It will do our Democratic experience a whole lot good if concertedefforts<\/p>\n
are made not\u00c2\u00a0 only to raise caution against surreptitiousdissipation of
\nenergy that seeks to revert the gains of the electoral processesbut to
\nalso ensure that records are\u00c2\u00a0 put in the right perspective for thesake of
\ntomorrow. While congratulating Nyesom Wike, on the Supreme Court
\njudgmentwhich ‘validated’ his election as governor of Rivers state, a
\nvictory theerudite Professor Itse Sagay described as won over corpses of
\nRivers citizens,it’s of utmost importance that his current verbiage and
\nvituperations againstinstitutions of state, no less the body that
\nconducted the bloody elections hewon, be checked .<\/p>\n
Having secured this landmark but questionable judgment, Mr. Wike
\nhadcommenced sustained verbal attacks against the INEC which is gearing to
\nconductvery important elections into the annulled seats in the state
\nassembly. In hisusual cantankerous \u00a0and loquacious way, during the
\noccasion of a”Thanks giving” ceremony, he didn’t spare the Independent
\nNationalElectoral Commission, INEC, in his misplaced\u00c2\u00a0 diatribe as well as
\nitsChairman, \u00a0Prof Mahmood Yakubu, alleging ,among so many other that
\nclaimsthat the amiable chairman of INEC was being used to grant electoral
\nvictory tothe opposition APC in the impending elections.<\/p>\n
Before the judgment, Wike insisted that the INEC conducted the electionsn
\nthe state in line with laid down guidelines and vigorously defended
\ntheresults of the elections that brought him in as governor. Since his
\nvictory, henow sings a different tune. What changed?<\/p>\n
As a lawyer, the Governor of Rivers State should know that INEC
\ndoesn’tjust fix dates for elections, but is guided by provisions of the
\nelectoral actand in re-run elections, by pronouncements of the courts. So
\nwhy take umbrageat the announced dates by INEC which has not run foul of
\nany laws? INEC didn’t \u00a0make the laws, it only implements the laws as
\npassed by theNational Assembly and as interpreted by the judiciary. We
\nagree that our lawsare not perfect, shifting the blame and seeing INEC as
\none that is compromisedis uncalled for.<\/p>\n
The Rivers State Governor’s statement on the days fixed for the rerun
\nofState Assembly Election smacks of mischief as the time for such exercise
\narestipulated in the electoral acts. It is \u00a0unthinkable, ridiculous
\nanduncalled for to accuse the Chairman of INEC of wrongdoing . One expects
\nhim toconsult the electoral act which is \u00a0very unambiguous on
\nwhoseresponsibility it is to fix election dates. If he had clear knowledge
\nof this,he wouldn’t have made such comment concerning the INEC Chairman.<\/p>\n
At this point, one wonders if all the accolades poured on the
\nimmediatepast Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, who supervised
\nthe last electionsare justified! The number of elections that have so far
\nbeen cancelled by thecourts are unprecedented in the history of elections
\nin Nigeria. The caseof Rivers State is a dirty and embarrassing
\nreference point. Here is a statewhere \u00a0all elected members in its state
\nassembly had their electionsannulled for flagrant disregard and a use of
\nelectoral processes. That governorWike had his election validated by the
\nSupreme Court raises a lot of eye browsbut that is a matter for another
\nday. Perhaps, Wike senses that anotheropportunity to cut short his victory
\nis around the corner leading to hiscurrent rant and allegation of
\ncompromise against the leadership f the INEC.Conscience, indeed , is an
\nopen wound. Is the burden of the atrocities committedagainst poor masses
\nof the state in a bid to secure this “bloody”victory beginning to prick
\nWike’s conscience?<\/p>\n
There is a need to build and strengthen our institutions including
\nINEC.Public office holders should make themselves familiar with the law as
\nenshrinedin our constitution and electoral act and walk and act within its
\nfine lines.The change that we desire is only possible when people act
\nwithin limits ofdecency and abide by the rule of law. The gunboat tactics
\nwhich characterizedthe last elections in Rivers state must not be allowed
\nto repeat. The INEC andindeed , Prof. Mahmood Yakubu ,must not be
\nintimidated, blackmailed orrailroaded into allowing the existing statusquo
\nof sham elections to continue.We are particularly pleased that all
\nelections conducted since the assumptionof office f this new INEC
\nleadership have seen a departure from the norm. Wheresubstantial
\nmalpractice had been witnessed, affecting the eventual outcome
\nofelections, such elections had been cancelled or declared inconclusive,
\napractice that was alien to the old order. Rivers state will and should
\nnot bedifferent. Elections and its outcomes must be determined only by the
\nwill ofthe people as expressed in the number of valid votes cast. For
\ngovernor Wike,it’s time to stop his present campaign of calumny against
\nthe INEC and appealto the people of the state for the election of his
\npreferred candidates.<\/p>\n
Signed
\nFelixBalogun<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It will do our Democratic experience a whole lot good if concertedefforts are made not\u00c2\u00a0 only to raise caution against surreptitiousdissipation of energy that seeks to revert the gains of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42042,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n