Postponed election: It’s better late than never —Obi

The Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has thrown his weight behind the rescheduling of the National Assembly elections.

In a broadcast to the people of the state on Sunday, the governor said it was better that the elections were postponed than being shoddily conducted.

The Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi
 

He therefore, urged the people of the state to turn out massively to vote on Saturday. “Surely, it is infinitely better to endure a few days’ delay, for the benefit of credible elections, than to rush things and end up with a political crisis,” he said.

Obi also used the broadcast to rebut false information that was circulated shortly before the aborted election of Saturday that some candidate had stepped down.

“These text messages are pointless. For the purposes of clarification, all the candidates cleared for the elections in all the constituencies in Anambra State are still in the race. I, therefore, urge the electorate to go out and freely cast their votes,” the governor clarified.
He warned against violence and attempts to manipulate the  
out come of the elections.


punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201104040462657

BETRAYAL OR WATER POWER: IGBO-YORUBA IMBROGLIO

  By:DEBO AWOSIKA-OLUMO MD., MS., MPH

"Every story has three sides to it yours, mine and the facts."-Foster Mehany Russell.

DEBO AWOSIKA-OLUMO MD., MS., MPH

There are many myths and propagandas used and currently being used by both dead and still alive political jingoists to further their own selfish interests. I decided to use this opportunity to put the facts across as much as possible from available literatures.

The Bible in the book of Hosea says " My people perish for lack of knowledge."

By 1938 the National Youth Movement (NYM) started an effective agitation for Nigeria independence. This promising start was stopped short three years later by internal divisions because of ethnic loyalties and rivalry. The departure of Azikiwe and other Igbo members of the NYM left the organization in Yoruba hands; during World War II, it was reorganized into a predominantly Yoruba political party, and later the Action Group, by Awolowo. Hence, Yoruba-Igbo rivalry became a major factor in Nigerian politics. The internal conflict of the NYM was brought up by successful election of Ernest Ikoli an Easterner from the Rivers state (Awolowo backed candidate) as the president and the defeat of Akinsanya an Ijebu (Yoruba) man (Azikiwe backed candidate). Azikiwe led the Igbo out of the movement accusing Awolowo of tribalism (Betrayal or Water power?).

After the demise of the NYM, the nationalist movement splintered into the Hausa- and Fulani- backed Northern People's Congress (NPC), the Yoruba-supported Action Group, and the Igbo-dominated National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC, later the National Council of Nigerian Citizens).

Nigeria's first political party to have nationwide appeal was the NCNC, founded in 1944 when Azikiwe encouraged activists in the National Youth Movement to call a conference in Lagos of all major Nigerian organizations to "weld the heterogeneous masses of Nigeria into one solid bloc." The aged Macauley was elected figure head president of the new group, and Azikiwe became its secretary general.

The membership of the party was based on affiliated organizations that included labor unions, social groups, political clubs, professional associations, and more than 100 ethnic organizations. The leadership of the NCNC rested firmly with Azikiwe, in large part because of his commanding personality but also because of the string of newspapers he operated and through which he argued the nationalist cause. In the late 1940s, the NCNC captured a majority of the votes in the predominantly Yoruba Western Region but not enough to form the government in the Western Region.

Azikiwe and his party lost the parliamentary election to form government in the Western Region, because Zik and his party failed to put forward a Yoruba man for the position of premiership of Western region despite the mistrust environment created the prior departure of Azikiwe and other Igbo members of the National Youth Movement. This action led the splinter groups like Ibadan party led by Adelabu who had prior arrangement with NCNC because of animosity between segments of the Yoruba community, for example, many people in Ibadan opposed Awolowo on personal grounds because of his Ijebu Yoruba connection.

Azikiwe immediately left for the Eastern Region accusing the Yoruba of betrayal, tribalism etc. The then Premier of Eastern Region Eyo Ita from Cross River was removed unceremoniously and Azikiwe was appointed Premier of Eastern Region (Betrayal or Waterpower?).

To correct the Yoruba action or inaction regarding failed Azikiwe premiership ambition in the Western Region, the NCNC backed the creation of new regions, where minorities would be ensured a larger voice, as a step toward the formation of a strong unitary national government. The Action Group on the contrary was a consistent supporter of minority-group demands for autonomous states within a federal structure, and it even supported the severance of a Mid-west state from the Western Region. "This move assumed that comparable alterations would be made in other two regions. This position won the Action Group minority voting support in the other regions. It also backed Yoruba irredentism in the Fulani-ruled emirate of Ilorin in the Northern Region and separatist movements among non-Igbo in the Eastern Region".

Nigeria became independent from the British rule in 1960. No party won majority during the 1959 elections, the NPC aligned with the NCNC to form a government. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was made the Prime Minister, and Nnamdi Azikiwe was made the Governor General.

In 1962, part of the Action Group split off to form the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), led by S.L. Akintola. In 1963, the Mid-Western Region was formed from part of the Western Region.


