12 Jan, 2011 | Author: Andre J-Salakov, Leader, Nomination & Campaign Officer, PLC Party
WHOSE TURN TO BE PRESIDENT?
By simple inductive reasoning a general election is one of the rarest occasions in the life of a civilised race of people when men and women of sound mind and reason decide to grant their fellow citizens a power of attorney to do for them what such people would have done for themselves if such people had the opportunity or the knowledge or the wisdom to speak and act generally for themselves. But what happens in a scenario situation where, as in the case of Nigeria, many who sit in the House of Representative or the Senate cannot, in good conscience claim to represent anyone other than themselves? Elections Nigerian style, are about frauds, flaws and fears.
Election time is time for mass killings
In Ibadan only last week the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers [NURTW], Mr. Lateef Salako {aka Eleweomo} was murdered in cold blood. Some politicians, including a Senate President, are in prison custody. Road crashes are rampant these days. In the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja and in Jos many lives have already been lost. The killings have indeed begun. Quite frankly, the primaries are taking place in an atmosphere of intimidation.
Good luck may not be enough for Goodluck Jonathan
Despite the colonial legacy that the British left behind in Nigeria, Election time in Nigeria is a mix ‘n blend of electoral frauds, flaws and fears. And you cannot even trust the Judiciary to administer justice judiciously during election time.
The incumbent holder of the office of President of Nigeria was installed in the office of vice-President by Mr. Obasanjo. As Nature would have it, his boss died in mysterious circumstances in Saudi Arabia. In other words, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan did not secure the mandate of the people of Nigeria to be their president. This is a testing time for Mr. Goodluck Jonathan but good luck may not be enough.
Welcome to Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Welcome to Atiku versus Goodluck Jonathan. As at this morning Nigeria is at a T-Junction. Head teachers have closed the classrooms and pupils have been told to stay away, until after the Elections. Universities and polytechnics have also been closed. Many Nigerians are already fleeing the country in droves and passport offices in different parts of the country, are doing pretty well. At every election in Nigeria lives are lost, as a matter of course. Many politicians use election time to settle old quarrels. The killings have started.
Atiku and Jonathan showdown
The showdown between Mr. Atiku, a former Vice-President under Obasanjo and Mr. Jonathan, the current holder of the office of the President, began on or around 24th day of August 2010.
Mr. Atiku was a Founding Member of PDP – the ruling party. “PDP” stands for “Peoples Democratic Party” or “People Destruction Party”, as opponents describes it or “Pickin Deceive Papa/ Papa Deceive Pickin” as satirists, comedians and comediennes describe “PDP”. By the way the word “Pickin” is Nigerian slang for “child”.
The Alhajis wage war on Goodluck Jonathan
In August 2010 Alhaji Usman Ahmed, Alhaji Mohammed Yakubu, Alhaji Umar Nuhu, Alhaji Garba Saidu – for themselves and on behalf of People of PDP members in the Northern States instituted proceedings seeking an injunctive relief against the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and against the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chairman of PDP, against the Peoples Democratic Party itself, and finally, against the Chairman of INEC
On behalf of the Plaintiffs, Alhaji Usman Ahmed, who also happens to be a legal practitioner swore an Affidavit. He swore that by virtue of section (7) (c) of PDP Constitution as amended 2009, the PDP vowed "to adhere to the principles of equity, justice and fairness, and that the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executives committee at all levels”
In a written address Alhaji Usman Ahmed sought an interim injunction restraining “the Chairman, PDP National Headquarters and the Peoples Democratic Party itself from presenting, nominating and / or adopting President Jonathan as the candidate for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2011 presidential elections; and that the Chairman of INEC be restrained from conducting elections into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Atiku vows to defeat Jonathan
In the mean time, forces loyal to Mr. Atiku also commenced their own action. Mr. Atiku is convinced that he would beat Mr. Jonathan. In fact, he is being received up and down the country as a President in the making.
Mr. Atiku, a one-time customs officer and vice-President under Obasanjo has vision. When Mr. Obasanjo wanted to have a third bite of the cherry, Mr. Atiku opposed his boss. To avoid incarceration or being sent to Obasanjo's prison ship somewhere in the Atlantic, Mr. Atiku fled to Ghana. A few prominent Nigerians fled to Ghana. The owner of “glo” mobile communication is still in Ghana.
Nigerian judges have a way of dealing with thorny issues
Nigerian judges have a way of dealing with hot, spicy and politically charged proceedings. They would fix a day for the hearing. They would alert the Media. But 12 hours before the Hearing, one by one the Judges would take off from Abuja and do a runner to another State; often in the middle of the night! Often they would do a runner to Lagos. So, when the Plaintiffs and their lawyers turn up they would be met with the usual excuse – “Ah, am sorry, the Judges are attending a Meeting in Lagos!!”
