Nigerian Elections: Taking the People as Fools
April 20th, 2007 | Published in Entries on Old Grandiose Palor (Blogger), Human Rights, Nigeria | 4 Comments
Check the Nigerian mafia kingpin and his goons taking the people as fools:
- The president came out to admit flaws in state elections after proclaiming the elections were satisfactory.
- It took him five days to come to his senses!
- The Senate President speaks against his party, the PDP, saying the party rigged the elections. He has asked the Senate to reconvene to discuss matters affecting the nation in a special session next Tuesday.
- “The government responded saying his statement is a plot to set up an Interim National Government he aims to head!:
“It is indeed curious that a man [Senate President] of his designation will whimsically trivialise, rubbish and call for revalidation of such a terminal and important event as the general election as well as set in motion a diabolical process to precipitate the crisis in our country in order to satisfy his inordinate and megalomaniac ambition.†- Nigerian Information Minister responding to the Senate President.
- Some soldiers intercepted and seized a truck load of ballot materials in northern Nigeria.
- INEC boss denies saying materials for elections are not yet in the country: they are yet to arrive from the printers in South Africa. Note: The election was less than 24 hour way he made this statement!
- Ondo state PDP asks for the transfer of resident electoral commissioner saying “he worked against our interest and reported only 52% of our votes when we had 70%â€.
- Yet the PDP chieftains in the state scampered for the safe confines of the governor’s residence when the people that supposedly voted for them protested the results. Clearly their mandate did not come from the 52%!
For how long will the kingpin and his goons continue to enforce their will over that of the Nigerian people?
We shall live to see what tomorrow brings…
April 20th, 2007 at 11:59 pm (#)
In fact, in the circumstances I do not mind the extraordinary precedent of the Senate President taking over the reins of the country for a few months in order to sort out a proper transition from this government to the next.
About a month ago, I did suggest that the best solution would be to get the Executive out of the way - The President and Vice President whose influence and office interferes with the democratic process and have the consensus of the legislature and the judiciary manage the elections to a more satisfactory conclusion.
If any voter visits a polling station and finds that Atiku is not on the ballot, Atiku is within rights to demand and expect a nullification of the elections.
In fact, I think that is what would happen allowing Obasanjo to prolong his tenure whilst the incompetence of INEC is sorted out in the courts and elections take place in June.
April 21st, 2007 at 2:06 am (#)
This whole election charade is the ultimate blow to Obasanjo’s ‘legacy’. This is how history would judge him.
April 21st, 2007 at 6:32 am (#)
That Obasanjo’s legacy is tarnished is unquestionable! By the time he releases his hold on power he better stay put on his chicken farm and forget being an African elder statesman. Nigerians and Africans don’t need him anymore.
The idea for a Transitional Government headed by the Senate President (SP) is valid only if free and fair elections can be guaranteed within a reasonable period and under the observership of the UN and other independent organizations within and abroad.
The Senate under the leadership of the SP has made some commendable moves to limit the influence of the presidency on the EFCC and investigate the corruption allegations on president and his deputy. These are encouraging developments. However, it is unfortunate that the Senate had to abandon deliberations on their findings to prepare for the elections. I hope they continue when they resume.
What is important is not settling for a sham election. The electoral anormalies recorded must be fixed, electoral fraud allegations and the shoddy performance of INEC investigated, and culprits sanctioned to the extent permitted under the constitution. Only these can bring back confidence to the electorate, and respect to our nation.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:39 pm (#)
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