When Nigeria became a Republic in 1963, Nnamdi Azikiwe was made the President of the Federal Republic.

In 1964, there was great controversy over the 1963 population census, which the NCNC thought overestimated the number of people in the Northern Region to give them more of a representation in the federal parliament. There was also allegation of rigging made against the ruling NPC party. Azikiwe vowed because of the rigging not to allow the NPC to form government, instead he promised to call for another election or allow the grand alliance between NCNC, Action group, and other minority parties to form the government in which Azikiwe will be the Prime Minister and Awolowo will be the Minister of Finance, but Zik reneged on his promise and allowed the NPC to form the government in the interest of national unity (Betrayal or Waterpower?). This action and the general climate of alleged injustice led to a lot of reactions in the country.

The establishment of Coker commission to investigate alleged corrupt practices of the Western Government of Action Group, and NNDP led by Akintola. This was view as an act to discredit Awolowo and some Yoruba leaders.

Awolowo and some Yoruba leaders were jailed based on "drum up charge" of treasonable felony with only one eye witness confession. This was done without any Igbo outcry to this action viewed as "injustice to the Yoruba tribes (Betrayal or Waterpower?). This action brought a thick dark cloud of despair on the whole Yoruba race. The cloud was so thick that it could easily be cut by a knife.

This and the general state of the nation led to the January 1966, in which some Igbo army and officers and couple of Yoruba officers staged a coup to overthrow the civilian government of Balewa. Some members of the army killed Balewa, Bello, Akintola, and some senior officers (Azikiwe was undergoing treatment outside of the country.

Two of the three top military officers in the country were killed; Brigadier Ademulegun (Yoruba), Brigadier Maimalari (Hausa-Fulani). Major General Aguiyi Ironsi (Igbo) was left untouched.

After the failure of the coup, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi became the new Head of States. Aguiyi-Ironsi trying to restore discipline within the army, suspended the regional constitution of the different regions, dissolved all legislative bodies, banned political parties, and formed a Federal Military Government that was more central in nature (rather than having different regional rules). A decree was issued in March of 1967, to abolish the federation, and unify the federal and regional civil servants (Unitary Government- page from NCNC agenda).

There were many suspicions that Aguiyi-Ironsi favored the Igbos over other ethnic groups, and the fact that his administration did not prosecute the officers that killed the northern leaders stirred further rage. "Though Aguiyi-Ironsi had some concessions like protecting the northerners from southern competition in the civil service, many northerners felt like the coup was a plot to make the Igbo's dominant in Nigeria, and many Muslims felt their religion was not being given full dues".

There were fighting between the northerners and the Igbo, in which many innocent Igbo indigenes lost their lives, and in July 1967, some northern officers staged another coup, killing Aguiyi-Ironsi and many other Igbo officials.

The Muslim officers chose Yakubu "Jack" Gowon (who was a Christian) as the new ruler. Gowon had not actually been involved in the coup, but they felt he would be a compromising candidate to head the Federal Military Government. His first steps included restoring Federalism, and releasing Awolowo from prison (pages from Action Group program).

The coup was welcome among the Yoruba than anywhere else in Nigeria, as it brought relief from the chaos and violence of the previous years and also led to the release of the imprisoned Yoruba leaders whom they thought were wrongly imprisoned by the Northerners with the suspected connivance of the then Igbo leaders.

Lieutenant-Colonel Gowon emerged as the new Head of State. The position of the new administration was initially very weak. To gain wider support, it started a series of constitutional talks, and the western delegation was led by Chief Awolowo newly released from jail, together with Obas and rehabilitated Action Group politicians.

The Yoruba appeared divided over their future position in Nigeria. Some wanted to see an independent Yoruba state, to include Lagos and Ilorin. Others favored participation in a loose confederation, while a third group favored a strong federation, with the Western Region split up to give a greater degree of local autonomy (Dudley, 1970).

"The goal of education is not to train future authorities, but people who are not intimidated by those who claim to be authorities. The alternative to gullibility is not the lack of respect for competence, but the ability to find who is competent and who is not".—Walter Kaufman

In the period leading up to the Biafran secession of May 1967, it was not at all clear whether the west would follow suit. In the event a number of factors combined to keep the west in the federation.

Firstly, there was its military vulnerability. The Yoruba were poorly represented in the rank and file of the army. The Yoruba had less than 1000 military officials. The northern troops stationed in Ibadan, who had been a bone of contention between the west and the Lagos government, were finally removed in May 1967, but there were still federal garrisons in Ilorin and Lagos.

Secondly, Gowon persuaded Awolowo to become Deputy Chairman of the Federal Executive Council and Federal Commissioner for Finance a position nearly equivalent to that of Prime Minister. When the country was divided into twelve states in May 1967, the west remained intact, apart from the loss of Colony Province, in which most of its industry was situated (Action Group Program).

