The Nation Newspaper

Tag: elections

  • Beyond the elections

    By the time this article is published, the presidential and national assembly elections would have been over. Possibly also, the results may have become a matter of public knowledge. Successful candidates would be jubilating while there will be gnashing of teeth by losers. That is the typical payoff in a zero sum game. This scenario is more likely to be noticed at the presidential level given the high stakes and bitter acrimony that attended the campaigns for that elated office.

    Possibly too, all the predictions of cataclysm of unmitigated dimension that have seen people fleeing back in droves to their ancestral homes may have come to naught or isolated violence leading to loss of lives and destruction of property may be playing out. These are the possibilities that we may have to contend with after the elections. But the last eventuality is the one most dreaded by all given the danger it portends for lives and property and our corporate survival as a nation.

    That is why on two occasions, both President Goodluck Jonathan and his rival Gen. Muhammadu Buhari have signed an accord to maintain the peace both before and after the elections irrespective of their outcome. It was very heart refreshing watching the two rivals embrace themselves after the accord to the admiration of people. That is the way it should be. It is not a do-or-die affair since the reasons ostensibly adduced for aspiring to that high office revolves around the promotion of the general good of the people. An election that results in grave harm on the citizens’ detracts substantially from the essence of representative democracy. It gives the sad impression that what counts most is the overall interest of the contenders rather than the electorate who remain the ultimate sovereign. That is the contradiction that comes with violence leading to loss of lives and property.

    If commitment to peace during and after elections by the two major contenders from the PDP and the APC are any thing to repose hope on, the election may come out successful. We hope this will be so. It is also hoped that politicians would go beyond the signing of peace accords and restrain their supporters from acts that may lead to break down of law and order. But if the ruinous attitude of our politicians and refusal to concede defeat are still much with us, there is every thing to expect that the outcome of the elections may not be completely acceptable to all.

    If this scenario leads to violence, the accord would have come as an exercise in futility. Then, our security agencies will have to contend with restoring law and order in the areas stricken by post election violence. And when this is juxtaposed with the challenge of insurgency in some parts of the country, the energies of the security agencies will be greatly stretched.  But where nothing of such happens, Nigerians would have been on the threshold of history. It would portray the country as one that has started learning the ropes in democratic conduct. It will be an unmistakable signal that our people are gradually internalizing the culture of democracy. Then, those who initiated the peace accord would have reason to beat their chests celebrating the success of their efforts. That would be a thing to cherish.

    But that will not be the end to it. Soon, Nigerians will begin to contend with the reality of the new dawn. They will have to face the reality of what prospects the future holds for the nation irrespective of who among the contenders won the presidential race. They will begin to look up for the new things to come in the way this country is run. They will begin to look out for fundamental changes in the structure and organization of the country such that can galvanize the creative energies of the constituents to fasten the pace of development.

    Promises have been made; hope has been raised to an all time high. And coming at a time the price of oil in the international market has declined considerably with attendant devaluation of the naira, Nigerians will be full of expectations on the change to come either from the PDP or the APC.

    We say change because from the way things are, it is obvious that things are not going to be the same again. The consciousness of the ordinary people has been drawn to the inevitability of change in the way things are run in this country. They have been sold to the desirability of change in the conduct of statecraft.  Their eyes have been exposed to the fact that every society is in a state of flux and nothing is as constant as change. Change will definitely come given the alternative paradigms that have been offered by the existence of a credible opposition.

    If the opposition comes to power, it will likely initiate policies to make the difference and justify its mantra. If the ruling party succeeds, it cannot proceed with business as usual and still hope to be in reckoning. So, something positive will definitely come our way. It is the similitude of dialectics in action; a clash between thesis and anti-thesis that will ultimately give rise to some form of synthesis. That is what one foresees from the chain of events that have been unleashed as the political parties sought to take control of the minds of the electorate. People have been awakened to the reality that our leaders both past and present have not taken the necessary measures to quicken the pace of development without the distractions that emanate from a convoluted federal structure. There is the consciousness that Nigeria in its present form, cannot progress without some tinkering in its structure.

    Issues of true federalism: devolution of power, resource control, revenue sharing, state and local government creation and autonomy are recurring decimals that must as a matter of necessity be re-jigged.  It is obvious that these are some of the deficits standing against the progress and development of this country. They also relate very positively to the acrimony and bad blood that go with competition for the highest political office in the country. The point has been made before now that we need to whittle down the overwhelming powers of the central authority for us to move fast on the ladder of development.

    Despite the allure of this, some vested interests have for very selfish reasons, stood against its realization. They still root for centralization to enable them control the huge funds at the federal till. Yet, they want corruption to be reduced to its barest minimum. This is a remote possibility given the composition of the country and the thinking that political ascendancy is largely for prebendal predilections.   These are the issues that face whichever party wins the election. We must therefore proceed beyond the euphoria of electoral victory to confront extant systemic dysfunctions that have overtime, stood against the peace and development of this country. Their handling will make the difference between erecting this unity in diversity on a firm foundation and on sand.

  • All eyes on Rivers as INEC REC declare readiness for elections

    All eyes on Rivers as INEC REC declare readiness for elections

    As Rivers people file out tomorrow to elect their President, National House of Assembly members and subsequently to elect their governor and members of State House of Assembly on April 11. It is obvious that the onus is on the shoulder of Dame Gesila Khan, the Rivers State Resident Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free, fair and credible election.

    Rivers State having been declared as one of the states to watch out for political violence in this year’s election by political analysts and other stakeholders, the Bayelsa State born Dame Khan was posted out of Delta state to Rivers state when the state was boiling.

    The result of her peace  initiation in the state is everywhere and she has continue, even at the last minute to   engaged  with the youths, women, security agencies, religion leaders, non-governmental organization and political parties on how best to achieve peace and to  conduct free, fair and credible election in Rivers State.

