The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ELECTION

  • Is election shift not road to Golgotha?

    President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in his bid to hang tenaciously onto power, is tormenting the peace of the nation’s ancestors. Whether through his aides’ unguarded statements or by his body language, conduct and lingo in the past weeks, he seems determined to truncate this democracy if the coming 2015 Presidential election will not go his way. When everything pointed in the direction that he would lose the election, he confirmed the fears in public space that he would tinker with the independence of INEC: He covertly compelled the electoral body through Sambo Dasuki, his National Security Adviser (NSA), and military service chiefs to shift the election dates – just precisely a week to the conduct of the presidential election initially slated for February 14.

    Quite interestingly, like a patient dog that eats the fattest bone, Nigerians that are determined for CHANGE are eagerly waiting for next six weeks to come for them to use their votes to show Jonathan the way out of Aso-Rock Villa. This president seems to have forgotten the tribulations that Nigerians endured before the birth of the ongoing democratic project. But for the toil of courageous Nigerians that stood up against military dictatorship, probably, the president, who never hitherto stepped out of the country, and perhaps the Niger-Delta, would be rotting away somewhere in Otuoke, Bayelsa state. Now, he wants to overstretch the elasticity of his destiny by daring to submerge the echoes of CHANGE in order to realise his own infamous over-ambition for another term in office.

    The president pretends before the entire world that he knows nothing about INEC’s shift of election dates when he is the main architect of the political rigmarole. This government is showing grave disregard for the country’s past because of his having been blinded by the awesome power at his beck. From the first republic when the mobile unit of the police force was created to suppress the opposition of that era to the second republic when the same mobile police were deployed to intimidate, harass and tyrannise the opposition, the end was always dismal for perpetrators. From Ibrahim Babangida’s charade called transition to democratic rule when he used the military with impunity to repress and suppress people’s resistance against the satanic annulment of the June 12 1993 election and; Abacha’s use of same method to facilitate his failed transmutation agenda down to Olusegun Obasanjo’s use of military to win election at all cost, there had been a dire consequence for such political iniquity.

    History is currently repeating itself under Jonathan who has been using the military to commit all sorts of atrocities including the deployment of soldiers and masked intelligence and police service operatives to harass the opposition at electioneering period. Does the law allow for the use of soldiers during elections? The answer is capital NO! The 1999 Constitution in section 215(3) vests the Nigeria Police Force with the power to exclusively maintain and secure public safety and order. But there is, however, a circumstantial moderation over this police role in the second leg of provisions of Section 217(2) of same Constitution that empowers the president to deploy the armed forces only for the suppression of insurrection and while acting in aid of civil authorities including the police to restore law order. What is apparent today is that there is no insurrection or civil disturbance except in 14 local governments cutting across the troubled three north-east states out of 774 councils in the federation where the Boko Haram insurgents hold way.

    So far, there are no civil disturbances in the remaining 760 local governments across the federation or any sign of it that the police cannot contain to warrant military intervention. Even when the president needs to take extraordinary security measures as enshrined in Section 305, he still must go through the national assembly to seek and obtain its approval for a specified timeline. Reading this two Sections (215 and 217), this column believes that it is only clear that the president can only deploy the military while trying to aid the police to restore peace and order when it has broken down. Otherwise, the president can deploy the armed forces for internal security in cases of suppression of insurrection which includes the devastating Boko Haram insurgency. From the intent/spirit of the grundnorm, it is clear that the military has no place in election matters and the elections’ dates should not have been shifted because the military threatened not to provide security. What is the position of the Inspector General on this issue?

    There have also been judicial pronouncements on the matter and in this regard the Court of Appeal judgment in Yusuf v Obasanjo (2005) 18 N.W.L.R.(Pt 956) 96 remain instructive: Salami JCA ( as he the was) held: “It is up to the police to protect our nascent democracy and not the military, otherwise the democracy might be wittingly or unwittingly militarised. This is not what the citizenry bargained for in wrestling power from the military in 1999. Conscious step or steps should be taken to civilianize the polity to ensure the survival and sustenance of democracy.” The current move to stall democracy via postponement of the election by the NSA, the military and the PDP is an efforts aimed at militarising the electoral process which is illegal and criminal.

    Also in the case of Buhari v Obasanjo (2005) 1 WRN 1 at 200, Abdullah JCA observed: “In spite of the non-tolerant nature and behaviour of our political class in this country, we should by all means try to keep armed personnel of whatever status or nature from being part and parcel of our election process. The civilian authorities should be left to conduct and carry out fully the electoral processes at all levels”. The Supreme Court in its appeal judgement in the same Buhari v Obasanjo (2005) 50 WRN 1 at 313 states that the State must make sure that “citizens who are sovereign can exercise their franchise freely, unmolested and undisturbed.” This molestation obviously obtain in a military-infested polity being bred by Jonathan. It is regrettable that the election was postponed but Nigerians would not condone such evil deed in the nearest future. The election could have gone ahead despite the military’s illegal threat if INEC had been calm enough to read and digest properly section 25 of the Electoral Act which allows the electoral body to deploy his power for election postponement only where there is verifiable threat of breakdown of law and order ‘in the area or areas’ under scrutiny.

