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Professor Iwu’s INEC Challenge To Nigerians By Max Gbanite New Jersey, U.S.A.
PREAMBLE: At the recently concluded Media Trust Organized lecture, titled; ‘Getting it right this time’, held on January 18th, 2007 at the Ladi Kwali conference hall, Sheraton Hotels Abuja, professor Maurice Iwu, the INEC chairman, in his speech challenged Nigerians to work closely with INEC by creating a conducive enabling environment devoid of hostility for the electoral officials to operate during the forthcoming elections. He was right about the challenges, but before delving more on his position, it is also imperative to look at the problems previously experienced by the polity and even INEC itself.
During the lecture, other presenters like Chief Olusegun Osoba, Former AD governor of Ogun State, Alhaji (Dr.) Ahmadu Kurfi, former head of FEDECO, made some valid assessment of the problems bedeviling the electoral process, while proffering solutions.
The joke of the day was when General Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR, former Head of State, in his capacity as the special guest of honor, while recognizing other dignitaries on the high diaz referred to His Excellency (Dr.) Abdullahi Adamu, governor of Nassarawa State as a “former Presidential Candidate.” Governor Adamu (Also known as ‘the bridge builder’) on my assessment, is one of those non-performing governors that brought shame to his party PDP, the people of Nassarawa State, the North, and the nation. He probably thought like Dr. Peter Odili did, that having leaves placed on their heads by the self appointed ‘source’ in Ife, gives them the audacity to govern Nigeria. Little did they know that the leaves will dry before the rainy season of political-selection starts? Well, they better have their escape routes planned before handing over on May 29th, 2007; EFCC will surely come with their own leaves; this time it will be placed on their wrists and ankles. Sorry for the digression.
FLASHBACK AND HISTORICAL PROBLEMS: “The fish is rotten from the head to the tail”, vintage statement credited to Vice President Atiku Abubakar, while describing his boss’s mien. If we are to accept the statement, then it’s pertinent to travel back to our checkered history to discern what obtained in the past, where we are today, and eventual way forward in order to get it right this time. One of my favorite references of event of the past is what President Olusequn Obasanjo wrote in his book titled ‘NZEOGWU’, while describing why his bosom friend lead a military putsch on January 15th, 1966, he wrote “as I gathered after the events, it was the mishandling of the elections in the Western region, and the subsequent total break down of law and order which resulted in complete insecurity of life and property, that was the last straw….the election of that year was fought on regional loyalty, with strong tribal bias. But the government that emerged was a coalition of two regionally-based parties leaving the third party, also regionally-based, out of the cold. With no patriotic feeling left and with selfishness, greed, corruption, sectionalism and tribalism being extolled, the third party embarked on ceaseless mischief to ensure that the unstable stool fell, no matter what happened to those sitting on it, around it and under it…nobody seemed to care sufficiently for Nigeria as a nation. Those who were not directly involved in the politics of the day, which were politics of hatred, division, victimization, destruction, unabashed graft, greed and ostentation, were powerless to do anything about it. The nation was divided within itself. But obviously, the ship of the nation had drifted aimlessly for too long.” In short the environment of uncertainty created by the politicians and the ill-preparedness of the electoral commission may have created the enabling environment for that action. And if there’s truism in this, then why is our highly experienced and respected president allowing the same political uncertainty to befall the nation? Very baffling!
The deconstruction of democratic structures in Nigeria could be credited to PDP, when in 2002 they tampered with the electoral law. Events since then have tail-spinned downwardly.
Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, asserted that the genesis of election malpractice can be traced in the following sequence: “manipulation of the ballot paper and ballot boxes, most times with the active participation or connivance of security agents, polls clerks, counting clerks, as well as candidate’s polling and counting agents.”
He went a step further: A) ”delay in the opening of polling stations to frustrate voters and prevent them from casting their votes, which are usurped and utilized by impersonators; B) short supply or non supply of voting materials-especially ballot papers which are sold to the highest bidders for purposes of impersonation; C) Introducing pre-stamped ballot papers into the ballot box or at the counting centers; D) manipulating entries in the Declaration of Election Results Form EC, 8, especially the ones for collation of results from polling stations, wards, local government areas; E)substitution of ballot boxes-genuine ballot boxes could be exchanged with unauthorized ones whilst in transit from the polling stations to the counting centers, the unauthorized boxes being stuffed with ballot papers pre-thumb printed for particular parties or candidates; F)false declaration of election results.”