    Apart from going from one community to another on voters’ education, the Rivers REC has also initiated a security committee headed by the state Commissioner of Police, Dan Bature. In a recent stakeholders meeting at INEC office in Port Harcourt, she told her guests that if she could do it in Delta Central election which was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere under her watch, she was optimistic that Rivers election will be peaceful and credible.

    She said INEC has done its part to stabilize the state and ensure that politicians do not see themselves as enemies but as brothers and sisters. She regretted that many innocent bloods had been shed in pre-political violence, pleading with shareholders especially the NGO to send the message across to politicians on the need to allow peace to reign.

    She confirmed that all is set to conduct a credible elections in Rivers state: “The Commission in its bid to conduct the most credible, free and fair Elections in 2015 has embarked on so many programmes all of which will culminate in the success of the polls. These include the distribution of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for those who registered in 2011 and those who were captured in the Continuous Voters Registration in December 2014. The total number of registered voters in Rivers State is 2,537,590. As at March 18, 2015 a total of 2,469,383 PVCs have been received, and 87% of this number which is 2,148,289 has been distributed while a balance of 308,395 is yet to be collected. This figure includes both the PVCs for 2011 Registration and December 2014 Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

    “Card Readers have also been introduced in accreditation process to authenticate the voters and forestall any malpractices. A total of 6,818 Card Readers have been received and one each will be deployed to the 4,442 Polling units and 1,396 Voting points. The balance will be used to augment where necessary.

    “The PVC is swiped on the card reader and if it is INEC PVC, the Voter’s picture, VIN number and bio-data will appear on the screen of the card reader. And the card reader will give a command that the holder of the PVC should place his thumb on the reader and if accepted, the person then moves to next stage of the Accreditation process.”

    On the area of late arrival of material,  the Rivers INEC boss said the Commission had devised a means of reducing late arrival of personnel and materials to the polling units to the barest minimum. She said, that was done through the creation of Registration Area Centers (RACs) and Super RACs from where poll officials would proceed to their various polling units on Election Day.

    “We will ensure timely arrival of poll officials and materials before 8.00am on Election Day. By this the suspicions associated with late arrival of materials will be completely eliminated. A total of 76 RACs have been identified and prepared for the elections. The Commission has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Management to use the corpers for ad-hoc duties. It is to be noted that the enrollment of ad-hoc personnel in the forthcoming elections had been done online through INEC website for the various categories of person required for the conduct of the elections. And Twenty six thousand (26,000) Adhoc Personnel is required for the exercise and they have all been trained and retrained for the 2015 Elections.

    “Meanwhile, the Commission has embarked on rigorous voter enlightenment programmes through series of Radio and Television jingles, periodic announcements, talk shops, interview sessions and press conferences. Traditional media like town criers are also being utilised to reach the electorate at the grassroots. I and my team had carried out voter enlightenment messages to the traditional rulers in the state; women based groups, youth groups, religious leaders and market outreaches. Posters, banners and fliers were produced and distributed to all the LGAs.”

    The Rivers REC also inform the stakeholders that the issue of security has been handled, insisting that violence of any form during and after election would not been accepted.  She said the Commission is conscious of the importance of security in conducting effective, free, fairs and credible Elections.

    She noted that there is formation of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). “This body is made up of all military and para-military agencies in the State including INEC. The Agencies in this committee contribute their workforce together under the Command and control of the State Commissioner of Police who heads the Election security in the State. INEC in Rivers State has visited these security agencies to solicit their cooperation during the elections, and they have assured us of their support. The Committee (ICCES) has been meeting regular to analyze and workout security strategies for effective coverage of the entire State. About 12,228 security personnel are required for the 2015 election exercise in the State.

    “The Commission is seriously concerned about the incidences of violence before, during and after elections and we have been appealing to all stakeholders to prevail on our youths to shun all forms of violence and avoid being used by politicians to perpetrate acts that may lead to disruption of the elections. The future of this nation belongs to them and therefore they must help to deepen our democratic process.”

    The National coordinator, Women Initiative for Transparency and Social Justice, Dr. Jennifer Spiff who was in one of the interactive sessions with INEC and CSOs, said her 10-year experience in election monitoring shows that INEC was committed for free, fair and  credible elections.

     

  • 2015 elections: OPC got it wrong

    Ever since 1959, general elections in Nigeria have always been turbulent because of the fierce competition by major ethnic nationalities in the country to take over power at the centre. This cannot be divorced from the divide and rule tactics adopted by the British Colonialist to maintain their stranglehold on the hitherto independent economic partners, which they cobbled together for administrative convenience to gain economic advantage. The major political parties at the twilight of independence were formed on ethnic lines as a result of the mutual distrust and suspicion amongst the leading political elites who want to take over power from the British.

    This development further polarised the country and do further damage to the psyche of the potentially prosperous state. Consciously, the British colonialist ensured that they handed over power to the most reactionary section of the emerging ruling class whom they felt are amenable to control.

    Thus, Nigeria became a neo-colonialist state with a stooge as leader, a mere appendage of the British overlords and their Western Imperialist allies. Rather than work assiduously to heal socio-political and economic wounds, the ruling party at the centre the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) maintained the status quo and also embarked on the balkanization of the Western region to weaken it. And the needed drive towards nationhood was sacrificed on the altar of political expediency to maintain a numerical advantage for electoral domination.

    The birth of the United Progression Grand Alliance established to wrestle power from the ruling party at the centre was viciously attacked; the opposition leaders were intimidated, witch-hunted, arrested and detained on trumped up charges. The 1964 general elections were fraught with irregularities and the election was manipulated in favour of the Nigeria National Alliance, which is a merger of the NPC and Nigeria Democratic Party (NDP) led by the treacherous late Samuel Akintola. The unfavourably rigged 1964 general elections in favour of the ruling party at the centre and its allies in NNA was rejected and resisted by opposition party supporters; this sparked off a chain of violence reactions particularly the ‘wetie’ led by peasant farmers -the ‘Agbekoyas’, and ultimately the 1966 military coup. The 1979 and 1983 general elections did not fare better; both were rigged in favour of the ruling party at the centre.