    To Mr President and his goons, Nigerians are saying enough of politics of cluelessness. They want a break from the cycle of PDP’s political servitude for enthronement of a political movement as represented by APC with an echo that would be heard and appreciated by generations to come.

    Soldiers’ siege on Tinubu’s residence

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State is undisputably an enviable pillar of opposition politics in this country and more importantly, an inspiration and model in the current democratic movement against government ineptitude as exemplified by the President Goodluck Jonathan presidency.

    The move by the presidency to intimidate him by stationing armed soldiers around his house is nothing but a sheer waste of time, personnel and resources. Asiwaju is too experienced and familiar with this kind of desperate repressive official method to be subdued. He, in his fight for democratic enthronement that Jonathan is now enjoying, survived more crude and severe official antics that led to nowhere.

    Asiwaju, be assured that nothing will happen to you or any of us that truly believes that the time for CHANGE in this rotten system headed by Jonathan is now. You remain a worthy pillar of this inevitable crusade. I reserve further comments on Tinubu and his political exploits till a later period in the nearest future. Ride on

  • Impact of election delay on forex, reserves, by analyst

    Impact of election delay on forex, reserves, by analyst

    The prolonged election-related uncertainty is expected to cut inflow of foreign exchange or at most, delay such inflows, Managing Director, Head -Africa Macro Global Research at Standard Chartered Bank, Razia Khan, has said.

    She explained in a report that many offshore investors, still attracted to Nigerian yields, have been waiting for the uncertainty of the election period to pass before recommitting themselves to Nigerian markets.

    Nigeria’s presidential and parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for February 14, were at the weekend, postponed to March  28. Gubernatorial elections will be delayed to April 11. This comes after security agencies informed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that they would be unable to provide adequate security for elections on February 14.

    Khan said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has adopted a pragmatic approach to exchange rate and reserve management during the period of weaker oil prices.

    “The CBN tightened policy in November while simultaneously devaluing the official retail Dutch Auction System (RDAS) rate to more realistic levels (at the time). Access to foreign exchange through the RDAS window was also limited in order to safeguard foreign exchange  reserves. Perhaps recognising that investor inflows ahead of an election were unlikely, the CBN did not tighten policy further at its January 2015 policy meeting,” she said.

    Khan said with investor inflows delayed, it is expected that the foreign exchange  reserves would come under further pressure.

    She predicted that further CBN tightening in March looks increasingly doubtful. Slowing growth may also have been factors behind that decision. “The election delay puts at risk our call for further policy tightening at the March Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. With oil prices still languishing at low levels, resulting in minimal injections into the foreign exchange reserves, we expect the reserves to come under further pressure, perhaps dropping to about six months of import cover,” she said.

    The analyst said that a further tightening of administrative controls is plausible, with fewer categories of demand eligible for RDAS auctions.

    “We expect spreads between Nigeria’s parallel and interbank foreign exchange rates to remain pressured, although an agreement by Nigeria’s Financial Markets Dealers’ Association limiting daily NGN depreciation in the interbank market to two per cent will likely slow the pace of weakening,” she said.

    She predicted that the postponement of election will also potentially delay the formulation of policy aimed at helping Nigeria cope with lower oil prices. “The 2015 federal government budget currently assumes a benchmark oil price of 6$5/barrel (bbl). Efforts to accelerate non-oil revenue collection, especially measures that do not require legislative approval, are likely to continue in the near term. These include new levies on luxury imports, a review of tax exemptions granted to some investors, accelerated tax audits, and a potential doubling of the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate to 10 per cent. We see little reason why the VAT rate increase would have to wait until after the election, although there is likely to be some uncertainty around the timing,” she said.

    She added: “We do not share the view of many market participants that the authorities will wait until after the election to announce a large official devaluation of the naira.”

  • Election: Human desperation or God’s will?

    At last, the hour for genuine Nigerians to vote the future they desire has started being truncated. This Saturday presidential election has been pushed out of the will of the people. The desperation of those seeking power at all costs and stressing by all means to frustrate the will of God is at work.

    Why are those trying to manipulate the choice of the people able to  push forward their purpose by shifting the elections from the ordained dates to contrary blind dates of their personal favour? Why not surrender to the right choice of the people in a nation where there has been apparent failure of leadership? Will people’s votes still be allowed to bring forth who indeed is meant to be voted for? Is the postponement coming to manifest rigging agenda?

    At the countdown to the general elections, the self-centred nature of our politicians and those in power is evident. It has become apparent that most Nigerian politicians are insincere liars. This is why many make open promises of what they have no mind to implement. All they want is just getting elected and then begin to steal in multiples from public resources to restore the what they spent on campaigns. What happens to the life of citizens would not matter to them until another election season comes.

