Osoba, Falana, Want Ex- INEC Chairman Probed

Former governor of Ogun,Segun Osoba, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana and other eminent personalities on Wednesday in Abeokuta called for a complete re-organisation of INEC to ensure credible polls in 2011.

In addition, they called for the probe of the former INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu, a new digitalised voters’ register and simultaneous accreditation and voting nationwide.

The personalities spoke at the 12th anniversary of the death of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, organised by the Coalition of Democrats against Rigging in conjunction with the state chapter of AC, Osoba described the new INEC chairman, Prof. Atahiru Jega, and his team as “people of outstanding qualities’’, but charged them to flush out all the bad elements in the commission.

The former governor said that without doing this, Jega and his team would not conduct free, fair and credible elections in 2011.

He said that some resident electoral commissioners who conducted the worst elections in certain states in 2007, should be shown the way out in order not to further corrupt the system.

“Until Jega does this, we should not be clapping for him. He should not only re-organise INEC, he should re-invent it. And part of this is to ensure that Iwu’s tenure as INEC chairman is probed.

“If he is found to have misappropriated any funds or he is found to have used his position to enrich himself in any way, he should be prosecuted,’’ Osoba said.

Osoba, who said that he ran away from Ogun over alleged insecurity of his life, said he had decided to relocate back home and join hands with other progressives to participate in the 2011 elections.

He described the late Abiola as an icon of democracy, stressing that he would continue to live forever as long as democracy was thriving in the country.

On his part, Falana charged the people to be vigilant with their votes, adding: “Anybody who attempts to rig election must be dealt with accordingly.’’

According to him, the 2007 experience should be enough for people to know that it is better to prevent rigging than to be challenging election results before election petition tribunals.

Falana urged the Federal Government to recognise and immortalise Abiola“so that Nigeria can be at peace’’.

According to Odumakin, all the accolades being showered on the late Abiola are well-deserved as he laid down his life for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria.

Pastor Bakare, who was represented by Mr Dipo Famakinwa, stressed the need for one man, one vote in the forthcoming general elections “so as to change Nigeria for the better’’.

Bakare urged all progressives to come together, irrespective of their party leanings, to work for the success of the 2011 elections.