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The Election Crisis Dilemma and Implications By Babandi Gumel
So much have been said in both National and International Press regarding the recent concluded election in Nigeria seen as flawed and massively rigged with the opposition calling for the cancellation of the election and install an interim Government to take over when the outgoing government winds its activities within a little over a week. The controversy surrounding the election described as the worst ever concluded continued to haunt both the coalition of the Opposition and the PDP Ruling Party seen as the one behind the rigging wanting to install Umaru Musa ‘Yar Adua the Ruling Party’s Candidate as the next President come May 29th .It was supposed to be a landslide victory for the ruling party yet apparently no body is celebrating instead people are continuing with the protest with the way the election was conducted. Although the President elect had promised Nigerians that he would change the style of his leadership to make it kind of servant-leadership relation rather than the present so called master-servant relation yet the opposition could not be appeased with these niceties aimed at maintaining the status quo It is not ‘Yar Adua in person the opposition were opposing rather the way he was elected in the April’s election described as not credible they were questioning this is why they took the case to the Election Tribunal for final decision. The opposition gained their first round of victory at the Federal Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja last week when it granted the Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the AC and former Military Leader General Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP injunction to have access to the INEC documents that were refused previously. During its formal sitting with three judges under the leadership of Justice Rabiu Danlami with other two judges Justice Audu Aboki and Justice Chichi Nwaona Uwa the Tribunal accepted the request of the two Presidential candidates to inspect and even make copies of the electoral materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission during the Presidential Election in April. Both Atiku and Buhari complained to the Tribunal that they approached the INEC to release the materials for them to inspect but the Commission refused to do so. Therefore they decided to put a formal complaint to prove to the whole world that the President Elect Umaru ‘Yar Adua does not have the mandate of Nigerians. The 3 learned Judges granted the prayer of the two Presidential Candidates and directed INEC to make available all the materials used in the election for inspection and particularly directed the Chairman of the Electoral Commission Professor Maurice Iwu and all the 36 Electoral Commissioners and other electoral officers throughout the Federation to release any document that the Candidates might need for inspection. This was seen as the first victory in the long struggle against the flawed election of Malam Umaru ‘Yar Adua which even the Labour Congress like other Organisations in and abroad refused to recognise. The ruling of the tribunal specifically directed the Commission to produce copies of voters register used during the election and other related documents and any documents which could not be provided should be given in writing with official reasons for their inability to do so. Buhari described it as a victory for democracy strengthening his confidence in the Judiciary. At the same time the NLC has rejected an offer from the Presidency to serve in the 2007 Presidential Committee due to be inaugurated. The statement by the NLC said the rejection was consistent with its position that the April Polls were fraught with irregularities therefore the Council is organising two day general strike to coincide with the inauguration scheduled for the 29th of this Month. The two Opposing parties have all drawn their political daggers ready to stab one another and fight to the end. While the ruling party is making preparations for the formal inauguration the opposition on the other hand is bent on ensuring that ‘Yar Adua is not sworn in as the new President elect come May the 29th. In concurrence to what is being said in this regard one of the smaller Opposition Parties is dragging ‘Yar Adua and the Chief Justice of the Federation to court so the newly elected President should not be sworn in. Meanwhile 100 concerned prominent influential Nigerians living abroad mainly in USA, Canada and Europe have signed a petition calling for the cancellation of the election as it was not properly carried out and expressed concern at INEC’s inability to preserve its integrity as an impartial umpire and inept handling of the process they described as failure. They called on the National Assembly and the Judiciary to work together to set a stage for a fresh election and called on all civil societies including the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Barr association to insist on these demands. They called on the Nigerian voters not to be disillusioned and continue to work as they have been doing for a workable constitutional democracy in the Country. At the same time Nigerians united for Democracy in UK had also staged demonstration in London last week calling for the formation of Government of National Unity by the National Assembly. The Organisation called on Nigerians to stand up and be counted among the millions showing their total rejection of what they described as the 419 Election. In addition they called for the cancellation of the Selection Results and the dissolution of the present INEC as well as the institution of the process that would lead to the conduct of free and fair credible election. The Organisation reminded Nigerians that their voice counts and therefore they should say no to what it described as disenfranchisement and injustice and called on every one not to recognise the imposed Government of ‘Yar Adua .As mentioned from the beginning much have been said about this controversial election. So there is not much to add except to say we as Muslims we also have a say like every other person so therefore we would concentrate the Islamic point of view. Looking from the Islamic perspective as all the three main presidential candidates engaged in the dispute are all Muslims therefore it is necessary to pin point out some of the dilemma and implications involved for our sober