Chief Olusegun Osoba who rigged himself into office in 1999, but was equally out-rigged in 2003, in his presentation described the inherent problems as follows: A} “Consolidated elections have been the most massively rigged, the most violent and hence, the most hotly disputed; B) the more a political party stays in power, the more despotic it becomes, and consequently, the more it hangs on to power through election rigging, violence, intimidation and, subversion of justice, including court rulings; C) election rigging in Nigeria are perpetrated at every stage of the process: the electoral law put in place; voters registration process; the personalities that head the institutions connected with organizing and supervising the elections; the actual rigging during the process; and the legitimization of the process.”
Understanding the above-presented problems probably informed the decision of Professor Humphrey Nwosu and his team to embark on a local-content-solution called ‘option A4’…open ballot system in 1993. However, it is fair to say that as at the time that Nwosu embarked on proffering solutions, Nigerians, especially the media had their doubts on the workability of the now famous and cherished ‘Option A4’. Even the military who appointed Nwosu were shocked that an election could be held in Nigeria with little or no rigging present.
It can also be said that the Chief Akpata led election of 1999, may have experienced a certain degree of rigging, and Nigerians accepted it with wit while praying that the military eventually disengage from Politics. But the art of rigging was taken to what mathematicians would probably call ‘fuzzy-level’ during Dr. Guobadia’s tenure of 2003. The embarrassment of that election will go down in the annals of world politics as the ‘grand mother of all riggings’, and deservers a place in the Guinness World Book of Records.
It is probably based on these historical facts of shame that formed the decision of INEC, led by Professor Maurice Iwu, to embark on a progressive solution by introducing the Digital Data Capture machine (DDC), as a veritable source and mechanism for rigg-control.
Professor Maurice Iwu in his presentation spoke eloquently and direct to the point. He acknowledged like others that there are many unanswered question why elections in Nigeria are not fair and free. He said that “the critical question to ask at this junction is; what have been the character and foundation of elections in Nigeria in the past which made it extremely difficult for most of the elections in the country to be accepted as free and fair?.......what shall we do to be saved?......what shall we as a nation preparing for a General Election do to get it right this time around in terms of meeting the standard for free and fair elections?”
To lay a credible foundation towards the election, INEC introduced the Digital Data Capture System of registration, simply to check-mate the antiquated method of manual register which was fraught with anomalies, and had become a veritable source of rigging. Although Prof. Iwu acknowledged that there were initial problems when he said, “yes, there were logistic problems which were not foreseen in the early days of the registration of voters on the new Direct Data Capture Platform, Yes, the commission is a human institution, very much within Nigeria and so its plans for the registration exercise may have posted some hitches along the way.” This is exactly where Nigerians disagree with the Prof. if he failed to plan properly for the adequate delivery and functioning of the machines, how then can he guarantee that the same machines will not fail during the actual elections? And INEC having overcome the initial incapacity to have enough machines on hand before embarking on the registration, how then does INEC assure Nigerians that all the electoral materials will get to their respective locations on time, and will be actually used? If Nigerians, were for the benefit of doubt, accept his excuse, would the exalted professor excuse a student in his academic setting from taking an examination just because the student, who knew all along of the examination forgot to bring along his pen?
The excuse was a bad one.
The most important aspect of Professor Iwu’s theses was his ‘challenge to Nigeria’ as the topic suggests. He asserted that, “realistically pursuing the goal of a free and fair election entails that the environment of election in Nigeria must be overhauled…. Four critical issues were subsequently identified which needs to be effectively addressed to alter Nigeria’s environment of elections for the better. These issues are: A) the ever present threat of Electoral Violence; B) pervasive influence of money in Nigeria’s Politics and Election; C) General Inequity in Politics; D) Mindset of Nigerians about Elections.
CONCLUSION: while agreeing with Professor Iwu’s on the import of his four (4) challenges to Nigerians, it will augur well if the capable professor can equally utilize current enabling Laws against corruption to purge his agency. This act alone will go a long way in establishing credibility for INEC amongst the people.
Nigerians are not blind or hard of hearing; they know that most of the directors, commissioners and electoral officers working in INEC are billionaires; yet, EFCC and ICPC are yet to be invited or failed in their duty to purge the system. The professor has also shown an uncanny preference towards PDP by attending a retreat organized by the party. This action does not hold well in the mindset of the voters; they, therefore, cannot be blamed for accusing INEC of taking sides. The people are fed information by the media daily where INEC is seen to be taking directives from the Presidency on election matters.