    Today, Nigeria keeps declining in virtually all fronts – power, educational and healthcare standards, job and financial progression – just name it – in a nation tagged with grand economy. Contrary to INEC’s consistent position to keep it’s ordained day of love, the stressful leadership who could see the reality of the mind of the people, believes that with more days to handle stomach infrastructure, there might be a change of heart to receive unmerited votes.

    Isn’t it distressing that foreigners are those that know the reality in the land more than the owners of the land? The United Kingdom-based The Economist magazine last week revealed its mind in an editorial write-up. It endorsed the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari  (rtd) on its ground that a “former dictator is better choice than a failed president.” Of course, as expected, the presidency became shocked and in its bitterness knocked the endorsement out as “tongue-in-cheek.” Sincere Nigerians are only shocked at the insincerity of the leadership that keeps claiming achievements in the midst of apparent failures.

    Not that undeniable The Economist which is one of the most influential and reliable global publications spared Buhari or President Goodluck Jonathan. In veracity and “with a heavyq heart,” it only chose Buhari as better than Jonathan who it believes “risks presiding over Nigeria’s bloody fragmentation.”

    Why must Jonathan be ruled out if he is truly qualified to win? Who should replace him? Surely, The Economist did not perceive Buhari as a perfect choice. Many Nigerians too do not see him as an angel. But the magazine remarked in its understanding that the incumbent President has been a colossal failure and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mismanaged Nigeria’s economy in its 16 years in power.

    President Jonathan who himself accepted his generation’s failure at the take – off of his political rally in Lagos was truly branded by the magazine as vastly incompetent, moreso with his failure to tackle the insecurity devastating the country. This must be why a better alternative is needed.

    Indeed, PDP that has been running the country since 1999 has hardly made any viable impact on the nation. The editorial insists Jonathan “has shown little willingness to tackle endemic corruption,” such that when Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor “reported that $20b had been stolen, his reward was to be sacked.”

    Prof. Charles Soludo, also CBN’s former Governor has been consistent in hitting the Jonathan administration of economic gross mismanagement and resources diminishment. Last week, he who knows the nation’s economy lashed back at Finance Minister Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala under who the country cannot recount the loss of N30 trillion – either stolen or mismanaged. This is a hitherto-respected woman heading the nation’s economy, apparently functioning to please World Bank other than her fellow nationalists in joblessness, poverty, deficiency and dearth.

    No one can deny current dilapidating naira exchange rate which is going speedily to N250 to one dollar. The magazine declared that even the claim that Nigeria’s economy is fast growing, “the prosperity has not been broadly shared: under Mr. Jonathan, poverty has increased. Nigerians typically die eight years younger than their poor neighbours in nearby Ghana.”

    Insecurity is not being well handled for peace to reign across the nation and in the life of the people. The Economist reminds us that President Jonathan “has shown little enthusiasm for tackling insecurity, and even less competence. Quick to offer condolence to France after the attack on Charlie Hedbo, he waited almost two weeks before speaking up about a Boko Haram attack that killed hundreds, perhaps thousands of his compatriots. What a leader without focus, sending sympathy to foreign country while ignoring his own millions that are affected by his poor security system?

    What else do we need to be reminded by outsiders who know the truth more than the citizenship under desperate office holders? We can see foreign media giving us more accurate information than our local media of brown envelopes seekers.

    Not that Buhari is considered faultless. The only thing is that he is the preferred between available two options. The opposition criticizes him for being anxious to rule this nation as he has been contesting since 2003. All the negative things being attached to him are making more people to symphatise with him and turning him to become the weapon of change of the flattened country.

    As The Economist recalled, Buhari was once guilty of human rights abuse while in power with “blood on his hands.” His military rule, according to the editorial, was “nasty, brutish and mercifully short.” Yet, he is seen as an incorruptible and honest leader, whose consistent participation in presidential election since 2003 was an indication that he had now hugged democracy.

    Let it be said that if the right candidate wins and he is not allowed to rule, unless there is divine intervention, the nation will be dumped into storm. If the defeated one manipulates and is enforced to rule, the lost glories of the nation in the last 16 years won’t be recovered as unrighteousness cannot exalt any nation.

    It is the restoration of the lost glories that will make Nigeria to move forward. The very few who are rich, notwithstanding the source of their wealth bother less about the pains and agony of the masses. It is a high level of unrighteousness to steal and partake in usurping the blessing of somebody and then see your own life as successful.

    Nigeria is not being lifted today due to massive corruption of those in power – stealing the good of the land. The most depressing reality is that most of the resources stolen are sown in foreign lands where such are not even needed. More and more of their own people are in poverty as there is no doable job to be done. The unrighteous continues proclaiming Nigeria’s economy as the biggest in Africa as if that is of benefits to the same country which has the same continent’s most massive paucity and infrastructural malfunctions. No matter what is received from the devil, the end will be valueless and inglorious. It is only the true gift of God that will not add sorrow to it.