reflection. This reminds me of the saying of the Prophet “You will be greedy for getting position of authority but remember it will be a cause of sorrow and humiliation on the Day of Resurection”.This Hadith reported by Abu Huraira quoted in Sahih Bukhari is a reminder to all prospective ambitious leaders to shed off their ambition to achieve power by all means. The question is how can we persuade or stop the 3 Presidential Candidates all of them Muslim followers of Rasulullah each one struggling to surpass his own brother unfortunately seen as not wanting to practice the Hadith: None can be a true believer unless he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”. Umaru Musa Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari are household names all Presidential Candidates who should be reminded about the Hadith as followers of the Beloved Prophet. They should remember Rasulullah is our leader and best example for all of us and all the people to come up to the Day of Judgement. The Question is who is going to sacrifice for whom as every one is eager and so interested in this coveted position and apparently no one is willing to concede for his other brother as every one thinks he is right and the other is wrong. So when it comes to this kind of greed as mentioned by the Prophet it is going to be difficult for all to concede to their fellow brothers. Therefore to follow this Hadith one needs to have Sabar (patience) as it goes against every ones desire irrespective of whoever may be ‘Yar Adua Atiku or Buhari. Well the least we can do is to reflect on the Hadith in which the Prophet tried to dissuade his Ummah from the greed of leadership desire. This in turn causes dissention and hatred among the people as we can see due to wishful desires coupled with luck of talent although every one is trying to prove otherwise, people may mismanage the task assigned to them that would render them guilty with Allah which would be the main implication and consequence of this greed that we have been mentioning. Yet every one tries to prove to the public that he is capable of discharging this onerous responsibility. As mentioned in Hadith quoted by Abu Daud and narrated by Aishah (R.Anha) the Prophet said “When Allah desires good for a ruler He appoints for him sincere adviser who reminds if he forgets and helps him if he remembers” .On the contrary if Allah wishes the opposite for a leader He appoints for him bad adviser who will not remind him if he forgets nor will he help him if he remembers .So therefore it is important for the rulers to recruit sincere advisers that would help them make sound judgement thereby reaching the right conclusion thus guarding against leaning towards evil ways which would be regarded as a great blessing and must be weigh seriously so as to succeed in future. It is not saying that our leaders should not accept responsibility when given but rather they should do their utmost to do full justice so they may be spared on that fateful Day of Judgement which would be a day of remorse and regret. There are two conditions of accepting leadership one of which would be relevant talent for the job which in our opinion and belief all the three have achieved those qualifications. Although one of them was the former Military Leader Buhari ruling the Country for more than two years therefore qualified to rule and the other the current Vice President in the present Government for eight years ready to take the mantle of leadership role and the President elect Governor ‘Yar Adua was conversant with ruling a State now he has to adjust to rule the whole 36 States of Federation the Sharia and the Non Sharia States all to be under him so is a great task ahead. The second condition is the ability to discharge responsibility diligently. The leader should have the ability to maintain law and order and establish justice maintain peace and security and he must be endowed with sufficient dynamism and vision to cope with new demands and situation. Apart from the sense of the job ability and integrity a prospective leader must discharge the obligation and responsibility faithfully as it is a trust and is not expected to be treacherous, and must avoid aides who are self-seekers flatterers corrupt evil people who will undoubtedly influence his decision making in a bad way. Taqwa (the Fear of God) honesty and integrity should always be the pre-requisites for choosing anybody to serve as adviser by checking his/her reputation to safeguard against corruption and other evil vices surrounding the greed for the love of leadership as explained by the Prophet in the Hadith earlier stated .In short the best leader as mentioned in Hadith is the one who is loved by the people and he loves the people and they supplicate to one another about their welfare and goodness. It would not be in the interest of electorates to see that somebody is being imposed on them which may cause dissention and hatred as seen from the current impasse which needed solution. These and many other implications pause great challenge for the warring factions who try to show the electorates that they are the right or wrong choice defending on which camp one finds himself. The Ruling Party is adamant that it has won the election while the oppositions are insisting that it has used INEC to rig and stole the mandate which has to be decided by the court as an independent Arbiter and umpire. While the Ruling Party would go ahead with the inauguration of the President elect unless otherwise the Opposition would at the same time definitely continue to protest in addition to seeking redress in courts seen as the best possible option left as they had won the first round of victory which allowed them to examine all the documents used in the election which was hitherto denied. At least the courts are in the meantime the best credible option left for this protracted wrangling which has polarised the Nation Something has to be done leaving it unattended I am afraid something may go wrong going out of hand leading to some kind of unnecessary loss of lives which must be avoided at all cost. So the two opposing parties have to work together to avoid any bloodshed and they must be ready to listen and abide by whatever decision taken by the court in the interest of justice and the Nation’s continued stability and progress which would be in our interest.
Wa Akhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen.
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