My question for the Professor is; what efforts has he made since taking over from billionaire-Goubadia to carry Nigerians along as partners in this election? His penchant to hub-nub with the ruling PDP has not acquitted well with the mindset of the electorate; in short, some of his actions and the utterances of his officers creates room for a negative mind set of Nigerians about elections.
On the issue of monetary influence in Nigeria’s Politics and Elections; yes, the Electoral Act of 2006 has addressed it. However, how enforceable is it? During the Party Primaries, whose funds were the Governor’s aspiring to be presidents spending? What did INEC do?
Of the challenges, the most important is that of creating an enabling environment for elections devoid of threats of violence. Recognizing this problem, the Nigerian Bar Association led by Olisa Agbakoba, has volunteered 20,000 lawyers to assist INEC. This being a very serious matter requires that INEC must endeavor to carry out media and community campaigns designed to inform Nigerians of the critical importance of creating a conducive and enabling environment for electoral officers to operate within and during elections.
Whilst I commend Professor Iwu, INEC, and the Joint Basket Fund (JDBF collaboration of Canada, DFID, E. U., and UNDP) for their concerted effort to sensitize Nigerians towards the 2007 election. The problem in this particular case is that such endeavours, going by the list of invited guests on the recently concluded conference held at Obasanjo and other’s Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on the 15th and 16th February, 2007, is that the affected masses were not properly represented.
INEC must as matter of urgency rent consultants like us to organize a 36 – state town hall meetings around the federation and, at such meetings, all the traditional leaders, community leaders, trade union leaders, Religions leaders, heads of various security agencies in the state, student union leaders, and all the political party leaders must be invited to discus and trash out the modalities for holding a credible election, but most importantly, making sure that INEC officials are allowed unfettered access to the election posts without any threat or danger to their well being, hence, creating a conducive enabling environment for a credible election.
INEC must partner with Nigerians and not with any particular political party. As it stands, Nigerians already feel that INEC is acting out PDP programs, and INEC must as a matter of urgency, disabuse the minds of the people by reclaiming its independence the same way the Judiciary is working extremely hard to do today. This can be achieved through broadcast and print, media advertorials assuring Nigerians that INEC is theirs, and not that of PDP or any other political party, or even the Federal Government.
The problem INEC is facing today can be traced to the inability of professor Iwu, the Directors, especially their publicity department to carry Nigerians along as partners or equity holders. Had this been done earlier, the issue of DDC would have been understood.
My advice to Prof. Iwu is simply; Allow this election to be rigged, we will lead a crusade to excommunicate you from the catholic religion. We attended the mass at Assumption Church Asokoro, when you were honored by father Jooji. We saw you receive Holy Communion which is a true indication that you serve God. And, as an Igbo man, you must follow in the steps of Professor Humphrey Nwosu, a man who is truly vindicated as having conducted a free and fair election. You must recognize the slippery appetite for corruption in your agency and purge them now or be a victim of circumstance.
Finally, it you carry Nigerians along as partners in this election, Nigerians in return will extend their support to you and INEC, and that will set in motion a process which will ultimately lead to a credible election that yields an acceptable result.
It is also imperative that INEC consider the recommendations of others who attended the lecture and their words of wisdom for instance; Mohammed Uwais (Rtd CJN) said, “Freedom, equality necessary for fair election”; Olusegun Osoba said that, “Only modified, open ballot will guarantee free, fair elections”; and Gen. Abdulsalam Ababukar, GCFR cautioned that we must, “Ensure free and fair Elections.”
To Nigerians, I say be courageous, turn out en-mass and vote for a credible candidate and the party of your choice. Protect your votes collectively, even if it means dying for it. Be courageous in your actions in the spirit of Vice President Atiku Abubakar (he has earned my respect).
Rev. Billy Graham, an American said that, “courage is contagious when a brave man takes a stand, the spine of others are stiffened.” Let Nigerians follow the courage and braveness of Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Alhaji Aminu Kano, and lastly that of Atiku Abubakar (not minding his alleged sins) and the anti-third-termers. This election is not about President Obasanjo and PDP or any other party for that matter; it is simply about the conservation of democracy and the rebuilding of the structures of same.
After all, ‘Democracy is Government of the People, By the People, For the People’.
May God protect us all!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. |