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| Prof.Jega |
Below is an unedited letter from an angry Nigerian to INEC boss, Professor Attahiru Jega.
" Though I was a little boy
in Senior Primary School when the 1959 General
Election took place, I had grasped from the News Headlines and commentaries
that the Chairman and members of the National Electoral Body were appointed by
Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The man had been sworn in as Interim Prime
Minister of Nigeria
in September 1957.
Actually, by every
yardstick, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was supposed to occupy the position. However, in
the interest of ‘One Nigeria,’ Zik had made his most mind-boggling compromise.
In the Fifties, Sir Ahmadu Bello (and the NPC) had sat atop the richest Region
in Nigeria.
They were not interested in the ‘Federation’ idea. As far as the Sardauna of
Sokoto was concerned, it was either “One North” or, at worst, a Confederation.
At that time, oil had not been discovered in Southern
Nigeria."
The controversy had
dragged on for quite some time. Nigeria’s
original Independence
date came and went. In order to placate the ‘North’ and make them accept a ‘Federal
Republic of Nigeria,’ Zik had allowed a relatively mediocre and politically - obscure
Balewa to become Interim Prime Minister. The wayo Britishers were stunned at such unbelievable statesmanship as exhibited by Zik. On his
part, Chief Awolowo was sorely bitter and disgusted. In his usual frank and
blunt manner, he said so. That was the genesis of his ‘problem’ with the
‘North’…
So, quite unbelievably,
Nigerians have, over the years, looked on sheepishly as the ruling Parties
appointed and went ahead to install most or all of the country’s Electoral
umpires. Consequently, even before the Election day, the ruling Party would
already have “won” at least 50% of the votes, by hook or crook. Now, what type
of counterfeit democracy is that?
Early in November 2013, Nigeria had won Mexico in the finals of the FIFA
U-17 World Cup. Did either of the countries appoint the Referee, Linesmen,
Match Commissioners and Match Security men? Of course not! Professor Jega, the
INEC National Commissioners as well as most of the Electoral Commissioners all
undoubtedly owe allegiance to President Jonathan – and the PDP.
* The Security Forces and our
elections.
In
Nigeria,
Election Security has always been a big sham. This is because over the
years,
our Security Forces have found themselves in the pockets of the Heads of
State-and their Parties. They had been used to shamelessly suppress the
‘Opposition’
before, during and possibly after elections. The post-election violence
in Western Nigeria in the early Sixties (and also in 1983) was
exacerbated by the fact that after having rigged the elections, the
politicians
behind the electoral fraud did not want the aggrieved voters to vent
their
anger openly. Rather, they had arrogantly and wickedly opted to flood
the
streets with policemen, soldiers, armoured vehicles, etc. Such a mindset
was
partially responsible for the January 1966 and December 1983 coups. Let
us do
everything in our power to avoid another coup in Nigeria.
In my opinion, the
‘Opposition’ in this country has not been up and doing. For instance, early in
2007, they had seriously complained about “Police brutality, harassment and
intimidation.” So, did they need to have been told that IGP Sunday Ehindero and his men could not
be relied upon to properly and neutrally “secure” the 2007 “election.” Of
course not! Why did they not insist that Emperor
Obasanjo removes IGP Ehindero or there would be no election in April 2007? Would
the heavens have fallen?
Let me ask you a vital question! Do you sincerely believe that IGP Muhammed Abubakar could be relied upon
to democratically “secure” the forthcoming Ekiti and Oshun States polls? We are
not even talking about 2015 as yet.
That year is pregnant, Mister! Since the man cannot do his job fearlessly and
properly by, at least, posting a new Commissioner of Police to Rivers State, no
matter what Mr. President says about it, Ekiti, Oshun and 2015 polls would,
most likely, not be free, fair, peaceful and credible. Let me wrap up this
aspect of my e-mail by reminding Nigerians that under the subsisting ‘419’ 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, soldiers have absolutely no
business helping to “secure” our elections. Please correct me if I am wrong! In
effect, such is an illegality. But what do we see today? There are soldiers
everywhere. Can’t the National Assembly tell Mr. President to obey the
Constitution?
* Prof. Jega, get ready to go!
The recent Delta State
Senatorial Election as well as the Anambra Guber Polls shows that our Electoral
Body is inept, and corrupt. It is also neither independent nor democratic. How
can it be when those who are part of the election are allowed to appoint the
umpires. So, the Constitution has made it so? Let us quickly amend the relevant
paragraphs and Sections. After all, the Constitution is made for man and not
the other way round. We want a Civil
Society-Organised Electoral Body…
First and foremost
therefore, the number of political Parties must be reduced to just four. I mean the PDP, APC and two others! Through their electoral
performances so far, it should be easy to determine the other two. For the
avoidance of doubt, all the four Parties must be willing and able to
field a Presidential Candidate. This is not negotiable. Of course, you will
agree with me that the present 38(?) political Parties represent a swindle.
Most of them exist only on paper. Even in developed countries where many voters
are literate, they do not have dozens of Party Logos cluttering up their ballot
papers. That is a recipe for confusion, right?
Each of the four Parties
would be expected to nominate four
people (at least one must be a woman) for the new Electoral Body. Apart from ‘Security Clearance,’ there would be no
other. All sixteen persons would immediately meet behind closed doors to elect
a Chairman (or Chairperson), Secretary, etc. The rest would automatically
become National Commissioners, etc. They can also meet and remove the Chairman,
Secretary or any other official. More about that in a subsequent write-up!
* Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, look at this!
The Finance Minister has
been complaining about the astronomical rise in the country’s recurrent
expenditure profile. The problem is not insurmountable provided my ‘Reform’
gets incorporated in the deliberations at the National Conference. I am really talking about my fundamental
Electoral and Political ‘Reforms.’ The experts could put some flesh on it. In
fact, as far back as April 2007, I had written about it all in my (defunct)
website-www.historicalpatriot.com.
One of the key aspects of
my Reform is that we can certainly make do with just six Executive or Regional Governors, 36 State Administrators (of
Deputy Governor status) and six Regional Assemblies. Quite apart from the
possible ‘savings’ (totaling over N1.2
trillion per annum), can’t you just see the drastic drop in the tension level
in the polity? When over 200 politicians in the country who are struggling to
be Governors get ‘demobilised,’ in one fell swoop, would there not be more
peace on our shores?
Now, that is just one example. In the remaining two installments
(February and March 2014), you are going to be thrilled by my “radical” views.
Enough is enough! Let us tell the politicians where to get off. Lest I forget,
do you think we can shift our Handover Date to 1st October, 2015?
Reply briefly, via sms! If you desire to keep on reading me, simply acknowledge
this mail, via sms also. Let your friends and colleagues see it too.
Thank you.
N.F.J. IBELEGBU
08052400349
1 comment:
bros you beta wake up before 2015
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