Date Published: 05/01/09
WHAT DID PRESIDENT YARADUA TELL MRS ADEBAYO?
Events have been happening very fast since the last Saturday’s attempt by the DP to do what it knows how to do best (rigging) in Ekiti State. Prior to the Re-run, Ekiti State was put in the world spot light for wrong reasons: tension, rumours, press wars, accusations and counter accusations. Ekiti State became the most politically discussed State in Nigeria. The Action Congress said that they cannot trust Prof Maurice Iwu, Chairman INEC, Chris Ola, former Ekiti State police commissioner, and the Ekiti REC, Mrs Ayoka Adebayo to conduct the re-run judging from what happened during 2007 elections. Only Mr Chris Ola was removed. Now, given the unprecedented outcry for Iwu and Mrs Adebayo to be sacked and Chris Ola deployed so that we can get it right in Ekiti State, it is believed that the leadership of INEC will change for the better to redeem its battered image.
But during the elections on Saturday April 25, 2009, we proved once again that we cannot get it right. The REC, Mrs Adebayo who suffered a barrage of media bashings after 2007 elections must have decided to get it right. Having served Nigeria in various capacities for years, this retiring woman must have decided to redeem her battered image. So when PDP mercenaries and votes’ robbers tried to manipulate the process by stuffing 15,000 votes in Ido Osi LGA, the 74 year old woman cried out. The election was stalled and stalemate set in. She wrote her resignation letter to the president as follows: “It is with heavy heart that I am writing to inform you of my resignation as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State. In accordance with the rule of law, the on-going election in Ekiti State was supposed to be the election that will enhance the image of INEC, electoral process in our dear country Nigeria and the whole black race. Unfortunately, the circumstances changed in the middle of the process, therefore, my conscience as a Christian cannot allow me to further participate in the process”.
The following day after resignation, Mrs Adebayo was declared wanted by the police. She went to Abuja and met the IG of police and the INEC chairman and afterwards met the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua. Now I do not know what transpired at the meeting. I do not know what Mrs Adebayo told President Yar’Adua about what happened on April 25 2007 in Ekiti State. I guess she must have repeated what she said in her resignation letter. But what did the President tell Mrs Adebayo after listening to her? What we heard is that her resignation was rejected and was asked to return to Ekiti to conclude the Re-run process. We also hear that soldiers are on the streets of Ekiti State. Now, what can we make out of this? Is she returning to Ekiti to announce the controversial, manipulated and rigged result from Ido Osi? Is she going there to help PDP back to power or is she going there to salvage the people of Ekiti State? As I write this, news filtered into my office that Ekiti State has asked for redeployment of Mrs Adebayo. After 2007 elections Mrs Adebayo was their hero, and now after the Ekiti Re-run, the woman has become their enemy.
I know that President Yar’Adua will not tell Mrs Adebayo to do what is wrong. I know that Mr President will tell her to go and do the right thing in Ekiti State and save the nation from an imminent crisis. From antecedents we know that President Yar’Adua does not believe in do or die politics. We know that he believes in justice, and rule of law. We have seen it displayed elsewhere in Nigeria and Ekiti State is not an exception. Let there be justice in Ekiti no matter whose ox is gored!
Joe Igbokwe
AC Publicity Secretary
Lagos