Thirdly, it was true that Awolowo newly released from prison made four imperatives, of which one is continuously being used by failed Igbo leaders who are benefiting from the Yoruba-Igbo imbroglio, as the reason for accusing Yoruba as the betrayal of Igbo cause. This imperative was "If by omission or commission the Ibos are allowed to live Nigeria, the West will follow". Hence, for anyone to turn this statement by Awolowo as the betrayal of the Igbos by the Yoruba is very disingenuous at least and a crime to the sense of reasoning of all humanity.

It is very surprising that while Military men were calling the shot in the North and Eastern part of Nigeria, the Igbos expected a civilian just out of prison and trying to rehabilitate his political future and reasonable reasons to mistrust the then Igbo leaders, to be calling the shot in the West. To think that an individual can order or manipulate the Yoruba to go to war is an insult on the Yoruba and a myopic evaluation of Yoruba polity.

The final act that broke the camels back that made the Yoruba not to go along with the Igbos Biafran plan was that the tactical mistake Igbo military planner made when they captured mid western region, by appointing an Igbo man Brigadier Chukwuma as the administrator of Midwestern region. This action won the debate for those who want the Yoruba to be part of the Federal government by playing into the hands of the people who feared Igbo domination.

Some Igbo intelligentsias claimed the Yoruba hated Igbo because Awolowo made a stupid but frank political statement that if elected President he will ban stock fish and second hand clothing. They voted for Shagari and Alex Ekuweme who promised dredging of the River Niger and a port in Onitsha. At the time of my going to the press there is no port in Onitsha, excuse my silliness ‘what a love story’.

Every act of conscious learning requires the willingness to suffer an injury to one's self-esteem. That is why young children, before they are aware of their own self-importance, learn so easily; and why older persons, especially if vain or important, cannot learn at all"- Thomas Szasz

In summary, to call the Yoruba failure to join the Igbo Biafran plan as an act of treachery, betrayal is a misplaced anger and an act of Waterpower. It is an act of dishonesty and propaganda by failed Igbo leaders to blame their failure on the Yoruba, who in the history of Nigeria as a country has never benefited from Igbo support even during our dark periods. The so called Igbo leaders were busy wining and dining with Abacha when he was persecuting and killing Yorubas.

The Yoruba candidate for the 1999 election was Olu Falae, the Igbo supported Obasanjo. The same Igbo propagandists have oiled their dishonest complains that Obasanjo their candidate is favoring the Yoruba course. The Yoruba course is Sovereign National Conference, improvement of the education system, repair of dilapidated infrastructures and the creation of plain feed to allow us dance our "Owambe" and eat our amala (yam or plantain flour).

"A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject"-Winston Churchill

Some emancipated Igbo leaders realized this and they are trying to do all their best to remove mistrust between the Igbo and the Yoruba, but some Igbo intelligentsias who are benefiting from the imbroglio through various appointments and largesse will like this to continue to the detriment of their suffering and disenchanted masses.

It will be very unfair of me if I failed to mention few of the emancipated Igbo leaders to use the Mbadiweic English men of "timber and caliber" such as Dr. Ezeife, Dr. Idika Kalu, Chief Emeka Anyaokwu, Ebitu Ukiwe, MCK Ajuluchukwu, P. Umeadi etc. to mention a few.

References

Nigeria History on Encyclopedia.com 2002. http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/nigeria_history.asp

Arikpo, Okoi. 1967. The Development of Modern Nigeria. Middlessex, England: Penguin Books.
Awa, Eme O. 1964. Federal Government in Nigeria. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Coleman, James Smoot. 1958. Nigeria: Background to Nationalism. Berkeley: University of California Press.
DuBois, W. E. Burghardt. 1963. "The Pan-African Movement." Pp. 13-26 in George Padmore, editor, History of the Pan-African Congress. London: Hammersmith Bookshop, 1963.
Dudley, Billy J. 1982. An Introduction to Nigerian Government and Politics. London: Macmillan Publishers.
Ekeh, Peter P., Patrick Dele Cole, and Gabriel O. Olusanya, eds. (1989) Nigeria Since Independence. The First Twenty-Five Years. Volume V: Politics and Constitutions. Ibadan: Heinemann Educational Books.
Eleazu, Uma O. 1977. Federalism and Nation-building: the Nigerian Experience, 1954-1964. Illfracombe: Stockwell. Ihonvbere, Julius. 1996. "A Radical View of Nigeria's Political Development." Pp. 108-134 in Oyeleye Oyediran, ed., Governance and Development in Nigeria. Essays in Honour of Professor Billy J. Dudley. Ibadan: Agbo Areo Publishers.

July 2002

Factors That Kept Yoruba in the Federation

The Reactions

The Origin of the Imbroglio

45year old Man, dies after scuffle with traffic agents

As the police investigate the circumstances that led to the death of one Mr. Julius Iwhiwhu shortly after he allegedly had a scuffle with officials of the Rivers State Traffic Maintenance Agency popularly known as TIMARIV, the family of the deceased are crying for justice.



