment of all our members to literature, fellowship, service and the continued advancement of the Association’.