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INEC in the eye of the storm

By Theo Adebowale
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Discordant tunes ever booming out of Nigeria. An individual shows up and appears acceptable, promising to deliver. No sooner has he been supported, advertised, promoted to clinch the baton than the spirit of Lucifer comes upon him to himself, he looms larger than life, begins to act strange, three baskets on his head, the uppermost of which contains all manners of baked meats for Satan, the birds eating them out of the basket upon his head. In his stead, another rises in the vanity of glamour, no one actually knows his colour or creed.

Seemingly ebullient, they crowd round him, replacement for baker. He pursues after the basket carrier, who transmits into him gangrene. Is it infectious?

You may ask the Independent National Electoral Commission, evolving into a state institution after the order of Attahiru Jega, who has demonstrated that it is possible to outgrow primordial sentiments and place a bet on a Nigerian technocrat that, in spite of all Nigerian encumbrances, he can disappoint skeptics and unveil the courage, confidence, excellence and patriotism in the Nigerian which he displays abroad by impetus to the fact that all men were born equal. INEC continued in the line of excellence which Jega’s bravery unleashed and we the common Nigerians were already mobilizing support for it voluntarily. INEC was making us proud, and we were encouraging people to spend hard earned money and time to come and disgrace apathy. They were coming from far and near. Time was tickling, INEC was watching, even until the 11th hour, assurance was issuing out to the rest of us. Transporters were gaining speed, fuel dispensers were making sales. Recently reconstructed roads were thrilling commuters. The agony of dilapidated roads as in Oju Local Government, Benue State, Okeagbe in Ondo State replicated all over the land was borne with hope. At the 59th minute was anti climax. Any Administrator or watcher of public administration at whatever levels would know that exigencies are for real. But if an administrator of the caliber of INEC National Chairman could not make up his mind as to surmontability or otherwise of a national challenge 72 hours ahead, there is a serious problem. Can you imagine the amount of national resources wasted on this postponement? Imagine the number of school activities affected. Tertiary institutions with the new breed administrators would be worst hit. Students traveling round Nigeria at the risk of auto crash, kidnapping, ritualist attacks etc. Under the tenure of Attahiru Jega, there was postponement, the losses were minimized. But this postponement was rather too sharp, too sudden and so disappointing.

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It has created another opportunity for Nigerian politicians, known worldwide to be bad losers, ever so self centered to employ any action, or inaction for propaganda to discredit the state. Now discordant tunes would crop up afresh at a time when we deserve to embark on a solemn reflection. Discordant tunes are getting louder and louder. National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress was so frustrated by the postponement that he so condemned it, and only the chieftains of Peoples Democratic Party can feign and claim, postponement was orchestrated by APC and Presidency. But Adams Oshiomhole also forgot that he was National Chairman of the ruling party, defying the Electoral Commission to continue to campaign in spite of closure of campaign by the commission. Sociologists would need to help us debrief party chairman of labour leader tendencies. If we object to Oshiomhole’s hard stand, what shall we say about PDPs National Chairman, Uche Secondus?

Mr President announced to party members at a caucus meeting that Nigerians should make for credible elections, as such, anyone who snatches ballot box does so at the risk of his life. Secondus rose to the occasion claiming it was an incitement of security agents against voters. Quite characteristics of the PDP, to pull down every statement made by the ruling party. May we ask PDP chieftains whether ballot snatchers are voters? Or should a voter also double as a snatcher? A cerebral academic in the University of Lagos condemned the president’s warning for the risk because he sees the possibility of a stray bullet hitting a loved one.

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But the grouse here is with anyone who argues that government must not enforce law or prosecution must discontinue whatever the magnitude of accusation, once a technical loophole is identified in the process. PDP officials and members hardly address issues of breach of law, they are in and out of court, enforcing fundamental rights, locus standi, exparte motions and other possibilities well known and over pleaded in Nigerian courts. PDP presidential candidate called off his campaign in solidarity with the Chief Justice of Nigeria suspended for non-declaration of choice assets. Does this attitude recommend the organisation and its subscribers to leadership positions?

Leadership includes knowledge and enforcement of right values that distinguish a people, and guarantees their development. It is an assertive position to drive the economy to strength, abundance and self reliance. There is always a bottom line beyond which partisanship, ethnic and religious sentiments do not penetrate. The elite is united in upholding such virtues that keep them in authority and the people subject to it. Leadership does not collaborate with subordinates to sabotage the system and turn out shortly after, to assert authority PDP and its adherents must learn the simple truth to remain relevant in the ruling class.

The president’s cup is in the hand of APC National Chairman. He should comport himself as the president cup bearer in matters concerning INEC, or other government establishments so that it could be easy to return his party into power through the electoral process. Those who engage in subverting the laws of the land including the electoral process merely display the quality of their humanity and preference for unlawful procedure to attaining power. The fact that they over used such methods and crashed after 16 years is sufficient to recommend repentance to them so that they could enjoy political redemption. Those who sponsor and encourage subversion of the laws of the land have the baskets of Nigerian economy and authority on their heads. Continuing to undermine authority of the state and subverting her officials only expose them to political hazards and eventual destination in perdition. Their thugs will waste away their flesh. It takes so much to equip for ballot box snatching, but the armory is well-stocked enough to visit nemesis on the enemy of the state. As for individual officials operating in the strength of Lucifer, it lasts but for a season.

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This calls for a change of attitude in the interest of corporate Nigeria and her law abiding citizens.

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INEC in the eye of the storm

We must not make mistakes with these

INEC in the eye of the storm

Amenorrhea

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