    If there is going to be war at all, the ultimate winner can never be those who are falsehearted, or the enemies of peace and the deceitfuls whose focus is either on their self wills or the truncation of democracy. Let there be war against corruption, fraud, insurgency and treachery against humanity, then the nation will begin to move out of the valley to higher heights of real good economy in impactful benefits to the settlement of the depressed, disconsolate and miserable masses.

    The Economist rounded-up: Buhari would be able to revive the demoralised military and address insecurity. “If Mr. Buhari can save Nigeria, history might even be kind to him.”

    For militancy and insurgency to be settled, Buhari’s military experience cannot be ignored as it is needed to boost the morale of the military. It is a shame to Nigeria to depend on the Chadian and Camerounian military to resolve the issue which our men are failing to accomplish.

    Will political desperadoes reverse the story of February 14, the day of love to the sadness of June 12, the day of demolition of people’s will? Visiting churches from pillar to post for political campaigns cannot convince genuine children of God to vote wrongly. True Christians go beyond the name we bear. It is more of total dedication of life, full commitment and trust in God to do His will without human fear or nervousness.

    Let the unrighteous seek the mercy of God and be determined to live a new life in the Lord, then there won’t be need for desperation to succeed. Afterall, not all that are prayed for receive desired positive answers.

    We need the Most High to give us a better Nigeria than the one we currently have.

  • CJN to inaugurate election tribunal members today

    CJN to inaugurate election tribunal members today

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed has appointed 242 judges as Chairmen and members of the Election Petition Tribunal nationwide.

    The tribunals will handle disputes that may arise from the forthcoming elections. The tribunal members will be inaugurated today at the Supreme Court in Abuja by 10 am.

    Justice Mohammed has blamed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the delay in the determination of corruption cases in courts.

    The CJN said EFCC’s failure to conduct thorough investigation and draft charges with specific and fewer counts is  why courts find it difficult to conclude such cases on time.

    It was learnt that the need to meet the legal requirement for election tribunals to be constituted within a certain period before the elections contributed to the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) agreeing to a partial suspension of its strike.

    According to a statement by the Media Aide to the CJN, Ahuraka Isah, Justice Mohammed spoke in Abuja during a visit by some officials of the EFCC led by the Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde.

    The CJN said it was unfortunate that the judiciary was at the receiving end of public critics I view of the impression that the courts deliberately frustrate the hearing and prompt conclusion of such cases.

    “If for any reason the prosecution is not ready to proceed with its case, then the matter should not be brought to court at all rather than leaving the public with the impression that the Judiciary is not performing its role in curbing corrupt practices in Nigeria.

    “To give credence to the judiciary’s commitment to playing its role, most jurisdictions have designated some courts and judges to handle corruption cases to ensure that such cases, particularly those being prosecuted by the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) are expeditiously dispose of.  It is my intention to ensure that every state will have such designated judges/courts in line with sections 254, 259 and 279 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended)’’.

    “The judiciary is required to adjudicate in matters involving corruption where it is moved to do so.  The courts are not intended to descend into the arena. We are not meant to seek out the scourge with a view to stamping it out no matter how much we would like to do so” the CJN said.

    Lamorde said their visit was to seek the cooperation of the Judiciary on the trial of corruption cases in the courts.

     

     

  • 2015: Stakeholders in Niger Delta demand a violence free election

    2015: Stakeholders in Niger Delta demand a violence free election

    Stakeholders and Nongovernment Organisations in the Niger Delta gathered in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday to discuss how to achieve a violence-free election in Nigeria. South /South Regi

    The Niger Delta Peace and Security Working Group (NDPSWG), a coalition of about 40 civil society organisations working in nine Niger Delta states, concluded a one-day workshop tagged, “Stakeholders Responsibilities During the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria”, on Tuesday. The event was held at the office of the Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta, an NGO funded by American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, which facilitated it.

    At the workshop, stakeholders brainstormed on how to avoid a repeat of 2011 election’s crisis in 2015, which was mostly characterised by violence and bloodshed. It attracted the representatives of civil society groups, representatives of NGOs, Chief Security officers (CSO) of various groups and organizations and the representative of political parties.

    Some of the stakeholders noted that although the gathering was a good idea, they said it was not timely considering that the general elections were just few weeks away for the resolutions taken to make a strong impact on the electorates and key players in the election exercise. Yet, it was generally agreed by speakers and attendees that the effort of the facilitators (PIND) should be commended. Stakeholders and keyplayers in the process were urged to make use of the available opportunity to educate the public on the possible ways to eradicate violence from the election and the society.

    In his remarks PIND team leader, Mr. Michael Gonzalex, explained that the essence of the stakeholder gathering was to proffer solution to save lives by bringing stakeholders together, from Chief Security Officers (CSO) NGO and government partnership into one forum so that we can discuss issues relating to election violence.

