Politics
Between Edo Polls And Rivers Re-run
For reasons that are still
debatable, Rivers State was named among the first of states that were said to be flash points of political violence in the run-up to the 2015 general elections in Nigeria. In what is now history, the polls were conducted in an atmosphere that was not any much different from what obtained in other states across the country. Little wonder therefore that the Prof. Atahiru Jega-led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, collated and declared results in Rivers State as it did in others.
However, what INEC did not see as sufficient grounds for annulment, the Election Petition Tribunal adjudged enough grounds to cancel some results and ordered a re-run of the polls while upholding others.
Consequently, the national electoral body fixed March 19, 2016 to conduct a fresh exercise for the affected Senatorial, House of Representatives as well as state House of Assembly seats. In the run-up to the rescheduled polls, the predictions of an unfavourable atmosphere for peaceful electoral activities resurfaced. The polls were held under a different leadership at INEC. Prof. Mahmud Yakubu had been given the job of chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission while Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak had been redeployed to Rivers State as the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC.
As it turned out, between March 19 and March 20, 2016, the electoral umpire declared the conduct of the rescheduled elections in Rivers State inconclusive as it pronounced the exercise out rightly cancelled in some constituencies and suspended some others in other constituencies.
Whether the alibi of widespread electoral violence advanced by INEC was sufficient or not, it provided perfect excuse for the commission to wield the big stick. It was not until July, 2016 before INEC came up with another date (July 30, this time around) for the conclusion of the suspended and or cancelled polls.
As if it was not enough punishment that Rivers State and its people have been without representation in the Senate of the Federal Republic, having had only five representatives out of thirteen in the House of Representatives and as many as eleven constituencies yet to be represented in the State House of Assembly, Hajiya Amina Zakari, INEC Commissioner in charge of operations, announced in the twilight of July that the July 30 date had been reconsidered. The reason she said that in the thinking of the commission the security situation in Rivers State was not conducive enough for them and that they couldn’t consider any other date close to September 10, 2016 when the Edo State Governorship election had been fixed.
According to Mrs Zakari, the suspended and or canceled rescheduled re-run legislative elections in Rivers State may be held only in the closing days of October, 2016. She said that the focus and the concentration of the commission at the time was on the Edo governorship polls.
That the much focused and prioritized Edo polls did not hold on the appointed date because INEC postponed it only about 72 hours to the time is no longer news. What has however remained controversial and continued to agitate the minds of many keen observers is the circumstances surrounding that decision.
Prior to that final decision the police and the department of State Services, DSS, jointly issued a warning to INEC to shift the set election date because of terror alert involving a number of states including Edo during the Muslim festival of Eid-el-Kabir on the 12th and 13th of September, 2016.
“For Rivers State, there were claims of insecurity. In Edo, there were no claims of insecurity”, Orage St. Franklyn, lawyer and senior special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State on Social Media, pointed out.
According to Barr St. Franklyn the reason of a possible terror attack adduced by the police and the DSS was only a product of a collaboration between the security agencies and the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, to show strength and thereby gain some political dividends.
For him, the fact that the police as well as INEC had mobilized and deployed men and materials into Edo for the elections did not support the claim of a veritable terror threat and that the security agencies were inadvertently indicting themselves of being unable to provide protecton for Nigeria and Nigerians.
“It’s a very disturbing issue and it’s a source of worry for a lot of us”, adding that it’s embarrassing and it’s a shame” .
The Senior aide to the Rivers State Governor said he considered the development as a strategy by the ruling APC to undermine the will of the people of Edo State and in Rivers as well.
“Insecurity is a strategy of the APC to undermine our democracy. For Rivers State it’s the same strategy. For Edo State, it’s the same strategy”, he alleged.
He averred that the claim of insecurity by the security agencies and INEC was exaggerated in order to deny the people their legitimate stake in the polity and urged INEC to quickly put its house in order so as not to jeopardize the future of the country.
“Even in Rivers State, what are the security issues that will be the reason why a state will be denied its stake in the federation”, he queried, adding that the Senate of the Federal Republic may be argued to be improperly constituted since there was no single member from Rivers State contrary to the provision of the constitution setting up the upper legislative chamber.