    The Obasanjo military regime handed over power to their crony Alhaji Shehu Shagari in a disputed 12 2/3 calculation, which offends mathematics logic till date. The Shagari administration manipulated the 1983 elections in its own favour despite the people’s disenchantment with the regime and the clear clamour for change in leadership of the country. The Shagari government profligacy, wastage and maladministration led to political economic retrogression before the Gen. Buhari/Idiagbon corrective regime took over power to arrest the drift to a failed state. The regime of General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida wasted over #40 billion on an electoral process spanning almost eight years, eventually the election was conducted on June 12, 1993, the elections was clearly won by the late Business Mogul and Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party Chief MKO Abiola but was criminally annulled by the military junta headed by General Ibrahim Babangida. The annulment led to a crisis that Nigeria is yet to recover from till date. To assuage the pains and the bruised ego of Abiola’s kinsmen the Yoruba, the stopgap military dictatorship of Abdulsalam handed over power to General Olusegun Obasanjo in May 1999. Following the insidious path of the past, Obasanjo rigged the 2007 elections to install late Umar Yar’Adua. The 2007 general elections were adjudged by both local and international observers as the worst of its kind in any part of the world. Late Umar Yar’Adua himself affirmed this assertion when he acknowledges the fact that the presidential election that brought him to power was flawed.

    Today, patriotic and well meaning Nigerians who believed the Nigerian state is the hope of the black race despite her pseudo federal structure will be pained that the President Goodluck Jonathan administration has worsened the ethno-religious differences of the Nigerian People. Unconsciously, many appeal to ethnic and religious sentiments to drum support for Jonathan to become president when late Yar’Adua became incapacitated to further govern the country due to his ill health, and eventual death. Rather than work towards the unity of Nigeria since he became president through a flawed election in 2011, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has continued to ride on ethnic and religious cleavages to rule the country. On daily basis, Nigerians experience has been one type of lamentation or the other since President Jonathan comes on board.

    Insecurity of lives and property is the order of the day, with the north east nearly severed from the rest of the country by Boko-Haram insurgents, albeit for the heroic efforts of the Nigeria Armed Forces in collaboration with the coalition force of Chad, Niger and Cameroun. Hopelessness, unemployment, joblessness, poverty, hunger and starvation pervades the land. Inarguably, unpaid salaries of workers all over the country and across party lines, unpaid pensions, wastage and mismanagement, stealing which is an integral part of corruption with impunity, youth restiveness and violence, kidnapping and other aggravated social vices must have informed why the Nigerian people clamour for change now.

    While OPC as an organization has the right to support any candidate of its choice in the coming March 28th & April 11th general elections, it is however criminally wrong for the organisation to impose its own will on Lagos state electorate to follow its opportunistic and misguided support for a failed and inept administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Te right to peaceful protest is an inalienable right in a democratic society, so far such did not infringe on the right of others. OPC resort to intimidation, harassment and destruction of APC billboards and defacing of candidates posters is childish, unnecessary, criminally divisive and myopic.

    The OPC support for a Goodluck Jonathan continuation in office premised on the president’s promise to implement the CONFAB resolutions is grossly misleading, a tactical error and strategic opportunism given Mr. President’s plethora of unkept promises. It has been observed all along that the leadership of OPC will compromise the struggle of the Yoruba for egalitarianism, true federalism, regional autonomy and freedom for all sooner than later, hence the most conscious and revolutionary wing of the group, that is YOREM (Yoruba Revolutionary Movement), pulled out of the sinking ship of the OPC to form YOREM in November, 1999.

    Gani Adams represent political opportunism and blind gusto for material accumulation which is not an accident of history. The Yoruba people are not gullible and are therefore not taken-in with the so-called CONFAB report because we know the talk-chop is an avenue to recruit would be Jonathan for president campaigners. Most Yoruba delegates to the CONFAB who lacks the mandate of the Yoruba people are now Jonathan campaigners who are ready to plunge Yoruba land into crisis; why will the implementation of a CONFAB report be a second term issue? Thus, the Fasehun/Gani Adams marriage that Obasanjo had put asunder, the Goodluck Jonathan millions of dollars has joined together.

    All sons and daughters of Yoruba land should not to become a willing tool in the hands of the enemies of the Yoruba. Also, Yoruba should not allow their land to be turned into theatre of war by Jonathan’s cronies. That the action of the OPC is capable of turning Yoruba people against one another and plunge the land into an avoidable crisis and bloodletting. We appeal to all eligible voters to use their PVC to either elect or un-elect any government or Political party in the coming elections, our powers lies in our PVC. We disagree vehemently with those calling for the removal of the Chairman of INEC when elections are around the corner; we view the call for Professor Jega’s removal at this time as most unpatriotic, Criminal and unnecessary.

    The self-determination and social emancipation of the Yoruba is not for sale to the highest bidder. The genuine quest of the Yoruba for regional autonomy within a reconstituted genuine federal union or outside it cannot be compromised for the personal interest of a corrupt ridden government that has compounded the harrowing experience of the Nigerian people in the last four years.

     

    • Adewale Bally Balogun wrote in from Lagos

  • 2015 elections, Nigeria is winning

    There is a lot of anxiety about the presidential elections coming up in two days time. Many have worked themselves up to the point of hypertension as if elections are not a normal process of democratic renewal. I can of course understand why people are anxious. In fact, I have heard people predict that there will be civil war after the elections. There will be no such thing. I have said it in this column before that when we get to the edge of the precipice, we will temporise and somehow avoid falling over. I was in England last year when the Scots were voting whether to remain in the United Kingdom or not. Everybody was worked up and afraid of the consequences of that referendum but at the end, good sense prevailed and the Scots decided in favour of the union. I have a feeling that when the presidential elections are over, no matter who wins, Nigeria will settle down, and possibly begin again, the process of renewal.

