Win-win MoU with
Opening address: The reason why National Orientation Agency [NOA] is organising this training session for all the leading Babalawos, Alfas, Malams and Bokaye in Nigeria is because INEC has released the time table of activities leading up to the 2019 election. We at NOA are holding different training sessions for all the important players in the 2019 elections including political parties, politicians, security agents, traditional rulers, NGOs, youths and women groups but we are starting with you because you are one of the most important stakeholders in 2019. More than all the other stakeholders, you hold in your hands the power to make or to mar the 2019 elections.
I know by now that you are very busy after the release of the time table. No serious political aspirant anywhere in Nigeria will go into party primaries or the elections proper without first of all going to see at least one of you to seek your help, your blessing and your prediction. No one will waste his time, energy and money to go into an election unless he is assured of winning, and you are the only people in Nigeria with the power to know who will win an election many years before it takes place. With all its computers, card readers and ballot papers INEC cannot tell you who will win an election but you guys, with only a fly whisk, a gourd or a prayer bead can tell who will win the election.
I hear that some of you even accurately predicted to your clients the date on which INEC will release the time table. I hear that many of you have already claimed credit for the time table. One of you accurately predicted the type of cap that the INEC Chairman will be wearing on the day he made the announcement. I also hear that one Babalawo has predicted that INEC will soon change the election sequence to favour his client.
Almost every politician in Nigeria believes that you people have the power to make somebody to win an election. We at NOA are not in a position to say whether it is true that you people have that power but that is not our concern today. If you yourself believe that you have the power to make somebody to win an election and your client also believes that you have such power, both of you are covered by the constitutional freedom of thought, conscience, association and movement.
This seminar is so important that the Inspector General sent his