    “This forum (NDPSWG) met in October last year to work on 2015 election scenario. Over 50 NGOs came together to analyze the 2011 election violence. So we said something must be done to minimize the 2015 election violence that is why we are here. The forum today is to bring the critical stakeholders from the local communities in the Niger Delta region to create awareness and hopefully to save lives during this election period.”

     

    The Chairman, National Association of women Journalist Mrs Lillian Okonkwo, in a paper titled “Violence During 2011 Election”, reminded the stakeholders that the 2011 election was characterized by high incidents of rape, intimidation, assassination, physical attacks, fights, clashes and counter-attacks, stating: “Youths in gangs were mobilized to disrupt the campaigns of opponents; there was power tussles between political chieftains leading to deaths. Political attacks of candidates and their supporters. There was also destruction of billboards, party offices, cars, houses, business establishments. Don’t forget, there was sexual harassments and threats to the lives of female aspirants/candidates.”

    Ms Okonkwo also noted that in 2011 election there was less awareness in the area of health or how to take care of those affected in election violence. She insisted that government must deploy health personnel at various wards and LGAs to take care of victims of attacks during and after election.r

    “That there must be ambulances, emergency units in all the local governments in the state including wards in case of violence. Look, violence is inevitable, there must be attack on the opponents, there must be ballot box snatches, it may be INEC officials or party supporters but it must occur. We should be proactive, and deploy medical personnel in all the areas where violence is likely to occur. In 2011 a lady was kidnapped a day before election, she said she was tied and later released after the election. Of course, violence is not only physical attack. Secondly we must protect the journalist; there must be life insurance for all journalists who intend to cover the 2015 election.”

    Another speaker, Egondo Ogbalor of Community Initiative for Enhanced Peace and Development who spoke on “Conflict Drivers and Area at Risk” indentified youths’ unemployment, poverty and monetary inducement as factors that contribute to election violence. She also said the emergence of strong opposition party and the struggle for political supremacy has in many time led to violence.

    She revealed that large amount of light weapons in the region and the increase in cultism/gang membership in our various communities must be identified as a serious factor of election violence. “Apart from these factors we have looked at various factors like gender, health, peace building, governance, youths and economic development. On the issue of gender we are asking what security measures are there for female electoral officers, observers, and candidates? What measures are political parties putting in place to protect the interests and lives of female candidates?

    “Health is very important but how ready is the health system to respond to the increased turnover of patients who may be victims of electoral violence? What should the health system do differently? How will services be provided in rural areas? On the issue of peace building what structures are in place to address post-election violence at the local levels (i.e., riverine and village communities)?

    “It is also important to look at the governance, what measures have the LGAs put in place to forestall violence in the forthcoming elections? What roles will local governments play to reduce electoral malpractice (e.g., ballot box snatching, voters intimidation, etc.)? We should also ask what are youth organizations doing to prevent youth involvement in electoral violence and lastly is economic development and we want to know what measures are in place to secure businesses from disruption as a result of post-election violence, arson and looting?”

    Mr. Terry Lacey, team leader Market Development in the Niger Delta, in his contribution noted that idleness is one of the factor that make young people see violence as an avenue to earn a living. He said if the Nigeria government could diversify the economy and invest heavily in agriculture, many youths would be engaged and their attention re-direct from violence to productive ventures.

    Lacy said: “The focus is to look at the market structure in the Niger Delta region and look at ways to develop critical sector like agriculture that could employ more youths to redirect their thinking from violence. We are looking at how Rivers State will produce ten thousands tons of fertilizer annually. Now the question is how do we bring this development so that young people will embrace it? If the youths will generate more income in this area, them they will disregard some of the things they see as worrisome. If the youths are properly engaged making money for themselves they will feel a little better about their communities and they will be interested to contribute to community development.

    “If the youths are jobless they will see crime as an alternative, until the youths think positive about their country they will not stop crime. Nigeria is doing better than other African countries, though she suffered bad publicity from the local media which affect her international relation. If we want violence free election the Nigeria newspapers must play a critical role to protect the image of the country.”

    At the end of the workshop, stakeholders agreed, after reviewing the 2011 elections, that the violence experienced in 2011 was post-election and that there is the need to put measures in place to prevent a re-occurrence. They called on all stakeholders especially youths not to allow themselves to be used to perpetrate violence during and after the 2015 elections. They noted that if the measures put in place do not totally forestall violence in 2015, then adequate proactive response mechanisms must be put in place to minimise unnecessary loss of lives and property and provide remedy for the wounded and traumatized especially the marginalized and vulnerable.

    Participants pointed out that as it was in 2011, the early warnings signs were very visible but that responses were reactionary, poor, ineffective and limited, adding, “And in 2015, the early warning signs are ominous and the Peace Accord signed by the Presidential candidates of the parties must be enforced.” They commended the move by the initiators of the peace accord, but urged them to put measures in place to ensure compliance.

    They called on the relevant government agencies to put measures in place to prevent the outbreak of violence during elections. They suggested the need for the government to revisit the Justice Uwais Panel report on elections in Nigeria and explore the potentials of implementing some of the recommendations especially the establishment of the Electoral Offences Commission.