    The fact that this election is being hotly contested is a good augury for the future of democracy in Nigeria. We can ignore the excesses of some politicians who have been making incendiary statements full of hate against one presidential candidate or the other. These people in most cases are fighting for their own survival and they do not represent decent opinions of our people. Some are foaming in the mouth about Buhari’s age and medical condition as if they have not seen people older than General Buhari hold executive positions in other countries. Perhaps they need to be reminded that just two months ago, the people of Tunisia elected an 88-year-old man, Béji Caïd Essebsi as their president. Also, I want to re-echo what Cardinal Onaiyekan said about the nonsense of making an issue of the age of General Buhari and his need if necessary to seek medical attention as a non-issue. Anybody of his age and even those who are much younger who have the means should seek medical attention anywhere. It does not make sense to say that a 72 year old man has medical conditions, this is normal, it is of no intellectual consequence. This writer is 72 plus and I will be ready to debate any issue on governance with anybody in Nigeria and outside Nigeria. The point I am making is that people should face more fundamental issues about Nigeria than the age of a presidential candidate.

    President Goodluck Jonathan has the constitutional right to want to serve a second term of four years and I am delighted that he is doing everything that is humanly possible to win the election. I am also excited about the fact that he himself and his supporters know that he is facing a formidable opponent and that the election can go either way. This is the first time in living memory in Nigeria that a head of government is being forced to fight for his survival. This is good for democracy. Suddenly, the president has realised his political mistake of totally marginalising the southwest in his appointments and budgetary allocations for infrastructural renewal in the southwest. His advisers, and intelligence chiefs have not been fair to the president. If they were, they would have told him about the physical neglect and the seething anger against him in the southwest. In the six years of being Head of State, bad roads have been the lot of our people, Ibadan-Ilorin, Ibadan-Lagos, Ibadan-Akure have remained death traps; electricity supply in the southwest has been fitful, inadequate and episodic. In Ibadan which remains the most important city in Yoruba land, the daily occurrence of blackout has been the experience of the people and this has retarded the growth of the city because all industrial and manufacturing plants have either been ruined by inadequate power or shut down completely.

    The experience in other parts of the country has not been marginally better. Out of the ten largest cities in the whole country, six or more of them are in the South West and urbanisation here brings its own problems and this makes the neglect of the area politically sensitive and explosive because information travel rapidly and widely. On the eve of the election, the president is now forced to touch remote places and plead with traditional rulers in the southwest such as the Oni of Ife, Alake of Egbaland, the Alaafin of Oyo, and even minor traditional rulers like the Alara in Lagos State. This is good for democracy. As commander in chief of the armed forces, the president is now visiting troops fighting against Boko Haram. I commend him for this and this is the way it should have been but it is never too late.

    General Muhammadu Buhari has also gone round wearing traditional accoutrement of various ethnic groups in order to ingratiate himself to them and their hearts. He himself knows that if he becomes president, he would while leading have to carry the people along. He would have to forget the WA1 Brigade of yesteryears and decrees with immediate effect. He has campaigned in all parts of Nigeria including the Delta, the home area of the present president. Both he and the president have also campaigned in the troubled and disturbed North East and in spite of the fear of untoward incidents, the campaigns there of the two of them have been largely free of incidents. This is the way it should be and Nigeria is winning. It is clear that our people can no longer be taken for granted and whoever wants to lead them would have to convince them that he is ready to offer exemplary leadership and be a moral avatar. In this respect, we must thank Professor Attahiru Jega, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission for attempting to conduct a rigging-free elections in 2015 through the use of the permanent voting card. This should presage electronic voting in years to come.

    May I recall the 1959 pre-independence federal elections and especially Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s revolutionary campaign in the Northern Nigeria using aeroplanes and helicopters to cover all the nooks and crannies of Northern Nigeria? On seeing this, Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto and leader of NPC was forced out of his aristocratic cocoon to campaign in dusty villages in Northern Nigeria with his flowing babariga sometimes covered with dust. We were told he never forgave Awolowo for this indignity. Whether this is a true story or not, our president by running helter-skelter all over the country is repeating history. Local and foreign pundits are suggesting that this election is going to be close but it seems the western powers and the media have written off the present president but whatever the outcome of this election, it is Nigeria that would win because from now on, no head of government; president, governors and local government chairmen would sit at home and write the outcome of elections without allowing the people to express their minds in a free, fair and transparent way.

    We are hopefully turning the corner in our electoral politics and we can only hope that INEC will not be sabotaged and that the elections will result in the renewal of stability and democratic governance in our country.

  • Akwa Ibom APC petitions INEC over plot to rig elections

    The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has petitioned the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega on an alleged rigging plan orchestrated by the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) .

    The petition  signed by Dr Amodu Attai  alleged that  the party has perfected plan  to compromise the ad-hoc members of staff of INEC.

    Attai alleged that the sensitive materials, such as collation and final result sheets have been fraudulently obtained by the state government from INEC officials in Uyo.

    APC alleged that on  Monday, most members of the NYSC deployed to the state were invited to the Government House, Uyo as part of the plot.

    “Reliable intelligence from the meeting indicates that each NYSC member was given N250, 000 for his/her cooperation,” he alleged.

    The party also alleged that the Akwa Ibom State Transport Company has been engaged to transfer the fake election materials.

    The APC urged Jega to monitor all INEC employees so that they would not rubbish the commission’s good intention.

    The party also appealed to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) not to be a willing tool to subvert the peoples will.

     

  • Military‘ll deploy gunboats for elections, says Defence chief Badeh

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall (ACM)Alex Badeh, yesterday said the military will deploy gunboats to provide security for the general elections.

    ACM Badeh spoke at the Government Jetty, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, while inaugurating 30 gunboats acquired by the Federal Government to enhance the operation of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield.

    He said apart from the primary reason of prosecuting the war against oil theft, the gunboats would also be deployed to secure the elections in the coastal communities.

    “Aside from curtailing oil theft, these boats will come in very handy during the forthcoming general elections.

    “Troops of the Operation Pulo Shield would use these boats to dominate the creeks as a warning to would-be troublemakers. We all want peace to prevail. So, troublemakers should be warned”, he said.