Mr. Julius Iwhiwhu

 Iwhiwhu had left his home last Thursday for a church programme oblivious of the fact that he would never return to his residence alive. He died a day later in the hospital after he purportedly claimed that a substance was sprayed on his face by some operatives of TIMARIV.

The officials of TIMARIV were said to have accosted the 45-year-old Iwhiwhu, who was an employee of Schlumberger Group, for purportedly breaking a traffic rule.
The deceased was said to have made a turn at the MCC Junction while returning from the church, making the TIMARIV men to arrest him. The argument that ensued between him and the officials of the agency attracted the attention of passersby, who pleaded for the man to be left alone.
Not moved by the plea of the passersby, the TIMARIV officials insisted that Iwhiwhu, who was with his eight-year-old daughter while driving, must be taken to their office. The deceased was said to have told them that he was ready to go to their office with them, but on the condition that he would be the person to drive his car.
Dissatisfied with the condition, the men allegedly struggled with Iwhiwhu while trying to get his car key from him. The deceased’s daughter, Miss Rukey Iwhiwhu, narrated her father’s ordeal in the hands of the traffic officials. According to her, the men had during the struggled pushed her father.
“When my dad was turning at MCC Junction as other cars were turning, they (TIMARIV officials) told us to park somewhere and as my dad stopped,” she said. “They told us to move with them to their office in Nkpolu. When my dad hid the key of the car, they started pushing the car to their office at Rumuigbo after ordering us to go down from the car so that one of them could drive it.
“But my dad told them that he would drive the car himself to anywhere they wanted him to go and as they were dragging the key with my daddy, they pushed him inside somewhere. When he came out from there, I saw one man in black trousers and white T-shirt. The man was with a laptop. When I went to see my father, he (my dad) told me that they sprayed something on his face and asked me to pray for him. He said that he was dying. But the people said he was pretending until he collapsed.”
The grief-stricken wife of the deceased, Dr. Gloria Iwhiwhu, said she got a call from her husband, asking her to meet him at Rumuigbo Junction. She said her husband claimed that the men of TIMARIV were harassing him. Gloria added that when she got to a point, a neighbour told her that Iwhiwhu had raised the alarm before he died that the officials of traffic agency, who arrested him, had sprayed a substance on his face.
“It was at that point that I was assisted by some passersby to take my husband to the hospital. He was later admitted at Rivers Hospital with the help of some policemen. But at about 5 pm the following day, he died and the police came to transfer his corpse to Kpaima Morgue.
“I don’t really know what to say again because my heart is broken. But TIMARIV should have considered the cry of my little child, who pleaded with them to leave her father alone and spare my husband. In fact, TIMARIV should be made to explain what happened to my husband,” Gloria said, weeping, while also calling on humanitarian and rights organisations to prevail on the traffic agency to explain what they did to her husband.
Reacting, the Controller-General of TIMARIV, Mr. Nelson Jaja, told CRIME DIGEST that investigation had already commenced on the matter. Jaja maintained that the officials of the agency were not allowed by law to carry arms, teargas or engage in physical combat with suspected traffic offenders. He noted that preliminary investigation showed that his men didn’t spray any substance on the deceased, but added that the investigation, which included an autopsy, was ongoing.
“My preliminary investigation shows that my people did what they were supposed to do. But the police are still carrying on with the investigation. I requested an autopsy to be carried out and something has been taken to the forensic laboratory in Lagos and our stand today is that we’re very sorry, we sympathise with the family,” Jaja stated.
He, however, said that if at the end of the investigation, any of his men was found to have used anything on the deceased, he would not hesitate to prosecute the person based on his capacity as the controller-general of TIMARIV. “I, as a person, will not tolerate anybody spoiling the good work we’re doing. If any of our men goes outside our code, I will deal with the person. I will personally prosecute the person. That is why I’m also interested in getting to the root of the matter. But for now, I’m convinced that they followed due process,” he said.
When contacted, the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Suleiman Abbah, said three TIMARIV officials had so far been arrested in connection with the incident.
Abbah, however, told CRIME DIGEST that investigation was ongoing on the incident.
But for now Gloria and her daughter are still mourning their departed husband and father.

newsnigeriana.com/a-45year-old-man-dies-after-scuffle-with-traffic-agents

Akpanudoedehe’s life in danger, ACN alleges

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has raised an alarm over the safety of its gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, after he was flown, unaccompanied by any of his aides, in an helicopter to Uyo, yesterday.
In a statement issued in Ilorin, Kwara State, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said its concern was in view of the glaring partisanship of the police in handling the Akwa Ibom case and the arrest of 41 ACN supporters in the state, whose only offence is that they were found with brooms, the party’s symbol.