    It was also observed that there is dearth of adequate response mechanisms for the wounded in case of mass violence and called on the authorities to support and encourage the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) with adequate logistics to be able to play this role since the corps has shown that it is capable of responding to such complex emergencies and to minimize the pressure faced by the police.

    It was agreed that INEC, NEMA, NOA and other relevant agencies should establish and educate the public on who and what agencies to contact in the case of emergencies during elections since movement is restricted during the period, remarking that many lives have been lost due to delays in responding to these emergency situations.

    Participants called for the establishment of Emergency Health Response Teams (EHRT) as was the case during the Ebola outbreak to help manage those that may be wounded in the outbreak of violence. They decried instances of insufficient preparation and response by public and private emergency medical service providers in the area of staffing, establishment of treatment centers, supplies and ambulance services.

    Participants observed that in previous elections where there has been violence, female voters, female election observers, female electoral officials, and female candidates and party officials have been targeted through rape, sexual harassment and intimidation. They called on law enforcement agencies to put in place measures to protect women during elections especially in the case of the outbreak of election violence.

    They also called on politicians and their supporters to minimize hate speech, inflammatory and inciting statements that motivate violence and hate and to focus on issues of good governance, development and sustainable peace.

    There were also specific findings which include call on governments to employ resources in a non-partisan manner and avoid abuse of state resources for party interests.

     

    “Given the inadequacy of security in terms of numbers, efforts should be made to effectively deploy the few numbers to hotspots. The security of women should be brought to the forefront via developing security protocols, instituting community-based security arrangements, and creating situation rooms for reporting threats and seeking advice and redress.”

    The resolution noted that NGOs can use their media and other election programs to sensitize women on security issues. There is a need to set-up emergency health units to attend to victims of election violence. NGO networks could be used to ensure adequate supplies of blood and other items for the units.

    “All relevant groups – youth, organizations, governmental and non-governmental – should be adequately sensitised against election violence. There is a need for value re-orientation. The poverty of today is the poverty of the mind. Poverty and unemployment can no longer be accepted as an excuse for violence. Encourage a network of security agencies, chamber of commerce, and trade unions, etc. to form a security task force for the elections.”

     

    onal Editor SHOLA O’NEIL and PRECIOUS DIKEWOHA report

  • Election: Ondo Police preach peace at forum

    Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Isaac Eke has  warned politicians to be peaceful ahead of next month general elections.

    He said the police would ensure that erring politicians face the law.

    Eke, while addressing candidates of various political parties at a stakeholders’ meeting in Akure, said the police were prepared for the February polls with a promise that no officer would compromise during the elections.

    He decried political violence before, during and after elections, stressing that the police would ensure that those planning to cause violence are arrested the elections.

    Eke added that any individual who breaks the electoral laws would be prosecuted.

    He pointed out that political leaders should shun violence and any acts that could undermine the confidence the masses reposed in them.

    According to him, all electoral offenders would be prosecuted by the police in accordance with the provisions of the electoral act and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Eke said the state police command would provide adequate security for all the candidates seeking elective offices

    He also  assured the people of the state of the readiness of the police to create an enabling environment for all political parties during the polls.

    The State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mr Segun Agbaje stressed that the commission would not be involved in any illegitimate act during the elections.

    He said “We are prepared to conduct a free and fair election and no party or individual will be treated with favour. Every candidate and political parties are the same before INEC. We shall not show interest in any candidate or political party before and during the polls.

    “Even all members of staff of the commission and the ad hoc staff that will participate in the election will also attest to an oath to ensure their neutrality during the exercise.

  • ‘Election not a do-or-die affair’

    ‘Election not a do-or-die affair’

    Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu at the weekend urged Nigerians to unite against electoral violence. He said the general elections should not be a do-or-die affair.

    Ekweremadu spoke at the conferment of an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) degree on him by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

    The Special Adviser on Media to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, in a statement in Abuja, said Ekweremadu urged higher institutions to rise up to the task of restoring the dignity of man through quality research projects that would address the nation’s security and development challenges.

  • Atiku,APC oppose postponement of Feb election

    Atiku,APC oppose postponement of Feb election

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has warned the government against tinkering with option of postponing the forth coming elections, saying the elections should be allowed to go ahead as scheduled.
    Atiku spoke just as the APC Presidential Campaign organization also said it was opposed to what it called the plot by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to postpone the elections as is currently being canvassed by the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retired).
    The former Vice President said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja said that there was enough time for the distribution of the permanent voters card.

