Election And Transparency: Electoral Reforms In View
- By Frederick Odujole
Everyone that is asking for electoral reforms authomaticaly becomes an enemy of Tinubu and his crew of life perishing sailors at the helm of the national affairs of this nation.
You’ve just embarked on tax reforms because it serves your whims perfectly. More money in the public coffers means more money to be stólen since this governance contraption have very little compunction to serve the Nigerian public.
Tinubu is a beneficiary of the same electoral reforms he’s now spurning. It took a very special service to this nation from President Jonathan to appoint Prof. Jega. A man he never met before, just because he was a vocal critic of the election that ushered in his dual presidential ticket with Yar’Adua. Taking such steps in Nigeria was like a political suicide. But Jonathan would rather risk the power being taken away from him than to put the future of our common patrimony on the part of destruction.
Jega got there and serve the interest that was against that of Jonathan. He was steering the election towards electoral college when Jonathan halted the process and opted out.
The coming of Buhari was the front runner that saw Tinubu emerged in the face of so many unanswered questions that bordered on legitimacy and morality.
If the court case that was ensued in Chicago’s District Court took place while tinubu wasn’t in power, it would have been impossible for his candidature to be presented or considered at all. There was also a copy of his Guinean passport on display.
Trying use these internet r(a)ts to deride a legitimate claim for election reforms would be most immoral. The European Union who are big stake holders in Nigerian elections in terms of finances have repeatedly voiced specific concerns about our electoral conduct. They positively engaged INEC to see that suggested concerns were addressed in a sweeping reform that shall usher in credible elections forthwith.
Watching elections elsewhere shows quite clearly we have few hurdles to clear before we can beat out chests that we’ve conducted transparent and acceptable election vouching that genuine winners have emerged. What these supporters of evil are trying to avoid will equally affect them. When the powers that be, used the election to portray Nigeria as Savage nation where all manner of inhuman acts still takes place, it will affect our international image. Our global image is often at stake. When Abacha was in power he damned the international community and that reflected on our acceptability in the commity of nations. Even Nigerian football team rarely appeared on continental competitions. We were treated like leppers because of the indiscretion of our national ruler.
Now we have respectable stake holder in the wellbeing of this nation in person of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola voicing his concern about the quality or lack of it about the leadership of INEC that shall manage the next electoral circle. In normal climes such intervention are taken with all seriousness it deserves. Not pedestrian commentators reducing the vital counsel to reckless and ill-informed commentaries
What a truly national leadership should be doing now is to consider every suggestion that will take away the image of this nation from the pathway of becoming a pariah nation.
Electoral Reform is critical for the continuity of this nation. I’m sure this president won’t allow himself to be goaded towards another misnomer presidential election where principal technicality that shall authenticate the election will not be functioning. He should be warned against possible disaster
It is very clear to most honest Nigerians that those wishing to see Nigerian continue like this until 2031 are scanty in numbers compared to those seeking sweeping reforms. If this government allow the current social frustration go into that election without adequate reforms what ever comes out of it will their’s to deal with.
Electoral Reforms is the watch word. When Yar’Adua took the mantle of leadership in 2007 the first observation he made was about the imperfection of the election that ushered him into power. He promised a reform. Thankfully Jonathan pick up the gauntlet and turn the challenge to national electoral victories.
Now miscreant praise singers of the national defect have taken the center stage to rebuke every voice demanding acceptable election in Nigeria. These beastly acts are unbecoming. We need proper election to appoint our national leaders democratically.
If you can permit tax reforms you should be able to allow for electoral reforms. All reforms are in the mindset of the just. The tax reforms is obviously a political ploy against political adversaries. Otherwise for a nation that’s suffering economically, the priority should not be set towards increased govt earnings at the expense of the public.
On electoral Reforms this nation stands. Without it, whomsoever that shall emerge shall have persistent issues to confront with the public. The people of this nation should be cleverly steered away from impending frustration emanating from the bad handling of this democracy.
Thank you Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for making such a just observation at this critical time in the history of our nation. You are indeed a worthy Leader in this nation. God Bless you Sir!
- Frederick Odujole, a writer wrote from Lagos, Nigeria.
The opinions expressed in this publication are solely those of the author. It does not represent the editorial position or opinion of OSUN DEFENDER.
