₦airaland Forum

I want to tell a story. It isn’t a pleasant story to some, but I call it an exposition, to let people know how elections are won and lost in Nigeria.

In 2011, as an undergraduate student, I volunteered to work as an ad-hoc staff member for INEC during the presidential elections. It was a volatile period, but for me an adventure. I wanted to understand how elections in Nigeria are won or rigged and thought it was a risk worth taking. I remember keeping it from my family because my parents would have opposed it outright. I was posted to a village in Giwa local government of Kaduna State.

Everything was going well on election day. We were a team of three. Two ladies and me. One of the ladies was a serving corps member. I really can’t remember the details of the third colleague. Inadvertently, I ended up as the leader of the team. People were orderly and casted their votes on time. The police escort was also friendly, although he only had a baton to protect us. After waiting for a while with no new voters turning up, we started packing up to count the votes publicly, and then return to the local government collation centre. That was when trouble started.

With very sharp machetes flashing in our faces, I was forced to hand over the remaining ballot papers to the villagers. We were told the ballot papers belonged to the polling unit and must be used up. We had no right to take away unused ballot papers. In that moment of need, the policeman was nowhere to be found. It simply wasn’t in our hands, and I had to play along to stay safe. PDP and CPC agents simply shared the ballot papers amongst themselves and returned thumb printed papers. Under the watchful eyes of the the machete wielding youths, we counted the ballot papers, declared CPC winners by a thin margin, and quickly packed the election materials into a waiting Peugeot J5 vehicle. I escorted my colleagues, the ladies, into the vehicle and was going to enter the vehicle myself when violence suddenly erupted. I still cannot explain the cause of the violence even today. It was totally for no reason. They started chasing me with machetes. Adrenaline set in.

In fear, the driver started driving away and I was forced to chase the vehicle with machetes on my heels. It was either I got to the vehicle or lose my life. The ladies were screaming at the driver to stop for me. I held on to the door on the passenger’s side while the vehicle was moving until the vehicle slowed down enough for me to enter. The vehicle was chased by machete-wielding youths until the assailants gave up. We got to the local government collation centre where another drama was waiting for us. I will share that story on a different day.

You see, this is how many elections are won and lost. When these ballot papers are shared in the hinterlands, would LP be sitting at the table? Would there be someone speaking up for Peter Obi, or would APC and PDP simply share the ballot papers?

“Obi dients”, the odds are not in your favour today.

I find this thread quite interesting. I have decided to attempt a detailed analysis so as to enlighten many who might read and seek to understand facts.

Firstly, more than half those claiming to be "veterinary doctors" around are not. Majority are a product of animal husbandry schools with ONDs and HNDs and other department of animal science graduates with Bsc's. This means that your presumed knowledge of what a vet earns might have been guided by your interactions with impersonators who are doing everything to earn a living and are desperate to recieve anything just to make ends meet. When next you meet a so called Vet, one should be enlightened enough to ask him/her of their licence number to determine if he/she is an impersonator.

Having said that, it is important to look at the Vet with different lenses to answer this question. Firstly, the veterinary doctor who works for the government and the veterinary doctor who works in the industry, which could be the organised private sector or just the private sector.

Vets who work for the Nigerian government or anywhere else in the world are paid the same salaries as Human doctors (usually not less than N200,000 at entry level). They also enter into the civil service at a higher care (same as Doctors) in all parastatals and even in the military and para military and with a special salary package unique to only "doctors". This applies to vets working in state and federal ministry of agriculture as well as those in various veterinary clinics.

In addition, veterinary doctors in the academia who work as lecturers are the highest earning lecturers (even more than human medics in many cases) in any institution where veterinary medicine is studied. An average veterinary medicine professor earns at least twice the salary of any professor from any other department. Even entry level faculty of veterinary medicine lecturers are employed as lecturer 2 or lecturer 1 and not as graduate assistants as in every other college or faculty. Same thing applies to Vets in research institutes and other similar institutions, who in addition to their salaries are paid call duty allowances and other hazard/risk allowances.

