It will do our Democratic experience a whole lot good if concertedefforts
are made not only to raise caution against surreptitiousdissipation of
energy that seeks to revert the gains of the electoral processesbut to
also ensure that records are put in the right perspective for thesake of
tomorrow. While congratulating Nyesom Wike, on the Supreme Court
judgmentwhich ‘validated’ his election as governor of Rivers state, a
victory theerudite Professor Itse Sagay described as won over corpses of
Rivers citizens,it’s of utmost importance that his current verbiage and
vituperations againstinstitutions of state, no less the body that
conducted the bloody elections hewon, be checked .
Having secured this landmark but questionable judgment, Mr. Wike
hadcommenced sustained verbal attacks against the INEC which is gearing to
conductvery important elections into the annulled seats in the state
assembly. In hisusual cantankerous and loquacious way, during the
occasion of a”Thanks giving” ceremony, he didn’t spare the Independent
NationalElectoral Commission, INEC, in his misplaced diatribe as well as
itsChairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, alleging ,among so many other that
claimsthat the amiable chairman of INEC was being used to grant electoral
victory tothe opposition APC in the impending elections.
Before the judgment, Wike insisted that the INEC conducted the electionsn
the state in line with laid down guidelines and vigorously defended
theresults of the elections that brought him in as governor. Since his
victory, henow sings a different tune. What changed?
As a lawyer, the Governor of Rivers State should know that INEC
doesn’tjust fix dates for elections, but is guided by provisions of the
electoral actand in re-run elections, by pronouncements of the courts. So
why take umbrageat the announced dates by INEC which has not run foul of
any laws? INEC didn’t make the laws, it only implements the laws as
passed by theNational Assembly and as interpreted by the judiciary. We
agree that our lawsare not perfect, shifting the blame and seeing INEC as
one that is compromisedis uncalled for.
The Rivers State Governor’s statement on the days fixed for the rerun
ofState Assembly Election smacks of mischief as the time for such exercise
arestipulated in the electoral acts. It is unthinkable, ridiculous
anduncalled for to accuse the Chairman of INEC of wrongdoing . One expects
him toconsult the electoral act which is very unambiguous on
whoseresponsibility it is to fix election dates. If he had clear knowledge
of this,he wouldn’t have made such comment concerning the INEC Chairman.
At this point, one wonders if all the accolades poured on the
immediatepast Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, who supervised
the last electionsare justified! The number of elections that have so far
been cancelled by thecourts are unprecedented in the history of elections
in Nigeria. The caseof Rivers State is a dirty and embarrassing
reference point. Here is a statewhere all elected members in its state
assembly had their electionsannulled for flagrant disregard and a use of
electoral processes. That governorWike had his election validated by the
Supreme Court raises a lot of eye browsbut that is a matter for another
day. Perhaps, Wike senses that anotheropportunity to cut short his victory
is around the corner leading to hiscurrent rant and allegation of
compromise against the leadership f the INEC.Conscience, indeed , is an
open wound. Is the burden of the atrocities committedagainst poor masses
of the state in a bid to secure this “bloody”victory beginning to prick
Wike’s conscience?
There is a need to build and strengthen our institutions including
INEC.Public office holders should make themselves familiar with the law as
enshrinedin our constitution and electoral act and walk and act within its
fine lines.The change that we desire is only possible when people act
within limits ofdecency and abide by the rule of law. The gunboat tactics
which characterizedthe last elections in Rivers state must not be allowed
to repeat. The INEC andindeed , Prof. Mahmood Yakubu ,must not be
intimidated, blackmailed orrailroaded into allowing the existing statusquo
of sham elections to continue.We are particularly pleased that all
elections conducted since the assumptionof office f this new INEC
leadership have seen a departure from the norm. Wheresubstantial
malpractice had been witnessed, affecting the eventual outcome
ofelections, such elections had been cancelled or declared inconclusive,
apractice that was alien to the old order. Rivers state will and should
not bedifferent. Elections and its outcomes must be determined only by the
will ofthe people as expressed in the number of valid votes cast. For
governor Wike,it’s time to stop his present campaign of calumny against
the INEC and appealto the people of the state for the election of his
preferred candidates.
Signed
FelixBalogun