    “Yes, we have a problem with the distribution of PVCs but the position of my party, the  APC is that since we have a voters’ register then that should be used in conducting the elections. I also believe there is enough time between now and the elections to issue everyone with their PVCs”
    The former Vice President, who arrived the country Thursday from his medical trip, said the call by the National Security Adviser, for a postponement of the election was uncalled for and portends a dangerous signal about the intentions of the Federal Government to conduct a free, fair and credible poll in February.
    While saying he was “strong, healthy and happy” to be back to lend his support to the train of change sweeping across the country Atiku said “the duty of participating in the process of change which our great party, the APC is committed to supersedes every other consideration. For me, participating in this campaign is a call to national duty.
    “It is a duty which we cannot afford to compromise upon and we must press into the consciousness of those at the helms of affairs that it is morally dubious and socially unacceptable to extend the dates of the elections by a single day from the scheduled timelines”.
    Similarly, the The APC Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) said in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu that such a proposal as being contemplated is ill-advised.
    “We smelt the plot that this unpopular PDP Federal Government would do anything to stay put in power, elongation of term had always been on the President’s agenda; no wonder he and his party want the election delayed or cancelled  outright to effect and extension of their lackluster administration.
    “Gone were the days when a few persons can hold the destiny of our dear nation to ransom. In fact, Nigerians would have called for an early election than February, if our political system is parliamentary.”

  • Election as Nigeria’s Ebola

    Since its outbreak in West Africa in March 2014, the Ebola disease has spread rapidly in the three most affected countries – Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Today, with the total number of reported cases so far put at more than 21,373, the epidemic, the deadliest occurrence since its discovery in 1976, has gripped the entire world with fear and trepidation. By last Saturday, January 17, the World Health Organisation, WHO, reported that no fewer than 8,483 people had died from the disease in six countries – Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the United States of America and Mali. In fact, the virus has killed more of its victims than all other previous outbreaks of the disease since 1976 combined.

    But if the capacity of Ebola to wreak havoc was underestimated or its casualty figure underreported, it cannot be so for the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria. This is because elections in Nigeria are worse than Ebola spread. If past antecedents are anything to go by, the general election in Nigeria, scheduled to commence on February 14, is capable of causing tremor and acrimony in the polity, especially if the people are dissatisfied with the results. In other words, going by the pronouncements of some of the dramatis personae, if the elections are not free, fair, transparent and credible, there is the likelihood that those who might feel shortchanged will resort to self-help in the form of violence and brigandage to protest the outcome as it happened in 2011.

    The outbreak of deadly election-related violence in the northern part of Nigeria following the April 2011 presidential election left more than 800 people dead in three days of rioting. The incumbent president, Goodluck Jonathan, the candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was elected in that election. The violence began with widespread protests by supporters of the main opposition candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, who contested the election on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC. Buhari, a staunch Muslim and Nigeria’s former Military Head of State, is from the northern part of the country, while Jonathan is a Christian from the Niger Delta in the south of the country.

    There has been no love lost between the largely Muslim north and the predominantly Christian south over whose turn it is to govern the country as a result of the sudden death in office of former President Umaru Yar’Adua. Yar’Adua, a Muslim from the core north, succeeded former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian from the south, as president on May 29, 2007. Shortly after being sworn in as president, Yar’Adua began a titanic battle to save his life from an acute kidney disease from which he had previously been in and out of hospital while he was governor of his home state, Katsina. The battle to succeed him started in earnest while he was on his hospital bed in far away Saudi Arabia, as some of the hawks at the Presidential Villa, refused to allow the constitutional requirement which empowers his deputy, Jonathan, to assume office as acting President under the circumstances, to prevail.

    For a long time, the country drifted precariously towards a constitutional crisis until the National Assembly invoked the “Doctrine of Necessity” on February 9, 2010. This formally empowered the Vice President to exercise full powers as acting President, as provided for under Section 145 of the country’s constitution. From then on, the Muslim north refused to be pacified. Not even the death of Yar’Adua on May 5, 2010 and the formal inauguration of Jonathan as Nigeria’s 14th President to succeed him could change things. The discord was whether another northerner should have succeeded Yar’Adua to complete his term as President or not. It was still simmering when the April 2011 presidential election was held. Theimplacable north quickly lined up behind Buhari and his CPC. As election results trickled in and it became clear that Buhari had lost, his supporters took to the streets of northern towns and cities to protest what they alleged to be the rigging of the results. The protests quickly snowballed into a violent conflagration and massive sectarian killings in some northern states.

    Though the April 2011 elections were among the fairest in Nigeria’s political history, perhaps, coming behind only the annulled 1993 presidential election, but they have also been among the bloodiest so far. On May 11, 2011, President Jonathan appointed a 22-member panel to investigate the causes and extent of the election violence with a view to bringing to justice, those who orchestrated these horrific crimes and addressing the root causes of the violence. As usual, the panel’s report was tossed aside and allowed to gather dust while the nation carried on as if nothing had happened.  It is therefore, not surprising to note that the 2011 presidential election succeeded in dividing the country along ethnic and religious lines.