Sen. Akpanudoedehe

 “Three of the 41 ACN supporters who were arrested and slammed into detention were reported to have died. How can we then not be worried by the safety of our governorship candidate under the circumstances?
“We hope this idea of flying Sen. Akpanudoedehe to Uyo, ostensibly to arraign him in court there after the police virtually abducted him right inside a court in Abuja, in a crude and brush manner, is not aimed at subjecting him to the final solution,” it said.
ACN warned that nothing untoward must happen to Sen. Akpanudoedehe, and that since he is now held captive by the police, the force will be held responsible for his safety.  The party urged the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, to respect the law in handling this delicate issue, since he is not above the law.
Wife pleads for intervention
Meanwhile, Senator Akpanudoedehe’s wife, Justin, has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the matter by ordering an immediate release of her husband for the sake of her tender kids whom she said weep everyday over the continued detention of their father.
She equally implored well-meaning Nigerians, women and civil society organisations, within and outside the country, to come to her rescue with a view to determining the whereabouts of her husband who she last saw on Sunday, alleging that of 41 detained supporters of the ACN in Akwa Ibom State, that three of them were allegedly reported dead yesterday morning owing to food poisoning.
Speaking in Abuja yesterday, she said, “I went to the police headquarters this morning to tell my husband that the surety has finally signed all the documents that will secure his release from detention, only to meet an empty cell.
“When I started asking questions, officers there told me that a chopper came and picked him up, I tried to find out where he has been taken to, at least for me to hear his last words, they refused telling me, when I went to the IG, he told me that he is only following orders from above.
“My children are young, they have been crying over their father’s absence for the past two weeks. I am particularly afraid because out of the 41 persons that were arrested in Akwa Ibom because of their loyalty to by husband, three of them died this morning as a result of food poisoning.
“In the state now, everybody is afraid to hold a broom because once police see you with it they arrest you.
“Please President Jonathan, I know you are a good man, and you have said that no man’s blood is worth to be sacrificed for your mandate, please  my husbands blood is not worth it, don’t allow him to die in detention please. Intervene in this matter. You are a peace loving man, so also is my husband
“Women, where are you, come to my rescue immediately, I want the whole world to know that my husband may die before this election if nothing is done to secure his release.
“I am appealing to every Nigerian to intervene, if not for anything, for the sake of my innocent kids”, she urged.
One of the lawyers that is representing him in court, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, equally collaborated her story, adding that he was yet to be informed about where the ACN candidate is currently kept, adding that the defence team are working on legal processes that they intend to file in court soon.
It will be recalled that Udoedehe was re_arrested by security operatives last week Thursday, shortly after he was granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja over a four count charge bothering on treason.

vanguardngr.com/2011/04/akpanudoedehe%e2%80%99s-life-in-danger-acn-alleges

Chaos! *NASS elections postponed to April 9

Apr 4, 2011

*Presidential polls shifted to April 16; Governorship, April 26

BY JIDE AJANI, CLIFFORD NDUJIHE & DAPO AKINREFON

ABUJA – INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission, INEC, led by Professor Attahiru Jega, has rescheduled the voting dates for the 2011 general elections.
Jega who made the announcement, yesterday, at the INEC headquarters after a meeting with chairmen of all the 63 political parties in the country, rescheduled the election dates as follows:
Senate and House of Reps Elections: Saturday, April 9
Presidential Elections:                         Saturday, April 16
House of Assembly/Governorship Elections:   Tuesday, April 26

The three elections were earlier scheduled to hold as follows: National Assembly Elections, Saturday, April 2; Presidential Elections, Saturday, April 9; and House of Assembly/Governorship Elections, Saturday, April 16.
Addressing journalists after the meeting with the political party chairmen, Jega said: “Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission announced the rescheduling of the 2011 National Assembly, Senate and the House of Representatives elections from April 2, to April 4, 2011, due to late arrival of sensitive election materials.
“Since that announcement, several representations have been made to the Commission, urging it to consult more widely and to ensure that the two-day postponement is enough to address all the logistical issues that will militate against a successful conduct of the rescheduled election. We have just finished a meeting with chairmen of all the political parties in the country which is part of this wide consultations and representations which we have received.

Secure tamper resistant election ballot boxes.

