‘INEC Still Harbours Crooks’

Edo State Governor, , Comrade Adams Oshiomole, yesterday raised alarm that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may still be harbouring crooks that can mar the good work of the commission.

The governor who declared open the 7th All Nigeria Guild of Editors Conference in Benin, yesterday, said that a particular INEC personnel that was reported to have committed electoral offences was  merely transferred instead of being tried and jailed.

According to him, the laws of the land do not stipulate that when an armed robber was caught, he should be transferred, the same way an electoral offender should not be provided another area to carry on his or her crime.

“If the gain INEC made in the last elections would not be allowed to fritter away, such experienced rigger should be watched”, he said.

The governor credited President Goodluck Jonathan with relative improvements in the 2011 elections in the country, but noted that democracy requires more than credible elections , as the objective was to meet the legitimate yearnings of the people.

Governor Oshiomole urged members of the Guild to eliminate all forces that are opposed to popular participation in elections and governance by the people as well as be on the side of the people, and interrogate those who insist on taking political power.

He warned that if the media failed to insist that resources applied to the people in ways that the human welfare index was improved, the security effort of the government would come under unbearable pressure.

Calling for a review of the revenue allocation formula of the country which he said does not encourage development, Governor Oshiomole said more devolution of powers was needed to target the rural poor.

Dagogo Clinton