In the private sector, an average Veterinarian running a private practice could make anything, depending on his/her ability to network, location and skill. This can get you anything but I'll be shocked and disappointed at a Veterinarian that doesn't rake in at least N150,000 on a very bad month.

The organised private sector ranges from pharmaceuticals to NGOs and other similar institutions and establishments. Veterinarians are not treated as regular graduates but as technical experts and consultants. Here, the salaries might vary and it would be impossible to be specific. To highlight more on some of the other possible areas where you find vets, you can search for my previous write up on "Veterinary Doctors as core health providers" here on naira land or you might choose to read up an article I put up via this link
" https://www.drgbaksthevet.com/2017/04/25/is-veterinary-practice-lucrative-in-nigeria-dr-adah-ogwuche-answers-this-all-important-question/"

Having said all these, it is pertinent to note that the level of enlightenment about animal health isn't yet at the required level in Nigeria, notwithstanding, Nigerians feed on animal and animal by-products daily and this would have been totally impossible without veterinarians. The poultry and livestock sub sector that contributes up to 50% of our protein consumption in Nigeria can only thrive this far because of veterinarians.

It is also important to note that these food animals fall sick and are looked after by vets everyday. While dogs and other pet animals are important, they contribute less than 30% of a vets client base, with poultry, cattle, sheep and goats and horses making up a huge chunk of a Veterinarians source of income.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that majority of the so called "vets" who collect peanuts, live very poor, or suffer indignity are those claiming to be doctors and looking to make their daily bread in anyway possible. They are not different from those who own chemists or patent medicine stores or drug hawkers who call themselves doctors. A veterinary doctor who knows his/her onions earns a decent living, carries his/her head high up and is always a respected and revered member of the society.

Dr. adah ogwuche (DVM, MVPH) is a veterinary surgeon and I can be reached via my Facebook page or LinkedIn @ adah ogwuche.

I find this thread quite interesting. I have decided to attempt a detailed analysis so as to enlighten many who might read and seek to understand facts.

Firstly, more than half those claiming to be "veterinary doctors" around are not. Majority are a product of animal husbandry schools with ONDs and HNDs and other department of animal science graduates with Bsc's. This means that your presumed knowledge of what a vet earns might have been guided by your interactions with impersonators who are doing everything to earn a living and are desperate to recieve anything just to make ends meet. When next you meet a so called Vet, one should be enlightened enough to ask him/her of their licence number to determine if he/she is an impersonator.

Having said that, it is important to look at the Vet with different lenses to answer this question. Firstly, the veterinary doctor who works for the government and the veterinary doctor who works in the industry, which could be the organised private sector or just the private sector.

Vets who work for the Nigerian government or anywhere else in the world are paid the same salaries as Human doctors (usually not less than N200,000 at entry level). They also enter into the civil service at a higher care (same as Doctors) in all parastatals and even in the military and para military and with a special salary package unique to only "doctors". This applies to vets working in state and federal ministry of agriculture as well as those in various veterinary clinics.

In addition, veterinary doctors in the academia who work as lecturers are the highest earning lecturers (even more than human medics in many cases) in any institution where veterinary medicine is studied. An average veterinary medicine professor earns at least twice the salary of any professor from any other department. Even entry level faculty of veterinary medicine lecturers are employed as lecturer 2 or lecturer 1 and not as graduate assistants as in every other college or faculty. Same thing applies to Vets in research institutes and other similar institutions, who in addition to their salaries are paid call duty allowances and other hazard/risk allowances.

In the private sector, an average Veterinarian running a private practice could make anything, depending on his/her ability to network, location and skill. This can get you anything but I'll be shocked and disappointed at a Veterinarian that doesn't rake in at least N150,000 on a very bad month.

