No To Further Shift of Polls
Just as the All Progressives Congress (APC) raised an alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Presidency were planning to postpone the February 14 and 28 general elections, which later came to pass, similar alarm is being raised by the APC ahead of the March 28 and April 11 rescheduled polls specifically an allegation that the Presidency and the ruling party plan to orchestrate security crisis in some states in the Northwest zone assumed to be the stronghold of the APC: the alleged withdrawal of Customs, Immigration and other security operatives from the country’s border posts in Kebbi and Katsina States to allow for the influx of foreigners to precipitate crisis to justify another shift of the polls, and the move to remove the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
No matter how one looks at these allegations, the unfolding drama across the country ahead of the postponed polls indicates that something sinister is in the pipeline which, if care is not taken, may adversely affect the country. The struggle for the presidency is assuming a dangerous dimension between the APC and the PDP.
From the allegations, is it possible that the reason for the polls shift was to enable PDP re-strategise on how to win the elections? Constitutionally, protection of lives and property is the primary responsibility of any government. Sadly, the government of President Goodluck Jonathan has failed woefully in the last five years, in discharging this responsibility, despite the enormous resources at its disposal. Before now, the Presidency was chasing shadows, while Boko Haram insurgents had a field day. Barely two weeks before the country’s general elections, security was then cited as excuse to shift the polls.
But what happens if the insurgency in Northeast is not quelled within the six weeks as demanded by the military authority? Will it occasion another polls shift? The Presidency, PDP or the military authority have not provided answer to this pertinent question. Their studied silence is suspicious, especially in light of the latest allegations on the planned security crisis in some states.
Notably, this allegation came few days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused President Jonathan of working towards a controversial poll, the same way former Ivorian president, Laurent Gbagbo did. This calls for introspection. Obasanjo said the sudden postponement of general elections was uncalled for, stressing that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Attahiru Jega, was forced to do so. On the excuse given by security chiefs that they cannot guarantee adequate security during election, Mr. Obasanjo said it was disappointing adding that the military might have been forced to make that excuse.
“It was even made worst when the President in the media chat on the 11th of this month claimed not to have knowledge or not to have authorised it. I get worried, very worried that if the President of Nigeria is not in-charge of security, maintenance of law and order and such a decision can be taken behind him, assuming that is true, then the president must be reigning and not ruling and then who are the shadow figures that are ruling us? It means that one day we will find out this country would be plunged into chaos, into commotion, into confusion and the president would say, ‘I do not know about it’. Of course, the president can run but he cannot run past God...” He also expressed belief that the president’s fear is particularly motivated by whom he sees as his likely successor, that is General Buhari.
Dissecting the shift of the 2015 polls, Obasanjo’s recent allegations against President Jonathan, and the APC’s recent allegations of planned mayhem in some states, it would appear that there is more than meets the eye, as Nigerians look forward to the rescheduled polls. There may be no smoke without fire.
Desperation has obviously set in as the PDP and the Presidency appeared to be determined to hold unto power by force. These approaches or antics are alien in a democratic society all over the world and the consequences could be catastrophic, because whoever is banking on power of incumbency to stoke political -cum- electoral crisis can never be sure of its magnitude.