News from the Federal High Court in Abuja, as at yesterday evening, signposted a Jonathan-Sambo for President. As for Mr. Atiku’s own case, all Judges were, conveniently, in Lagos, for a bash!!
Is Mr. Jonathan a leader or follower?
But if I were to hazard a guess, short of Divine Intervention, Mr. Jonathan has lost the battle. Mr. Jonathan has made some serious mistakes. He could or should have sought the assistance of the British MI6 in relation to the bomb blasts which greeted Nigeria’s 50th birthday.
To date, the issue of the mysterious 13 containers of bombs, Kalashnikovs, K47s, hand grenades and other military gear which arrived in Lagos a couple of months ago, has yet to be resolved.
Article 7.1 (c) iii of the Objectives of the PDP provides – “The Party shall promote the security of life, and property, and enhance family values”. Since Mr. Jonathan is the incumbent holder of the office of President of Nigeria, and although he is not a Founding Member of that Party, he owes it to the people of Nigeria to abide by and promote Article 7.1 ( c) of the Objectives of the PDP. The bomb blasts and the killings in Jos, Abuja, Ibadan, and in other places clearly point in the direction of a dereliction of duty and failure of a Leader to lead.
If Mr. Jonathan is a leader and not a follower, he would have empowered his security chiefs to put some people in protective custody. Nigerians are tired of problems. Nigerians are tired of killings. They want peace. No one in Nigeria today knows precisely what Mr. Jonathan stands for. No one has seen his manifesto. No one knows whether he is coming or going. He gave away some 200 million naira to entertainers to shower him with nice words on television. Some people who attended a public meeting which he called, reported that they each received 20,000 naira!!
Christians are praying night and day for peaceful presidential elections but Prayer is not enough. Mr. Jonathan should go on television and tell his people where he stands on issues such as power failure, kidnappings, murders, national security.
Moneybags in the National Assembly and in the States are holding the people to ransom over importation of generators across the country. Where does Mr. Jonathan stand on money laundering, advanced fee fraud (419), etc, etc?
Election time is also time for money laundering. A couple of months ago Mr. Anthony Blair turned up in Nigeria. Whatever for? Only Mr. Blair can answer that question. A couple of weeks later, a non-governmental organization which calls itself “The Westminster Foundation” suddenly turned up.
In a press statement circulated in Nigeria, Westminster Foundation claimed to speak for Leaders of political parties in the United Kingdom, adding that UK political parties have always been friends of Nigeria, etc. etc. Well, I am a Leader of a British political party and I have never heard of the Westminster Foundation. So, what is going on? Election time in Nigeria is a time for money laundering. Politicians who are interested in the lucrative business of money laundering need friends from overseas.
Lawmaker and his suitcase
There was an incident of note recently when a lawmaker in the National Assembly, was trying to board a flight to somewhere in Europe. Unusually, a security officer at M M International Airport asked the lawmaker to open his suitcase but the lawmaker felt insulted. He refused. He apparently claimed parliamentary immunity for his body, the clothes on his body, including his shoes and of course, his shoe laces and his luggage. –
“Do you know who you are talking to? I am XYZ of the National Assembly, you know. I enjoy parliamentary immunity, if you push your luck I will have you sacked.
In reply, the Security officer replied, “Oga, (boss) get me sacked. I will not allow you on board this flight unless you open your luggage”. Where does Mr. Goodluck Jonathan stand on abuse of power by some members of the National Assembly? Where does Mr. Jonathan stand on education, on minimum wage? Good luck is not going to be enough in this year’s presidential elections.
Nigerian roads are the worst in the world. Nigeria is the most unsafe country in the world to live. Where does Mr. Goodluck Jonathan stand on the place of Nigeria in the world today?
Whose turn to be President?
Many commentators and observers are missing the key question; namely, whose turn to be President? Mr. Atiku is a Northerner. I don’t know if he a Hausa or Fulani or whatever other tribe. As far as I am aware he is a Northerner. It is the turn of the Northerners to nominate and to vote for one of their own, for another 4 years.
Then, the Yorubas would come back to power. Mr. Goodluck Jonathan is neither a Yoruba nor a Northerner. He is from the Delta Region. It is true that Power is honey. But if Mr. Jonathan truly loves Nigeria, and he says he does, would he be happy to step aside and allow the Northerners to have a bite of the cherry for just 4 years?
(Andre John-Salakov/Public Law Centre/Public Defender Service/Lawyers Without Frontiers)