    With the 2015 elections less than four weeks away, there is no doubt that the nation has again been caught in the throes of another election fever as tell-tale signs everywhere across the nation’s landscape indicate. Reports have it that quite a number of Nigerians of southern descent are daily relocating either back to their home-bases in the south or out rightly out of the country for fear of possible eruption of violence during or after the forthcoming elections. Many politicians, chief executive officers, chairmen of companies, top businessmen and other wealthy Nigerians are also said to have started moving their families out of the county. As it is customary to him, one of my friends whose family is domiciled in the United States of America, left the country in the second week of December, 2014 to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivities with his family. Usually, he returns to Nigeria early in the New Year, but this year, he told me, he would not be coming back until late in February. And, according to him: “That depends on what happens in February.” It is obvious from this last statement that my friend and many others like him have decided to keep a safe distance from the shores of the country in anticipation of the crisis that might come up in the aftermath of the February elections.

    The simple truth is that Nigerians are skeptical, so also is the whole world, watching with bated breath and concealed anxiety over what the elections might portend for the country. This is understandable. The two front runners in the election – Jonathan and Buhari – were the same gladiators who engaged each other in the 2011 elections. Now, the stakes are even higher. Jonathan will not want to capitulate easily and be disgraced out of office; Buhari too, will not want to kiss the dust for the fourth time. So, both of them will fight with their last breath. Their supporters are also caught in this frenzied trajectory. Here is the big problem. Who blinks first?

    The talk about signing agreement of a violence-free election is mere semantics as it does not exist more than on the piece of paper on which it was signed. This is because it is not the political leaders who control this violence; it is their foot-soldiers whose livelihood may depend on the gravity of trouble they are able to ignite. In other words, some people live by violence. The political gladiators know them; the security agents know them; those involved too, know themselves; we all know them. But by all means, we must stave off the looming Armageddon. We can only achieve this if our politicians will refrain from manipulating the election results. Electoral justice is the first condition for credible election. Therefore, our politicians should learn not just to preach peace but to do justice. They should play by the rules and not rob the electorate of their decisions. If the coming election is mismanaged, the casualty figure arising from that may far exceed that of the Ebola virus. Prevention, it is said, is better than cure!

  • APC rejects interim govt, election shift

    APC rejects interim govt, election shift

    •Party says polls must hold as scheduled

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) has said it will neither accept an interim government nor a postponement of next month’s elections, as being advocated by certain individuals.

    The party insisted that the elections must hold as scheduled on February 14 and 28, 2015.

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement in Lagos yesterday, warned that any attempt to scuttle the polls in preference for any other arrangement would be resisted through available constitutional means.

    The statement said: “We are aware that those who are not comfortable with the turning of the political tide in favour of the opposition ahead of the elections are scheming to abort a possible victory for our party, through either an interim government or a postponement of the elections.

    “These enemies of Nigeria include those who are worried about the strong anti-corruption stance of our party and its avowed commitment to good governance, and those who favour the status quo of anything goes, bad governance and massive corruption that have left Nigerians deeply pauperised and traumatised.”

    APC said those who might consider the two scenarios of interim government and postponement of the elections as outlandish should consider the published, but yet unrefuted statement by Deji Adeyanju – said to be an official in the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe.

    The party quoted Adeyanju, who handles Dr. Okupe’s Twitter Account, as saying in a Blackberry Messenger (BBM) statement: “Buhari can never be President of Nigeria. Quote me any day any time. Instead of Buhari to become President of Nigeria, Nigeria would rather break up.

    “A military coup will even be allowed than for Buhari to become the President of a democratic Nigeria. Quote me any day, any time.”

    The party said since the statement had not been refuted, it could safely be concluded that the BBM represented the thinking in the Presidency circles.

    The statement added: “If a citizen is advocating a military coup against a sitting government just to prevent a supposed election victory of the opposition; it is nothing short of treason. Yet, the security agencies that have been falling over themselves, warning against incendiary and inciting statements, have not yet swung into action over this inciting statement. This is not encouraging vis-a-vis the non-partisan stance of the security agencies.

    “The truth is that what could as well be a Freudian slip by Adeyanju has exposed the depth of panic and desperation in the Presidency ahead of next month’s polls. This has also confirmed that those who have been canvassing, either openly or otherwise, the options of interim government or postponement of the elections, are working at the behest of certain forces.”

    The party, therefore, called on Nigerians to be vigilant and be ready to do everything under the law to protect the nation’s democracy; imperfect as it might be.

    It also alerted the international community to the evil machinations of some desperate politicians ahead of the general elections.

    ‘’Our stand is simple, but needs to be restated: the 2015 general elections must hold as scheduled all over Nigeria, and our party is ready for the elections. As we stated earlier, we will only accept the outcome of a free, fair, credible and transparent elections; not that of manipulated polls.

    “We will also not agree to the postponement of next month’s elections under any guise, and an interim arrangement plot is totally unacceptable to us.

    “We challenge the ruling PDP to also state its own stand on next month’s polls for the world to note.

    ‘’We also challenge the Presidency to state its own stand and to also distance itself from the anarchic and treasonable statement by one of its own over the forthcoming polls,” APC said.