“What is happening is actually a shock and it’s taking very many of us by surprise”, Comrade Christian Lekia, President, Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence and spokesman of the Civil Society Platform in Rivers State, said.
According to Comrade Lekia, the circumstances surrounding the election postponement were unnecessary and uncalled for since the state does not rank high among states with a violent political out look in the country and the Niger Delta region in the current dispensation.
While he admonished the major political actors in that state to do everything in their power to reject any thing associated with political violence, he tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission to come out clean and discharge its duties conscientiously.
“As an organization, INEC ought to have put everything in place. They’re an agency of the Federal Government that is in control of security and I don’t really see any justification for that postponement”, he said.
“Agencies and institutions of the Federal Government who ordinarinly should have played whatever role in the conduct of whatever election should submit in terms of support to INEC”, he said but advised the commission not to “conduct itself in a manner that will make it look as if there’s a conspiracy between one political party and the commission”.
He said even though the situation in both Rivers and Edo States were not exactly the same, INEC had not discharged itself well in both cases.
“INEC must do everything to end this shame game”, he emphasized, adding that “No reason was reasonable enough for INEC not to conduct the remaining re-run (legislative elections in Rivers State)”.
He said that the people of Rives State are ready to have the re-run election in October and urged electoral commission to live up to its constitutional responsibility and to justify its continued existence and funding from tax payer’s money.
“If democracy is people centered and there’s a set of people that are deprived of making their contribution because they’re without representation in the legislative chambers, as sensitive as it is, it will not be in the interest of this democracy at all”, he noted and strongly advised the leadership of INEC to either deliver on their mandate or resign their positions.”If this INEC cannot conduct election, they should resign. If they can conduct election, they should prove to Nigerians that they’re reedy to work”, he said and threw the same challenge to the security agencies.
“This is one moment of need for those in the police, the Department of State Services and other security agencies that need to collaborate to ensure that the tide of insecurity is stemmed and things like elections are conducted”, he reiterated.
Opaka Dokubo
The lawmaker representing Ipokia/Idiroko Constituency in the Ogun State House of Assembly, Bisi Oyedele, says Nigerian legislature, especially at the state level, has not ceased to be an appendage of the executive because the constitution which guarantees its financial autonomy has not been strictly adhered to.
Hon. Oyedele argued that a legislature that goes cap in hand to the executive cannot perform it functions optimally.
He spoke at a symposium organised by the Forum for Governance Leadership and Value (FGLV) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The symposium with the theme: “Enhancing The Value Of The Legislature In Nigeria’s Democratic Process”, was put together in honour of the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Senator Adeola Olamilekan, who was decorated as the legislative icon in Nigeria.
“The constitution is clear about legislative autonomy in section 121 of the constitution. It states clearly how legislature should be autonomous, independent. Until when that is done in Nigeria, the legislature will continue to become an appendage of the executive.
“I must tell you that if there’s strict adherence to the dictate of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you will begin to see changes in the operationalities of the houses of assembly.
“That’s very important because when you are not empowered financially, when everything you want to do, you have to raise a memo to the governor, we want this; you’re more like at the service of the governor, of which the constitution doesn’t put us under the governor”, Hon. Oyedele said.
He described the legislature as the bedrock of democracy, saying lawmakers should be the ones speaking for the people.
Delivering the lecture, a university don, Prof. Moshood Omotosho, lamented that corruption and lobbying by powerful political ‘cabals’ are major obstacles to effective lawmaking in Nigeria.
The professor of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, said despite the challenges, the crucial role of the legislature in stabilizing democratic governance through law-making, oversight promoting good governance, amongst others must not be undermined.
He said, “The legislature’s ability to make effective laws can be affected by factors like political gridlock, corruption, and the influence of special interest groups, i.e., lobbying by powerful political mafia in the state, major power brokers, and political cabals.
“The relationship between the executive and legislature can be strained, leading to conflicts that hinder effective governance due to differing priorities and power struggles,” Prof. Moshood explained.
A Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Ogun State, Morakinyo Akinleye, who represented Senator Adeola, applauded his strides in lawmaking and empowerment of his constituents.