    In attendance at the inauguration were the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jubril; Governor Seriake Dickson; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and former Bayelsa State Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha.

    ACM Badeh said the acquisition of the boats underlined the determination of the Federal Government to find a lasting solution to the problem of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria.

    He said one of the steps taken to eradicate oil theft in the country was the establishment of a Technical Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control (TCCOTPC) by the National Economic Council (NEC).

    He said through the activities of the committee, the NEC approved some funds for the Defence Headquarters to procure gunboats for the operations of the JTF, which is saddled with the responsibility of fighting crude oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

    He said: “These boats and indeed other resources allocated by the Federal Government of Nigeria would be judiciously deployed for the overall economic benefits of the country.”

    Uduaghan, who was a special guest of honour  at the occasion said: We are proud of Mr. President, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is on the driving seat, who is the commander-in-chief in dealing with all these issues, the issues of crude oil theft and the issues of Boko Haram.

    “On Saturday March 28 is the election and we all must put our hands and everything together to ensure that Mr. President Jonathan wins that election.

    In actual fact he has already won by the grace of God.”

    Dickson said apart from maritime military assets, the state was in need of equipment on land to effectively fight crimes.

     

     

  • APC: Jonathan’s men plan to make elections in Southwest inconclusive

    APC: Jonathan’s men plan to make elections in Southwest inconclusive

    Elections are likely to be inconclusive in the Southwest, the All Progressives Congress (APC) warned yesterday.

    The party spoke of a plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan’s supporters to make Saturday’s  elections inconclusive, having realised that they cannot deliver the zone to the PDP as they have promised.

    In a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the plot was conceived at a meeting held in the Ondo State Government House on March 13.

    The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) is said to be part of the plot in which youths have been armed with guns and other weapons. The youths, said APC, will be given military and police uniforms, “which we

    earlier said were being sewn in the capital of a state in the Southwest.”

    The APC said the highly-disruptive and armed protest by the OPC in Lagos on March 16 was a dress rehearsal for the plan to be executed across the states in the Southwest.

    The party also said the PDP had compiled for the Police anti-cult squad names of APC youths in all the Wards in Ondo State so they can be arrested and locked up before, during and after the elections, to give the PDP and its cohorts the free rein to carry out their nefarious activities.

    ‘’As a matter of fact, funds have been provided to the Police Anti-Cult Squad to expand its detention facility, and work is going on at the facility as we write. The reason for these actions is that, despite the massive infusion of illicit funds to bribe individuals and groups in the Southwest, the PDP and its agents in the region have realised that their strategy has backfired and even given the people more impetus to vote against the ruling party,’’ it said.

    APC called on the security agencies, especially the police and the State Security Service, to shun partisanship in carrying out their assigned responsibilities to prevent any individual or group from disrupting the elections, irrespective of their political leanings.

    ‘’Let’s be clear: In the event that the security agencies fail to carry out their duties, we will hold them, as well as those behind the plot to disrupt the elections, totally responsible for any disruption in the polls. They will also be held responsible for any act of violence or intimidation against the opposition,’’ the party warned.

    It appealed to its members and supporters across the Southwest to be calm but vigilant, and to document all actions aimed at harassing and intimidating them, as well as all acts of violence and all moves to disrupt the polls in the geo-political zone.

    ‘’The forthcoming elections are being closely watched within and outside Nigeria. In other words, the eyes of the world are on our country. Therefore, no one who engages in violence, rigging or intimidation of voters, to scare them away from the polling booths, will go scot-free, irrespective of his status,’’ the APC said.

     

  • Still on card readers for 2015 elections

    SIR: The media has been awash with resistance and vigorous campaigns being mounted against the deployment of the E- card reader for the conduct of the 2015 general elections by the PDP and its cohorts.

    In a democracy, the majority must have their way while the minority must also have their say. The reality today is that the grounds for the rejection of the use of E-card reader by the PDP for the 2015 general elections smacks of mischief and unwillingness to be part of a free, fair, transparent and credible general elections as promised by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and so the Nigerian people and the international community should understand the game being played and place it in proper perspective.

    The E-card reader is a technology that has been tested and deployed for successful conduct of elections in Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia and now being imported into our system with the aim of enhancing the credibility of our elections by INEC that has been working tirelessly to deliver on its constitutional mandate in a responsible and responsive manner.

    Under Prof. Jega- led INEC, we have seen improvements in the conduct of elections with the use of different ballot papers for different local government with the aim of eliminating electoral malpractices including ballot papers faking and ballot box snatching among others.

    We still have other notable developments in our electoral process that have reduced electoral malpractices during elections, earning INEC commendations from stakeholders and the general public, in the process.

    Today, elections are held in such a way that accreditations and public announcements of accredited voters take place before the commencement of actual voting and these to a large extent help in curbing electoral irregularities. Unlike what obtained in the past, election results are now announced publicly at the polling units to the hearing of all and it has succeeded in no small way in checking electoral malpractice.

    It was because of the successes recorded by INEC in its previous innovations that propelled it to look at the option of the E-card as another system of enhancing the transparency and credibility of our elections.

    Unfortunately, this laudable and responsible step is facing stiff opposition from political parties and groups who are well at home with electoral brigandage and want us to continue with the old shameful ways. The E-card reader is a devise that ensures that the spirit of democracy as enunciated in one man, one vote, one woman, one vote is respected and implemented.

    With the E-card reader, it is impossible for a voter to present PVC other than his own for voting. The E-card reader detects fake and cloned PVC within seconds and eliminates the possibility of a voter voting more than once for a candidate of his or her choice.

    Through the use of the E-card reader, it eliminates the undemocratic and unconstitutional culture of political parties purchasing PVC from voters with the aim of committing electoral criminality. The E-card reader thus curbs electoral robbery of massive thumb printing, which originates from the polling units and which has the potential of igniting crisis on election day and thereafter.