Following these representations and the subsequent consultations we had with stake holders, the Commission has found that the overwhelming sentiment is to further reschedule the rescheduled elections.
“Requests to reschedule the National Assembly elections have come from a cross section of stake holders including political parties and civil society organizations. However, rescheduling the National Assembly elections would have implications for the other elections.
“Consequently, the Commission weighed all the options and considered the wide ranging counsel of Nigerians and decided to reschedule all the elections as follows: Saturday, April 9, Senate and House of Representatives Elections; Saturday, April 16, Presidential Elections; Tuesday, April 26, State House of Assembly and Governorship Elections”.
Jega then “thanked all Nigerians for their enthusiasm for the elections and the support to the Commission and the electoral process”, adding that “your sacrifices are not lost on the Commission and we’re even more determined now to ensure that the 2011 elections are free, fair and credible.”
Endorsement by parties
He added: “I must also say the chairmen of all political parties who are seated here today have fully endorsed these recommendations.”
Vanguard gathered that the full-scale postponement of the elections was partly engendered by deliberations at the National Security Council, NSC, meeting which was held at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, late on Saturday, April 2.
It was also learnt that most of the stake holders who made presentations to INEC explained that citizens who were fully mobilized to their various villages, towns and states may not have been able to stay away from their bases longer than last weekend and, therefore, be able to wait till today to participate in the voting.
In addition, Vanguard was told by an INEC top shot that the reason for the 10-day difference between the Presidential Elections and the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections was because of the possible challenges that may occasion the Presidential Election.

vanguardngr.com/2011/04/chaos-nass-elections-postponed-to-april-9/

Election Violence Still A Major Security Challenge

Sunday, 03 April 2011 23:36

Wisdom Patrick, Lagos

With close to some 200,000 officers and men, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) appears ready to provide security during the April general elections in Nigeria. At least, Police can say in categorical terms that it has the manpower and therefore, ready for the task.

Commissioner of Police (CP),Yakubu Alkali

In Lagos for example, Nigeria’s commercial capital for instance, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Yakubu Alkali, confirmed to LEADERSHIP in a telephone interview on Thursday that he would like to keep the number of Policemen expected on duty for the April polls, rescheduled to begin this Saturday, close to his chest. He, however, vowed to deliver violence free elections in the State.

According to him, “I can tell you that we in Lagos State are more than ready and set to go. Officers and men designated for election duty have all been briefed on what the rules of the game are. They all know their limit at the polling stations. We have been properly equipped, by the Police High Command and the state government and so therefore, we have no reason to fail. Lagos residents should go about their electoral business without any fear of molestation because we are in control.”

But even with all these, security of lives and property before, during and after elections in the country still appear to be a herculean task. The Police, in this regard tend to be helpless. In fact, few days to the polls which were earlier billed to commence last Saturday, intelligence report said there were already huge arms piling in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States and blamed it on porous border and compromise by security agents at such places of entry. The discovery was made by men and officers of the State Security Service (SSS).

Similarly, a United State of America (USA) based Human Rights Watch, said a successful transfer of power means more than just keeping the country from falling apart. Peter Takirambudde, Executive Director of the Africa division at Human Rights Watch said, “It means that voters must be protected from intimidation and violence aimed at silencing their voices. It means that candidates must be able to stand for office without fear of bloodshed.”

Many politicians have taken advantage of rampant poverty and unemployment to recruit young men, who intimidate and even kill their opponents or opponents’ supporters. For example, in Kwara State, supporters of the governor and the leading gubernatorial candidate have been in conflict, leading to the killing of a state party chairman in August 2002 and the bombing of a newspaper office in November 2002.

Some of the worst violence reportedly took place during the primaries of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), particularly in the oil-producing state of Bayelsa, in the South-South zone. Politically-motivated killings and other attacks have occurred in many other areas, including the South-East and the South-West. In central and northern states, some politicians have used religion and ethnicity to galvanise political support or opposition, stirring up sentiments that could spark further communal violence in Nigeria, as evidenced by the so-called Miss World riots in Kaduna in November 2002.

Most of the cases of political violence remain unresolved. Although the police have made some arrests, prosecutions are rare. “Impunity is encouraging ruthless politicians to believe they can continue using violence to silence their opponents,” said Takirambudde.

The Human Rights Watch said it also documented the status of preparations for elections, and made recommendations to the Nigerian government and the international community on how to help prevent political violence and ensure that the elections are free of human rights abuses.

Takirambudde added: “People in Nigeria have proven they are eager to vote and participate.But many may still be left out, either because of the bungling of preparations by the electoral commission, or because of outright intimidation and fraud by candidates.”

Takirambudde’s fear is understood. At least it is on record that at a party primary in Lagos organised by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over eight people lost their lives. The situation was not different during the Action Congress of Nigeria (CPC) primary in the state. A report has it that five persons were brutally hacked down by yet to be identified persons in the Badagary area of the state.The situation is unsafe and perilous in many part of the country with little or no answer by the security agencies on how to check the situation and ensure transparent, violence free and fair elections in the country. Needless to say here that there had been riots, bombings and assassinations in Nigeria. Yet, not a vote has been cast in what has turned out to be the most expensive elections in Africa’s history. To this effect, the Nigeria Elections Situation Room, a forum of groups focusing on the upcoming elections said, “The unprecedented levels of violence that have seen several people killed, maimed, kidnapped or intimidated for political reasons pose the single most significant threat to the conduct of general elections”.