“The legislature is the closest arm of government to the people. Hon. Solomon Adeola should be commended for his understanding of grassroots needs and his effective committee management,” Akinleye stated.
The convener, Bolaji Adeniji, disclosed that the purpose of the symposium was to have a conversation on how the legislature can add value to the society.
The Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso has accused the members of the party that recently defected to the All Progrssives Congress (APC) of betraying the party and the masses that brought them to power.
He spoke at his Bompai residence in Kano State, when he received supporters of Senator Abdulraham Sumaila (Kano South) who recently declined to defect with him (Kawu Sumaila) to the APC.
“Kano South is a lesson. Voters rejected spaghetti, N200 and Atamfa (wrappers) and were patient to vote for the NNPP. But those who won the election on the party’s ticket decided to abandon the masses to join those who do not have the masses at heart but are only after what they will get for themselves and their families” he stated.
“There is no worse political sin than leaving the party that gave you the opportunity and support but later you abandoned the party. This is the highest level of betrayal,” Senator Kwankwaso added.
Senator Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, appreciated the loyal members for “taking the courage to return to their base,” while predicting that all those who betrayed the Kwankwasiyya Movement would regret their political actions sooner or later.
“Fighting Kwankwasiyya is not an easy task, they will not know until when they engage in the fight,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the supporters, Muntari Fararawa, said that they came to his home to inform him of their refusal to join the APC with their senator.
“We thought it wise to return home so as to continue to propagate the ideals of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the NNPP as well as to contribute our quota to the development of our dear state.
“We hope that we will be accepted back and reintegrated into the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the NNPP to enable us to enjoy the same rights and privileges as other members,” he said.
Business mogul and elder statesman, Prince Arthur Eze, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for his historic visit to Anambra State and the Southeast zone, describing it as a clear message of healing and reconciliation to the Igbo.
The business magnate stated this in a letter he sent to the president, a copy of which was made available to newsmen, upon his return to Nigeria from Venezuela, where he had gone for a business endeavour.
“I have seen the joy and excitement elicited amongst our people by your visit to Anambra State.
“To this end I write to thank you specially for the visit to Anambra and by extension to the Southeast,” Prince Eze wrote.
He noted that the visit has gone a long way in healing the civil war wounds of South Easterners and assured the people that there is hope for proper reconciliation and reintegration.
“Today, it has entered the annals of Nigeria’s chequered history that you are the first President of the country, from the Southwest who has taken this historic initiative to visit the Southeast after the bitter civil war with a clear message of reconciling the Igbo with other parts of the nation.
“Nigerians have not forgotten the bitter civil war and its painful relics with its tribal cleavages and dimensions. This visit by you is therefore a giant leap forward and a clear signal that the wounds of that unfortunate era is healable.
“Your pronouncements during the visit are vivid indications that you are indeed a nationalist and a bridge builder who has risen above tribal dogmatism.
“Your actions by this singular visit has sent a message of hope of complete reintegration and reconciliation to the Igbo race.
“This is monumental and a generational landmark that we would continue to cherish and value,” he said.
Prince Eze also expressed appreciation to the president for appointing Igbo sons and daughters into key positions in his government.
“We are appreciative to the genuine concern you have always shown as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the cause of the Igbos. You have appointed Igbo sons and daughters to key positions as a mark of recognition for the entire Igbo people of this country.
“You also gave us important ministerial positions which no President before you had done, signaling your appreciation of the people of Southeast extraction.
“I also commend your robust appreciation of the laudable economic and infrastructural development projects accomplished by the Anambra State government under the able leadership of the amiable Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Soludo is a genuine and sincere personality, and every Igboman will support him. Be rest assured that he will ensure massive support for you from the Southeast in the 2027 elections”.
While describing President Tinubu as a true nationalist, Prince Eze pledged his support and those of other Igbo for the re-election of the president in 2027.
“I therefore make bold to say that Igbos, wherever they may reside in this country now have very concrete and genuine reasons to support you and work actively for your re-election in 2027 so that you can do more for the Igbos.
“Once again, I thank you immensely, my dear President, Dike Si’mba!” Prince Eze said.
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