    The advantages of the E-card reader in enhancing our elections is an added value to our electoral system in the sense that it has the possibility of strengthening our democracy through responsible and responsive political class who will become aware that their political fate can be made or unmade through the ballot box.

    The field test of the E-card reader conducted by INEC in 12 states of 2 in each of the six geo political zones of the country on March 7th 2015, revealed that it was a huge success as the duration of its life span confirmed the statement of the electoral umpire that it can last for 12 hours as against the 5 hours designated for accreditation in polling units on election day.

    The E-card reader is not a mechanism for voting, but rather to confirm the authenticity of the voter so that enemies of progress do not shortchange democracy. So any person or party/person leading campaign of calumny and blackmail against its use must be understood for what he or she represents.

    Therefore, the wolf cries of those against the deployment of the E-card reader for the conduct of the 2015 general elections is not borne out of altruistic intentions, but because of their plan to employ undemocratic, illegal and unconstitutional means to perpetuate electoral robbery that has now been foiled.

     

    • Nelson Ekujumi,

    Surulere, Lagos.

  • ‘Don’t deploy troops for elections’

    ‘Don’t deploy troops for elections’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) State Publicity Secretaries (CAPS) have reiterated their opposition to the deployment of troops for elections, urging the Federal Government to halt the politicisation of the military.

    Rising from their second summit in Lagos, the party officials also warmed against any last minute polls postponement, saying that it will create tension.

    In a communique by its chairman, Comrade Joe Igbokwe of Lagos State, CAPS advised the police and other security agencies to maintain neutrality during the general elections in the national interest.

    The group commended the military for its resounding success againstinsurgents, who had earlier seized 14 local governments in three states in the Northeast region. It also paid glowing tribute for the collaborative forces from Cameroun Chad and Niger for their support.

    CAPS urged the police, the Nigerian Civil Define Corps (NCDV), the State Security Service (SSS) and other civil authorities to be neutral, professional and unbiased in the discharge of their duties during the general elections.

    It also urged the police to arrest those allegedly involved in the purchase of voter’s cards from unsuspecting Nigerians.

    The group urged the law enforcement agencies to ensure that no money is shared to voters at voting centres during the elections to avoid election disruption, which may arise from the predictable resistance to the illegal act.

    According to the image makers, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Prof. Attahiru Jega should conduct free, fair and credible elections.

    CAPS added: “We particularly commend the innovative spirit of INEC to introduce, nurture and sustain the use of card reader in the general elections so as to improve a process that has been badly bastardised in previous elections.

    “The analogue accreditation process has been proven to be fraught with manipulations and outright rigging of election, leading to litigations. The introduction of the card reader will halt this mischief and stem the falsification of results.

    “In the light of the prospects of this initiative for our ’democracy, we have  taken a considered stand that no elections without card readers will be supported by CAPS or the APC.

    “We urge INEC to take due cognizance and to halt the growing incidence of buying, snatching and destruction of PVCs in many parts of Nigeria and guard its self against sabotage of the beautiful card-reader initiative.

    “However, we place the umpire on red alert to set up counter checks for the bad eggs, in its midst, particularly the corrupt Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) known to hold nocturnal meetings with partisans.”

    The group warned against any attempt to derail the electoral process in favour of any extra-constitutional option of Interim Government, It said any attempt to further postpone the exercise will be vehemently resisted by the people in defense of the constitution.

    CAPS called for an investigation into the use of the Army to subvert the will of the people in the Ekiti State governorship elections. It added: “We urge the leaders of the Southwest to advise the loquacious beneficiary of that soiled process, Mr. Ayo Fayose, against the undemocratic attitude of introducing brown-uniformed illegal security forces to intimidate the people at the polls.”

    Lamenting the devaluation of the currency, the group said: “The Naira, under the PDP economic management team, which has run out of steam and run aground. The PDP government, whose leaders and presidential candidate are happier to share dollars (USD) and pounds sterling to local groups to induce them, do not have an explanation for the latest Naira scourge.

    “The devaluation, which leaves the USD trading above N200, has affected every Nigerian businessman without exception, and taken every Nigerian citizen three notches deeper into poverty, irrespective of his location, ethnic group, religion, class or creed. Foreign investors are divesting in  droves from  the six zones, particularly the Niger Delta, where oil company giants have fled. The PDP Central Government has no answer to the massive capital flight.”

    The group condemned the recruitment of ethnic militias, including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and renegade Niger Delta  groups to intimidate the electorate. It said the move “is already sending wrong signals to Nigerians about the intention of the Federal Government during the general elections.”

    CAPS urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the European Union, the International  Criminal Court (ICC) and the United Nations (UN) to  beam their searchlight  on the country during the exercise. It also urged the civil society groups to be vigilant throughout the electoral process.

    The group added: “The media should not sleep on guard. They should effectively monitor the process from now till May 29 handover.”

  • 2015 elections: Will INEC deliver?

    2015 elections: Will INEC deliver?

    Ahead of next week’s federal elections, Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, examines the readiness of the Professor Attahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to conduct a credible election for Nigeria and Nigerians. 

    Following the unexpected shift in the dates of the general election earlier fixed for February 14th and 28th by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the announcement of March 28th and April 11th, many Nigerians have been wondering if the Professor Attahiru Jega-led electoral body would still be able to deliver on its earlier promise to conduct a free, fair and credible election for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Mounting concern over how ready and able INEC will be when it is finally time to hold the election next Saturday, peaked after the postponement when a barrage of criticism descended on the commission over the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card, security, internally displaced persons as well as its decision to use the card reader during the rescheduled polls.

    Although there have been talks about these issues before the shift, opposition to Jega’s headship of the commission increased drastically in the days that followed what many observers claimed was an arm-twist of INEC by the authorities leading to the postponement of the election. This led many people to wonder if Jega and his men are still positioned to give Nigerians the election they crave.

    And in a statement that heightened the fears of many over the forthcoming elections, Jega himself, last Wednesday, said there are still a few security concerns hovering over the 2015 general election. The INEC boss, who spoke at a situation room dialogue session at Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja, said his meeting with security chiefs revealed there is still much to be taken care of ahead of the elections.