Already, an estimated 70 people have been reported killed in political violence in just a run-up to the national elections that will be held the next Saturdays. Every day brings stories of violence and intimidation from across the country. An Islamic militant group reportedly killed three people this week at a rally in the north. At the same event, police said it stopped “two heavy explosives” from detonating in the crowd.

Too often, however, police are unable to stop the bloodshed. A situation that made the European Union (EU) to described the 2007 elections as the worst they had ever seen anywhere in the world, with rampant rigging, violence, theft of ballot boxes and intimidation. As Africa’s most populous country and its largest oil producer, Nigeria is important. Yet, despite its enormous oil wealth, 80% of the population lives on less than $2 a day, according to the United Nations.

Up to this point, there have been 16 bomb explosions in the country, all in the pre-election period. Compared to two explosions in 2007, according to Shehu Sani of Civil Rights Congress, that number continues to increase on almost daily basis. Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has canceled leave for emergency officers during the elections and identified one-third of the country’s 36 states as “flash points,” an indication that all is not well.

The federal government has ordered the deployment of the military during the elections for security purposes. However, opposition political parties have rejected the security measures. “The deployment of troops creates an atmosphere of warfare, which in turn heats up the polity,” an opposition party, Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) said, adding that “that is why it is not a common occurrence in other climes during elections.”

Olusola Amore, Police spokesman, assured that the military will guard ballot boxes. He said, “We are taking note of volatile areas and adequately planning our deployment, noting that three or four security agents will be posted at each polling booth. But Human Rights Watch warned that similar steps were taken during the 2007 elections, but backfired.

“The police were often present during such incidents but frequently turned a blind eye or, at times, participated in abuses, yet no one has been held accountable for these crimes,” the group said.

An electoral reform committee, established in 2008 reported that no Nigerian has been convicted and punished for electoral offenses since Independence in 1960.

In a recent statement, the Independent National Electoral Commission said, “Make no mistake about it: this test of honour is inescapably a collective one for all Nigerians. It is our national honour at stake, and our relevance in the affairs of the modern world being redefined.”

But the commission also admitted its limitations in ensuring smooth elections, saying “by all means, the test isn’t INEC’s alone; the election management body is only a midwife of the process and an umpire on the play turf.”

The concern is that despite all the promises, the trend appears to be happening all over again and might still happen.

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Why INEC Rescheduled Elections

 

Monday, 04 April 2011

Edegbe Odemwingie, Sunday Isuwa, Shuaib Shuaib, Abuja, Kazeem Akintunde and Taiwo Ogunmola, Lagos

• Commonwealth regrets further shift

• Postponement cost Nigeria N75b

• 4 killed in Lagos, others missing

• FG reopens land borders



Professor Attahiru Jega

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday bowed to pressures from stakeholders, principally political parties to reschedule the 2011 general elections. INEC had, on Saturday, postponed the National Assembly elections to Monday (today) due to late arrival of sensitive election materials.

This was even as the federal government ordered the  reopening of Nigeria’s land borders.

Rising from a close-door meeting with Nigeria’s political parties Sunday evening, INEC chairman Professor Attahiru Jega announced a sweeping change in all the election dates. According to him, rescheduling of the National Assembly elections would have implication for the schedule of all the other elections.

National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, April 9, presidential on Saturday, April 16, while gubernatorial and the state assembly elections will hold on Tuesday, April 26.

Many political parties under the aegis of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) had threatened to boycott what they deemed an arbitrarily chosen date for the previously postponed National Assembly election.

“It is unacceptable that having failed in its most basic statutory responsibility to conduct the April 2011 National Assembly elections, INEC should arbitrarily announce a new date of Monday, 4th April, without consultations with political parties who are the major stakeholders in the election. As it stands, the parties are not ready or prepared for this new date and as such, we are not party to the date as dictated by INEC.” A statement issued by IPAC’s chairman, Chief Osita E. Okereke and the Secretary, Alhaji Shittu Mohammed had earlier stated.

Jega told newsmen: “Since the postponement and the announcement of Monday for the conduct of the National Assembly elections, several representations have been made to the commission, urging it to consult widely and to ensure that the two-day postponement is enough to address all the logistical issues that may militate against a successful conduct of the rescheduled elections.

“Following these representations and subsequent consultations with stakeholders, the commission has found that the overwhelming sentiment is to further reschedule the elections. Requests to reschedule the National Assembly elections have come from a cross-section of stakeholders, including political parties and civil society organisations.” Jega thanked Nigerians for their enthusiasm for the elections and support for the commission and the electoral process stressing that, “Your sacrifices are not lost on the commission and we are even more determined now to ensure that the 2011 elections are free, fair and credible.”

Responding to questions from newsmen on the possibility of merging National Assembly elections with the presidential elections, Jega said it was not explored because logistics challenge would be too enormous.

“It is possible but we believe that we are better served by separating the two; we do not want the logistical preparations for one to affect the other.

