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Mar. 14, 2007 When in early 90's former President George Bush was defeated by the younger maverick Democrat William 'Bill' Jefferson Clinton his first reaction to the outcome of the polls that did not favour him was to congratulate his successor telling Americans who were disappointed in his Persian Gulf Kuwaiti imbroglio with late Saddam Hussein that he believed in and respected the majesty of the American democratic system. Although his anointed biological son has come to redeem the political dynasty of the Bushs overcoming Saddam Hussein in the process the average American voter is sensitive to the mood of every time weighing the foreign policy thrust of every administration at any given point in time and the domestic policy needs. For me having been to countries where real unadulterated democracy work I belong to the school of thought that see in democracy a great opportunity for development of nations and citizens. According to Prince Tony Momoh, former Information Minister now campaigning for a Buhari return: "Democracy liberates the mind and opens it up to what God gives". Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State whose erudite renditions in lectures are classic once quoted Confucious as saying that "in a country well governed poverty is something to be ashamed of; in a country badly governed wealth is something to be ashamed of". John Kotter once posited that "Leaders establish the vision for future and set the strategy for getting there; they cause change. They motivate and inspire others to go in the right direction and they, along with everyone else, sacrifice to get there". It was Bill Clinton while visiting Nigeria in the course of his presidency who declared that: "There is nothing wrong with Nigeria that cannot be fixed by what is right with Nigeria". Democracy in Nigeria can be said to be on trial! The April general elections will determine largely if we have grown with time after eight unbroken years practising it with all it's attendant abuses and manipulations or if nothing has been learnt. That is where INEC and 'Prof' Maurice Iwu come into the larger picture. Because organizing a free and fair election in April remains the greatest challenge facing not only Iwu and his INEC but majority of Nigerians tired of the comatose nature of the Giant of Africa. Iwu in Igbo language (if I'm not mistaken) means "law". What the April polls demand therefore is the respect of the guidelines in the electoral act for the elections. 'Prof.' Iwu is faced with a dilemma here: do the right thing and damn the consequencies like late Prof. Eme Awa did or fail the nation by collaborating with those who wish her evil and die a national villain! I think the former is good enough for him in deference to patriotic needs and the destiny of the future generations his children and children's children included. In the coming gubernatorial polls eight states will expose the impartial umpire status of INEC or the Commission's non-neutral status. Lagos, Adamawa, Oyo, Abia, Anambra, Katsina, Ogun and Edo states come under worrying analysis. Among the aforementioned lot Lagos will definitely be a combat zone. It's PDP's Obanikoro against Tinubu/Fashola AC political machine. The fireworks have already started to explode from all directions. Tinubu, the incumbent governor who is a political gadfly was on the soap box in Lagos the other day spitting fire and threathening against rigging in the polls: "If it is war, we will give it to them, if it is peace, we will give it to them. If they want riot, they will get it. We will not allow any form of rigging. We will give it everything it deserves. They cannot kill all of us. No rigging will be allowed." Gov. Tinubu was making sense given the fact that PDP (with the likes of Adedibu whose rigging antics ring a bell) is a party that has mastered the art of rigging elections (consider 'godfather' Chris Uba and Ngige episode in Anambra State). And Senator Musiliu Obanikoro of the PDP while addressing party members and supporters in Ikeja declared: "I remain undaunted, for we shall overcome. They have tried all means to pull me down but one with God would always be in majority. We shall remain focussed and would not be distracted by their antics. We are very sure that the time of this administration and the stooge is up". Continuing defiantly Obanikoro said: "I want to laud the police, SSS, civil defence, road safety and others for their good works in protecting us, the case would have been worse if not for their presence. But they need to study these people more because they are desperate. They worked hard, so I would not get my party‘s ticket. They even used those who pretended to be part of us against me but they failed. Their