    “Yesterday, I had an opportunity to brief security agencies and we received assurances that they were doing everything to provide security. There are still a few concerns and challenges which will be addressed with security agencies. There has been progress with the security agencies in getting rid of insurgents and there are three local government areas (LGAs) left to rid insurgents.

    We are working together with security agencies to get rid of thugs identified in states. We have emphasised the protection of ad-hoc officials with security agencies and they have assured us progress has been made,” Jega said.

    Much have been said about the precarious security situation in some parts of the country by those opposed to Jega’s insistence on going ahead with then election in spite of fresh clamour for another postponement in some quarters. Those calling for a new shift in the dates of the election are hinging their demand largely on the insecurity in the northeast and the need to ensure that people are not disenfranchised.

    But Jega same day assured Nigerians that internally displaced persons (IDPs) would vote in the coming elections, adding that the commission has deployed necessary materials for the election.

    “We have plans on the ground for IDP voting. We have designated secure places for IDPs to vote,” he said. We have procured and deployed sensitive and non-sensitive materials,’ he said.

    Fierce opposition, supportive electorate

    Beyond promises, there is a lot on pressure on the Jega led team to conduct credible elections. This is because having enjoyed the support of majority of Nigerians amidst sustained opposition to his stay in office and plans, the INEC boss owe the nation nothing short of a good performance.

    Jega is heading towards the next polls amidst fears that he may be asked to vacate his position anytime. While those canvassing for his removal are unrelenting, Nigerians have been dogged in speaking up for him, warning the government against asking the Kano-born scholar to proceed on terminal leave or any such moves.

    Leading the band of the ‘Jega-must-go’ agitators, elder-statesmen, Chief E.K Clark, Senator Femi and ex-Governor Chuckwuemeka Ezeife, had as early as February this year, called on Jonathan to send Jega packing.

    Speaking under the aegis of Southern Nigerian Peoples Assembly, SNPA, they called for the sack and arrest of the INEC boss on allegation that Mr. Jega directed the release of the Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, to emirs, district heads and some unnamed top politicians in the North.

    The group, which is rooting for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, claimed the development was the reason for the huge success in the distribution of the PVCs in the North while not much was achieved so far in the South.

    Clark and others claimed that the INEC Chairman, , through one of his National Commissioners, discussed strategies and modalities for enthroning a President of Northern extraction through vote rigging, with some northern leaders.

    In addition, Jega, according to them, reportedly directed the release of PVCs in their catchment states to Emirs, District Heads and top politicians and not necessarily to the voters themselves. It was also alleged that the Northern Elders Forum obtained and distributed 150 pieces of laptops to INEC for each of the Northern states.

    “This accounted for nearly 100 per cent PVC collection rate, especially in the North West states, as compared with less than 50 per cent collection rate in the Southern states. This is the reason why Lagos State, with a sophisticated population of over 5.2 million, has not been distributed more than 2.5 million PVCs,” the group said back then.

    Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) joined in the demand for Jega’s sack, alleging he is bias and unfit to preside over the forthcoming election. The group staged a peaceful protest in Umuahia, Abia State capital, marching through major streets in the city and chanting pro-Biafran songs.

    They said Jega should be removed because of his alleged secret parley with the North to conduct the Presidential poll in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

    Not long after, the head of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Gani Adams, has called for the immediate sack of the INEC Chairman. Adams, an ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, said Jega has failed to explain how INEC was able to successfully distribute 90 per cent of PVC in North East despite the insurgency in the region.

    “I Otunba Gani Adams is using this forum to call for immediate sack, removal or retirement of Professor Attahiru Jega, the chairman of INEC on the basis of PVC distribution, introduction of card reader and creation of 30000 bogus and fraudulent polling units in the northern part of Nigeria against the southern part,” he said.

    The OPC leader said the various actions of the INEC chair would have earned him an immediate removal and sack in other parts of the world. While calling for Mr. Jega’s sack, Mr. Adams urged the federal government to begin the search for a new INEC chair. “The new chair can come from anywhere. He can come from the north or south. I’m not choosing for the President, but Jega should go” he said.

    Earler, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, also a major ally of the president, has voiced his support for Jega’s sack. According to him, INEC needs a new helmsman who will ensure the conduct of credible elections in the interest of the country.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan can sack Jega if he wishes and if he does, heavens will not fall,” Fayose said reacting to the local and international condemnations that have trailed the alleged plan to remove the electoral chief.

    But Jega has remained on his seat as the commission’s boss, largely owing to the support he enjoys from the populace. Counting on his popularity amongst the people, the INEC chairman said he would not heed calls on him to quit his job ahead of the elections.

    He said, “I have heard of the several calls for me to be removed. In fact, I am aware that some groups have been protesting. Well, I have a job to do and I will do it. Nobody has asked me to resign and all of us at INEC are focused on ensuring that this election is free and fair.”

    TVC, PVC, card reader and other matters

    Aside the distracting calls for his removal or resignation, Jega is also struggling to overcome some severe objections to his plans ahead of the elections. One of such is the sudden recourse in some quarters to the demand for the use of the Temporary Voters Card (TVC) as against the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) the commission intends should be used.

    The other is the outright rejection of the card readers introduced by the electoral commission on several grounds by those opposed to its use during the next general election.

    The Coalition for Democratic Nigeria (CDN) in a recent statement, called on Jega should allow for the use of Temporary Voters Cards (TVCs) for those unable to get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) owing to INEC’s shoddy preparation.

    The group said it is not interested in Jega’s removal as INEC boss but worried over the fate of millions of Nigerians who are yet to collect their PVCs, the only criteria for voting in the elections.

    “Eligible voters are all those whose names are in the INEC voters register and possess the genuine voter’s cards, whether permanent or temporary. Millions of PVCs have either been stolen or misplaced by INEC or distributed to wrong places, or collected by people other than the owners or not supplied, or not even printed yet.