The organised private sector ranges from pharmaceuticals to NGOs and other similar institutions and establishments. Veterinarians are not treated as regular graduates but as technical experts and consultants. Here, the salaries might vary and it would be impossible to be specific. To highlight more on some of the other possible areas where you find vets, you can search for my previous write up on "Veterinary Doctors as core health providers" here on naira land or you might choone to read up an article I put up via this link
" https://www.drgbaksthevet.com/2017/04/25/is-veterinary-practice-lucrative-in-nigeria-dr-adah-ogwuche-answers-this-all-important-question/"

Having said all these, it is pertinent to note that the level of enlightenment about animal health isn't yet at the required level in Nigeria, notwithstanding, Nigerians feed on animal and animal by-products daily and this would have been totally impossible without veterinarians. The poultry and livestock sub sector that contributes up to 50% of our protein consumption in Nigeria can only thrive this far because of veterinarians.

It is also important to note that these food animals fall sick and are looked after by vets everyday. While dogs and other pet animals are important, they contribute less than 30% of a vets client base, with poultry, cattle, sheep and goats and horses making up a huge chunk of a Veterinarians source of income.

Finally, I would like to reiterate that majority of the so called "vets" who collect peanuts, live very poor, or suffer indignity are those claiming to be doctors and looking to make their daily bread in anyway possible. They are not different from those who own chemists or patent medicine stores or drug hawkers who call themselves doctors. A veterinary doctor who knows his/her onions earns a decent living, carries his/her head high up and is always a respected and revered member of the society.

Dr. Adah Ogwuche (DVM, MVPH) is a veterinary surgeon and I can be reached via my Facebook page or LinkedIn @ Adah Ogwuche.

This is outrageous to imagine. It would be almost impossible for a sane veterinary doctor to even consider receiving such a sum. In fact, it is impossible.

dafeyankee:
Depends.

20 to 50k.

Vet Doctors are not in high demand here,because the Animals in Nigeria never ever fall sick.

Im having a problem with my phone. I think I need some help from phone gurus. I have used it for over a year now. It gets pretty slow at times, taking minutes to open a new page. When I want to save numbers for eg. It could take almst 2 mins for the keypad to come up. Sometimes I type up to 6 letters without seeing anything on the screen amd then suddenly all the 6 letters appear on the screen. I deleted a lot of apps including bbm and whatsapp but , its still like that . Any advise please

sbaks:
[b]Amaechi will so suffer after this elections. That is a fact. I give him may 29th he would be busy crying his eyes out. Amaechi my advice for you. I was once like you, following hausa people until my eyes began to open. They would make sure you are enemies with your fellow christians, get necessary informations from you, use you like a fool, then they will DUMP YOU in such a way that your fellow christian brothers would not even use a 20m pole to touch you not to talk of helping you (because they must have seen you as a betrayer hence lost confidence in you). They would make you hated. Goodluck is soooooo wise to have ran to his fellow christians because this is what will make him win. FACT! Have you guys ever noticed(for those of you with hausa friends) that whenever you are together with them, when they see any of their fellow islamists, they so much abandon you to the extent you will feel like nothing. They are such fanatics.
Nigerians tell me if true true dem no wan islamize us, wetin be the meaning of that Arabic inscription for our naira note? Nigeria na Arabic nation?
Why is it that they always bite their teeth whenever a christian is in power (even though the christian is trying his best)? It was done to obasanjo, now goodluck
Mtcheeeeeew. Amaechi would be dumped no matter what. They are only using him in other to make him an enemy of christians and to get the secret of christianity (I.e how they can capture christians to vote for them) shikenan! After that, they will throw him into a THRASH CAN! I HAVE SAID SO. You guys will bear me witness GOD's Grace because I SAID SO [/b]

its unfortunate but your analysis is so myopic. Whether it happens today or tomorrow, Nigeria cannot run from having a muslim president because we are a multi religious country. So what happens whenever that day comes. We should learn to be objective. Are muslims not campaigning for Goodluck? Does that mean hes pitching them against muslims? Its politics and uts about interest. Please lets stop all this divisive attitude and foxus on what is important. If a goat will deliver lets vite him xtian or muslim . What use is a xtian president if you cant feed under him and a muslim gives you both food and water. I dont think both candidtates are the best for us but I will reason rather objectively., I urge you to do the same

Your school I think have been in a haste to run courses they are not equiped to run . I remember your faculty of veterinary medicine having similar issues. In fact the veterinary council of nigeria refused to recognise your school exams and results and had to set independent exams for your students to write. Its really unfortunate but.....the institution is trying too hard to be an ostrich eclven when it has space for broilers only.