“We all know that the international community is interested in observing all the elections but they are more particularly interested in terms of the outcome of the presidential elections. As a commission and with the endorsement of the stakeholders that we have consulted, Nigeria is better served in terms of bringing about free, fair and credible elections, if we separated these elections. That was the reason for this separation, “he stated.

Parties roundly embraced the new election dates.

National chairman, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Tony Momoh, said: “The logo of some political parties are missing, many names are not there (on the ballot papers), there are shortages at polling stations and lots and lots of problems and these cannot be addressed within 24 hours. There is enough time now to make the necessary adjustments and we believe that Jega can handle the issue.”

The CPC said it was more comfortable with the March 9 date that has been fixed for the National Assembly elections and commended Jega for consulting with political parties and taking them into confidence before fixing the date.

The national publicity secretary of CPC, Rotimi Fashakin, speaking to LEADERSHIP yesterday, said the date was agreed upon through a democratic process. The political parties, he said, had a joint position which they presented to the electoral commission, adding that the new date is the most reasonable under the circumstances.

Fashakin said “Saturday will afford INEC the opportunity to overcome all the impediments it had previously encountered. It is good for Nigeria and I must commend Prof. Jega for his truthfulness. It takes a great man to take the decision he took.”

The acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello, said, : “If they (INEC) say they are not ready now, we are willing to wait for them to get ready because we want free and credible elections.”

Meanwhile, the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) has said it was unrealistic to schedule the cancelled National Assembly elections for Monday, even as the group insisted that it was capable of deepening the current state of uncertainty.

This was contained in a statement signed by Comrade Hilary Ojukwu of the Nigerian Progressives in the Diaspora; Barr Benedict Ezeagu, national coordinator SNG; Barr. Stanly Dien, secretary, SNG;  and Barr. Francis Olabode, PRO, SNG; and made available to LEADERSHIP.

“In view of the nationwide confusion and disagreement occasioned by the new date fixed by INEC for the botched National Assembly elections, the Save Nigeria Group wishes to state unequivocally that the April 4,2011 date unilaterally announced by the Jega-led INEC is unrealistic and capable of further deepening the current state of uncertainty in the country.

They argued that the new date for the NASS elections would clash with WAEC examinations which had been fixed for the same date with the attendant security implications, even as any attempt to move these exams would cost the nation further avoidable and unwarranted loss.

Any new date, the statement maintained must take into cognizance the ability of different political parties and other stakeholders to mobilise the needed resources to be able to participate effectively in the elections.

However, the Commonwealth Election Observer Group in Nigeria has expressed regret over the further postponement of the National Assembly polls now scheduled to hold April 9.

A statement by its chairman, Festus Mogae, made available to LEADERSHIP last night stated that the last-minute postponement was regrettable.

“We have noted the further postponement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the National Assembly elections, and that the presidential elections have also now been postponed.

“We note that the announcement follows consultation with the principal stakeholders. We recognise fully that it is the prerogative of Nigeria’s electoral authorities to make changes to the electoral timetable.

“We believe, nevertheless, that such repeated and last-minute changes are regrettable and do not reflect positively on the state of preparedness of INEC.”

Meanwhile, an estimated sum of N75 billion might have been lost by the economy especially in the private sector following the postponement of the National Assembly election earlier scheduled for last Saturday.

The estimate is based on the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about $360 billion.  Experts estimate that about $500 million or N75 billion for half a day of work was lost due to the fact that Saturday was a weekend when only the private sector operates.

The chairman of INEC, Prof. Jega, last Saturday postponed the National Assembly election due to an“ unanticipated late arrival of results sheets in many parts of the country.”

Reacting to the development, the chairman of the National Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa said the aggregate loss based on the GDP particularly as it borders on private sector which drives the economy of any nation, was enormous.

He noted that what happened was a national disgrace to a country that pride itself as giant of Africa, adding that INEC should apologies to the nation as what happened was absolutely unavoidable.

Ohuabunwa described the postponement as a national disgraced that bothers on the integrity of INEC adding that electoral materials are items that require the highest level of security and must be treated as such.

Ohuabunwa noted that if the security of any of the items is breached, then the credibility of the election becomes compromised.

Meanwhile, former Chai rman of Epe local government,  Mr Mufutai Rufai  and two others lost their lives on Saturday , as their boat  capsized , when returning from a  river side area in Epe local government area of Lagos state  , where they went to monitor last Saturday’s botched National Assembly election.

Mr Rufai who was earlier seen at Epe around 2pm, was said to have visited Oriba in Epe Local government Area. Their boat capsized on their way back from the island, and three of them drowned in the process.

It was gathered that, they were eight people aboard the boat, but five of them managed to survive, and they were latter taken to a hospital for treatment, and have been subsequently discharged.

The reopneing of the borders was announced in Abuja by the minister of interior Captain Emmanuel Iheanachor.

This is sequel to the resheduling of the general elections by INEC.

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