    We therefore align ourselves with those who have properly advised INEC to allow the use of the PVCs and the card readers for those who have PVCs, and the use of the TVCs for those who do not have PVCs. However, if Prof. Jega cannot guarantee this acceptable minimum, he should please step aside for somebody else who will do it,” the group argued.

    Even President Goodluck Jonathan came out order INEC to ensure that all Nigerians get their Permanent Voter Card (PVC). Jonathan who spoke while swearing  in INEC National Commissioner representing Oyo State, Professor Akinola Murtala Salau, noted that election cannot be  conducted when some   people cannot vote.

    “Talking about the PVC, even some governors are complaining that they are yet to get their PVC. If governors are yet to get their voters cards, of course that means that so many Nigerians are yet to get and people are a bit worried. But to me I’m   not pleased”, he said.

    The PDP on its own part, want INEC to address complaints surrounding the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the states. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, demanded that INEC should look into the lopsided distribution of the PVCs and the issue of denial of PVCs to non- indigenes in some states.

    Presidential Campaign Office of President Goodluck Jonathan on its part, . the Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Campaign Organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, vowed to resist the use of card readers if it will jeopardise the ambition of its principal.

    Fani-Kayode alleged that he was aware that the APC, with the connivance of some unnamed members of staff of INEC, is planning to use the card readers to frustrate accreditation of voters in some states.

    The former Minister of Aviation said, “Our position on the card reader remains that the machine has not been tested in any election and there are bases for genuine concern over the use of the machine, for the first time, in a crucial election of this magnitude.

    We are aware of the plot by the APC, working in cahoots with some strategically placed and retrogressive elements, to use the card readers to frustrate accreditation in some parts of the country while not enforcing strict use of the machine in some other parts.”

    He added that “the truth is that if they go ahead with that wicked plot, the APC and its collaborators will only be preparing the ground for mass resistance.They can be rest assured that we will not sit by idly and allow such a thing to unfold.”

    But Jega blamed political parties for shirking their responsibility of sensitising the public to the need for them to collect their PVCs.

    He said, “Many usually think it is only INEC that should be sensitising people that they need to collect their PVCs but this is not correct. Political parties have the mandate and responsibility to sensitise voters to pick their PVCs because, if people collect or do not collect, it will affect their electoral fortunes.”

    Jega assured Nigerians that INEC had put in place, some stringent measures to prevent multiple voting in the elections. He said that the time lapse between the accreditation and voting exercise was aimed at restricting movement of voters from one polling unit to the other and also ensuring that people did not vote more than once.

    “Multiple voting is unfortunately the factor that has bedevilled many voting exercises in Nigeria.This problem is posed by politicians who pay voters to vote many times or plan to snatch ballot boxes once the voting exercise starts.

    But the time lapse will ensure that voting takes place and ends in the various polling units at the same time and voters who want to engage in this fraudulent act will not be able to move around.”

    But his position was not enough to stop the anti-PVC vanguards from heading to the Court in search of an injunction that will force Jega to allow the use of the TVC during the general elections.

    Specifically, the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that by virtue of sections 77(2) and 117(2) of the Constitution, INEC, has no power to deprive any Nigerian who is eligible to vote at the election, the chance to vote on the ground of non possession of the PVC.

    It is urging the court to order INEC to allow the use of the temporary voter cards issued legally to Nigerians in 2011 along with the permanent voter cards in order not to disenfranchise over 20 millions electorates yet to access their permanent cards.

    It maintained that the use of both cards would enable all eligible Nigerians to vote in the election and thus make the process more free, fair and credible. The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/06/15 is also seeking for an order of court to compel INEC to allow anyone with a voters’ card, either temporary or permanent, to vote, as long as it was duly issued by the electoral body.

    But last Thursday, the Court ruled out suit. Justice Abdulkadir Abdul-Kafarati, struck out the suit following the application of discontinuance filed by the group .

    The counsel to the group, Mr Olatunji Salawu, said the suit withdrawn had been overtaken by events because of the latest developments of wider distribution of PVC, pointing that there was no need to continue with the suit . With that, the fear that the legal action could stall or disrupt Jega’s plan for the election were laid to rest.

    Ready umpire?

    But in spite of all the criticisms and odds he is having to cope with as he set about giving Nigeria what he called the best election ever, Jega appears unshaken and determined in his belief that the INEC under his watch will make Nigerians proud when the elections are eventually conducted.

    Sounding determined to be his own man before during and after the polls, he recently confirmed that soldiers will not be at polling units during the election, adding that soldiers would only be invited if there is a breakdown of law and order.

    “There will be no soldiers at the polling unit. The army is not supposed to be visible at any polling unit. What we have had is three unarmed policemen manning a polling unit, while three armed policemen stay 300m away from the polling unit. We have never had policemen at polling units. The role of the military, as defined in the constitution, is for the military to provide support to civil authorities if there is a breakdown of law and order,” he said.

    On the state of preparedness of INEC for the elections, Jega said: “We have done everything possible to ensure that the elections are free and fair. We are adequately prepared to deliver free, fair and credible elections and we are sure the election will be better than t‎hat of 2011.”

    Regarding the use of card readers, Jega stated that they would add tremendous value to the electoral process, adding that he felt confident that no cloned card would work. “Without the use of card readers, the accreditation of registered voters will be prone to alterations,” he argued.

    While charging Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to be steadfast in the face of distractions, the INEC boss said the Commission would ensure that it settles for nothing but the best elections. “It is important that we also remain focused in terms of delivering the best election for our country. There are a lot of things to distract us but we need to remain focused and resilient,” Jega said, Friday, at a meeting with RECs, held at the Commission’s headquarters.

    “We need to do everything possible to make sure that the elections scheduled for March 28th and April 11th are indeed substantially much better than those we conducted in 2011 and the subsequent bye-elections in some states,” the INEC boss added.

    But in spite of the many promises of a credible poll by Jega and his men, Nigerians are willing to wait cautiously with bated breadth till the new dates of the reschedule polls to see if the electoral body will live up to its promises.