16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2013
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FTER a hectic six months of battling Is- lamic insurgents under a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, President Goodluck Jonathan came back to the National Assembly early in November 2013, to ask for a sixmonth extension to enable the armed forces complete the job. The Senate gave its express approval, even though a few of its members from the troubled zone grumbled. The House of Representatives was not so expeditious. It summoned the Service Chiefs on November 20, 2013 to explain in greater details before also granting the President’s request. The Service Chiefs made it clear that more military resources were needed to establish the level of stability in the areas before the emergency rule could be called off, warning that this might go on for a much longer period than expected. We are aware of the displeasure that citizens from those areas have expressed over the extension, particularly given the challenges it imposes on their economic and social activities. The emotions are also
Extension of emergency rule understandable, given that the political season is coming into full swing, and people desire the liberty to go into the arena. We, however, wish to point out that unless the areas are completely secured, there will be no room for political, social and economic activities. Terrorists will continue to penetrate the populace, wreak their havoc and flee. The recent murder of a bridal train in Borno and attack on Damaturu by Boko Haram suspects should sound a note of warning that there can never be half measures when it comes to the war on terror. It is evident that the armed forces have made great progress, driving the terrorists away from the big cities into the forests with the support of the general populace. In fact, the valiant vigilance groups known as the
Civilian JTF have helped into no small measure in driving the anarchists to the fringes, from where they now make desperate and uncoordinated attempts proving they still exist. The only way a return to sustainable normalcy can take place is for the armed forces and the local population to redouble their efforts and get the job finished in quicker time. Meanwhile, we call on government at all levels to consider some relief packages for those hardest hit by the conflict, especially the displaced persons and those needing food, medicine and clothes. The war on terror is a war. Wars breed human suffering, and efforts are made to reduce it through relief efforts. The armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are mandated by the Constitution to secure the nation from internal and external threats. The President has sworn an oath to implement this constitutional provision. It is mandatory for the people to cooperate and ensure that this sacred national mission is accomplished.
OPINION MOSHOOD ISAH
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ECENTLY my attention was drawn to a news report that security agencies may be working towards unraveling some politicking in the country where there are unnecessary and unfortunate bickering within the PDP as the ruling party and the inter-party rivalry that are taking negative dimensions. I strongly believe security agencies have a role to play in protecting the nascent democracy from the antics of politicians who engage in distractions rather than serving the populace with positive programmes and projects. The recent altercation in Anambra is another typical instance. I was not in Anambra to witness the recent gubernatorial polls in the state, but the scoops from friends, updates on the media and numerous comments on social network (especially twitter) are enough to convey the wrong message. Different opinions abound depending on individual bias towards a particular party but it all boils down to one thing: the election was far below average when defining a free and fair election. While candidates of the opposition parties, i.e. All Progressives Congress, APC; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labor Party, LP, are all calling for the cancellation of the results, the leading and incumbent party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, is happy with the present outcome of the election. This is
Anambra election: Reassessing the electoral body basically normal in every election in Nigeria, in the sense that losers are always bad losers, but with comments from eyewitnesses and protests from some disenfranchised voters, it could be said that the election was not fair. Already some aggrieved parties and individuals are calling for the resignation of the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, over the tussle. No doubt INEC is still far away from conducting a free and fair election in the country. There are little positives to take away from the Anambra elections. The fact that election results were cancelled in about 65 polling units goes a long way in sending a message that the body is determined to deliver credible elections to the people. It is pertinent to say that INEC officials are just like every other human being that could be vulnerable to temptation, especially in the face of electoral hazard in Nigeria. Officials can be threatened by party hoodlums to compromise the electoral process. This explains why elections had to be cancelled in some polling units. More so, the fact that individuals can be dubious and greedy, also explains why an electoral officer was arrested for trying to maneuver election result for a particular party. Thus, no matter the efforts of the body to deliver a transparent election to the people, there
are always sabotages, that even Jega admitted within and outside the body, mostly sponsored by party stalwarts to frustrate the effort of the electoral body. We have also witnessed protestations from different groups, including women taunting Jega for accepting some of the results, not minding the fact that the INEC chairman is not the returning officer of the election. All the same, he is always the culprit if anything goes wrong with elections in the country. Election in a complex country, like Nigeria, filled with religious and ethnic extremists, goes beyond the electoral body alone. Patriotic citizens in concomitance with incorruptible security personnel can only complement a credible electoral body. Imagine yourself as a polling officer and the security personnel attached to you at a polling station are already negotiating with the highest bidders on how to rig election on their behalf. The same security man who is supposed to protect you in cases like this is already luring you into it. It is so difficult not to compromise in such a situation. In a scenario where, as a polling officer, you stood your ground to foresee a fair poll, you are exposed to the mercy of desperate and wicked party officials and their hoodlums. Furthermore, even if you dance to their tune and later report irregularities in the unit, your life still remains at
risk as you could be hunted down. Thus, security men have a major role to play in delivering credible election in the country. In as much as security agents have a stake in the conduct of a free and fair election, the people are the omega of credible election anywhere in the world. Voters’ apathy is the number one opportunity for election riggers to find their way. Thus, voters should always come out to vote in any election, in as much as they are eligible. This will deter dubious electoral officers and party agents from transacting ballot papers. More so, any other manipulation that would happen on the election field is always with the consent of the people. This is especially if the manipulation goes in favour of the popular party in the unit. Thus, at the end of the day people still ultimately blame INEC and its leadership if anything goes wrong. The Anambra poll is a wakeup call to all stakeholders, ranging from citizens, voters, security men and every other person who dreams of a free, fair and credible election in Nigeria. Let’s have it at the back of our minds that no amount of electoral reform will ensure credible poll if bad citizens are bent on sabotaging the effort of the electoral body.
*Mr Isah, a political analyst, wrote from Garki, Abuja