plan was to turn Lagos to a piece of cake for the AC. But as a destined child, I won. They have failed the people and we have exposed them. Now I am forcing them to embark on last-minute projects but our people know that they have failed". When you consider these two worldviews (almost violent to say the least) then INEC have a daunting task waiting it in Lagos and elsewhere. In Adamawa state the fact that VP Atiku is from there and Governor Boni Haruna who just escaped impeachment blues will make the guber race there very challenging for the PDP; any attempt to ruffle political feathers may be met with still resistance by the Atiku forces. The embattled Vice President ought to deliver his home state to the AC if only to demonstrate his home support in his feud with OBJ. In Oyo State Adebayo Alao-Akala and Lamidi Adedibu will try to use thugs, 'Amala' and 'Gbegiri' politics to win the state at all costs. But if after what Oyo State went through in the hands of Adedibu retrogressive forces in the Ladoja impeachment scam the Oyo people still vote for the PDP or allow the Molete demented lion to continue wielding his influence then sorry for Oyo people. Adedibu and his cohorts ought to be taught a bitter electoral lesson and the best time to do that is now. In Abia state it will be interesting seeing how PDP will win an election in an Orji Uzor Kalu political den whose decamping from the PDP to another party with Atiku is still causing some political ripples. Kalu having been warning against rigging the state will explode if any attempt is made by the PDP to rig in an unpopular candidate in the state. In Anambra State 'Prof' Iwu is desperate to pay Andy Uba back for recommending him for appointment as INEC boss; that's why Iwu is doing everything possible to bar Ngige and Peter Obi from challenging Uba for the Awka government house. In the end a no-contest may be declared and given Uba's desperation even against his brothers' schemes to stop him from becoming Anambra first citizen and President Obasanjo's determination to see his 'anointed son' rule over Anambra I believe Uba's victory is a 'fait accompli'. However let me add a seeming voice of reason here as proviso: in as much as one is, in principle, against the imposition of this Uga man with loads of manufactured degrees in his possession on us as Anambrarians if 'Dr' Andy Uba's 'victory' will arrest the political haemmorhage in my state and ensure lasting peace and steady socio-economic progress for my people then so be it! In Katsina State given the fact that both Yar'Adua and General Buhari hail from that same northern state the gubernatorial contest will be tough indeed. But there again the PDP incumbency factor aside caution must be exercised lest a political crisis arose out of electoral manipulation or rigging. Ditto Ogun State where it's a straight dog fight between the incumbent Gbenga Daniel and Senator Amosun of the ANPP. Since Ogun State is President Olusegun Obasanjo's home state the PDP will leave no stone unturned to return Daniel as the victor, so Amosun and the ANPP have a battle to wage there to counter the PDP. Already a sour taste of what to expect has been served recently in Abeokuta with supporters and thugs of both parties involved in a free-for-all fight with amoulettes, matchettes and other local weapons freely used. In Edo State the AC candidate Comrade Adams Oshiomhole raised alarm recently accusing the BOT chairman of PDP Tony Anenih of using soldiers to intimidate voters. I believe under a free and fair poll the former NLC boss will defeat the PDP's Prof. Osunbor. That is another hot state where the PDP will not have it easy trampling on the people's choice in the elections. Given Governor Lucky Igbinedion's monumental failure as PDP governor I believe the Edos will want a change in the party structure that will lead them out of political decadence from May. There must be a democratic space for every stakeholder in Nigeria and the development of it's pace must be an all-inclusive one. The ruling party PDP which Gov. Kalu once described as "Papa Deceive Pickin" must be disabused of the siege mentality that it's leaders are trying to foist on all of us. The PDP cannot necessarily claim that it is more democratic or patriotic than the opposition. Rather the opposite is the case obviously. For democratic space and pace in Nigeria therefore all hands must be on deck to pull the only country in the world we can conveniently call ours and home from the brink. ------------ About the author: Sunny Chris Okenwa is a new U-K contributor based in Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire. Email: soco_abj_2006_rci@hotmail.fr Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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