cutebright:
I DEEPLY APPRECIATE U ALL FOR YOUR CONCERN.REPORTS REACHING ME HAVE IT THAT NUC WILL BE COMING FOR RESOURCE VERIFICATION BY JANUARY........PLS FOR THOSE THAT HV IDEA OF THIS NUC STUFF.....WHAT DOES IT IMPLY?
FOR YOUR INFO.... MY SCHOOL IS A FEDERAL UNIVERSITY........
I WAS JUST A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCE

Davo93:
I am still of the opinion that some people are still not happy because their hands cannot carry out their enterprise.

Now that CAN & Pastor Oritsejafor have been exonerated, can you start asking God for the forgiveness of your sins? I mean you!

Pastor Oritsejiafor has not been exonerated in anyway. All these does not explain why of all the planes in the country, it had to be his plane.
It also doesnt explain why after telling nigerians he needs tge plane for evangelism and that he can no longer be using commercial flights, he is suddenly leasing his plane out for business purposes.all of these places him as a very very confused man with no direction or principle. He just looks for the sweetest story to tell at any point.he is a disgrace to CAN

I have realised that amongst 2 evils, one is still better.Atiku might have stolen but, he has balls. GEJ has stolen more than Atiku yet, hes got no balls. He is as clueless as a primary school student trying to solve a university mathematics would look. GEJ has no idea of what he is doing except that he wants to sit in Aso rock.GEJ is so gutless and confused i am embarassed to hv supported him.Truth be told, Atiku would have been by far a better president than gudluck will ever be and lest I forget, those saying Buhari, wake up!!. A leopard never changes its skin colour. A religious fanatic like him cannot be given the presidency.it would be National suicide

otijah: Most you guys ranting nonsense here didn't even read the and went into conlusion,nobody is trying to save tb joshua here I think they are just trying to follow due process so that nobody makes a mistakes

You are the one ranting what you shouldnt rant. Its all a gimmick to sweep the issue under the rug. This is a criminal offense . They all want to save TB joshua. Please learn to decipher whiye from black.i am tired of Nigerians being fooled .yet people like you prefer to wallow in the deciet rather than open your eyes.

otijah: Most you guys ranting nonsense here didn't even read the and went into conlusion,nobody is trying to save tb joshua here I think they are just trying to follow due process so that nobody makes a mistakes

You are the one ranging what you shouldnt rant. Its all a gimmick to sweep the issue under the rug. This is a criminal offense . They all want to save TB joshua. Please learn to decipher whiye from black.i am tired of Nigerians being fooled .yet people like you prefer to wallow in the deciet rather than open your eyes.

Obviously this was just a business arrangement gone bad. Its funny how much people permit nonsense in Gods house all in other to have a wide range of members who would come to church and be allowed to still do their nonsense in church.
Martin Luther king fought well, but if he ever knew his revolution would destroy christianity , im sure hed rather have sat tight.
Nigerian Christians are the most gullible on earth.
Ill remain a roman Catholic till I die.

Boko haram is highly islamic n partially political. Its always sn islamic agenda to kill all non muslims. Its what they r thought....too bad.

Islam is just full of violence everywhere in the world, syria, gaza, lybia, afghanistan name it....why is violence killing and undue crisis ubiquitous to wherever islam is found......I keep asking myself why?I learnt that in sharia law, killing a Christian is legal, a muslim cant be held accountable but if he kills a muslim he faces a death penalty....SMH
Boko haram has cm to stay as long as nothern nigeria is islamic....similar sects are found everywhere in d world where islam thrive...if I had my way I would use a controlled nuclear bomb through out d neibouring forests around sambisa

Its unfortunate when I see Christians protesting against israel. These jews are only helping themselves to prevent future annihilation of their race by a violent wicked hamas amd all their islamic allies. If they where the ones witj the upper hand they would do a lot worse than israel is doing..I urge u to find out from history what they are capable of.gaza shld be another hiroshima for all I care