I listened to BBC Newshour (radio) today and the analysis was brutal: Nigeria lost a moment to demonstrate that it could be regarded as a serious country. At the United States National Public Radio (Virginia air), they were not happy, and wondered aloud how history will see President Buhari. During BBC World Service, the reporter from Lagos could not explain how results could not be uploaded after “48 hours” after they had been used to call Senate and House. Indeed, in my state of Abia State, we know the Senator and House Rep winners (in my district), but yet, INEC claims that Abia State is not ready. How?
Ex-president Obasanjo has a message: “If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days: no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no upload through Server, no result to be acceptable. Where BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration.”
In summary, in all areas where BVAS did not work, redo elections in those areas on Saturday. For areas where they worked, keep those results. That should not be hard to execute by INEC.
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Obasanjo’s full statement
Nigerian Brothers and Sisters, greetings to you all.
“I am constrained to speak at this point
“I crave the indulgence of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency General Muhammadu Buhari, to make this statement because I have had the opportunity to keep him aware of what I know is happening and the danger looming ahead.
“On many occasions in the past, I have not hesitated to point out lacuna in the actions of the President and his government. But as far as the election issues are concerned, the President has proved beyond reasonable doubt that he will want to leave a legacy of free, fair transparent and credible elections.
“Until last Saturday night, February 25, 2023, the good and noble plan and preparation for the elections seemed to be going well. For the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a lot of money was spent to introduce Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the Server for immediate transmission of results from polling units.
“It is no secret that INEC officials, at operational level, have been allegedly compromised to make what should have worked not to work and to revert to manual transmission of results which is manipulated and the results doctored.
“The Chairman of INEC may claim ignorance but he cannot fold his hands and do nothing when he knows that the election process has been corrupted and most of the results that are brought outside BVAS and Server are not true reflection of the will of Nigerians who have made their individual choice. At this stage, we do not need wittingly or unwittingly to set this country on fire with the greed, irresponsibility and unpatriotic acts of those who allegedly gave money to INEC officials for perversion and those who collected the blood money.
“Let me appeal to the Chairman of INEC, if his hands are clean, to save Nigeria from the looming danger and disaster which is just waiting to happen.
If the Chairman can postpone elections four days to the election, he can do everything to rectify the errors of the last two days: no BVAS, no result to be acceptable; and no upload through Server, no result to be acceptable.
“Where BVAS and Servers have been manipulated or rendered inactive, such results must be declared void and inadmissible for election declaration.
“Chairman INEC, I have thought that you would use this opportunity to mend your reputation and character for posterity.
“Your Excellency, President Buhari Muhammadu, tension is building up and please let all elections that do not pass the credibility and transparency test be cancelled and be brought back with areas where elections were disrupted for next Saturday, March 4, 2023, and BVAS and Server officials be changed. “To know which stations or polling units were manipulated, let a Committee of INEC staff and representatives of the four major political parties with the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association look into what must be done to have hitch-free elections next Saturday. Mr. President, may your plan and hope for leaving a legacy of free, fair, transparent and credible election be realized.
“Mr. President, please don’t let anybody say to you that it does not matter or it is the problem of INEC. On no account should you be seen as part of the collusion or compromise. When the die is cast, it will be your problem and that of the nation. The Chairman of INEC may sneak out of the country or go back to his ivory tower. Your Excellency, thank you for hearing me out.
“Compatriot Nigerians, please exercise patience until the wrong is righted. I strongly believe that nobody will toy with the future and fortune of Nigeria at this juncture.
“Long live Nigeria in peace, security, stability and in the hope for a greater future.”
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All the above write-up for ONE man to make the decision that determines if Democracy can function in Nigeria or not. Nigeria should FOCUS on Building INSTITUTIONS that can uphold Democracy. Create a Society where EVERYONE is a NUMBER with Law & Order and Respected Institutions. Period!
“What in it is for me” mindset in a Society full of Elected Individuals with ZERO Public Interest at heart is a recipe for what just happened. The concept of a “rational MORAL human” doesn’t exist for any man/woman in “an empty stomach” – poverty, lack of patriotism, craving to be respected in a Society with unspoken and unwritten rules along TRIBAL lines of respect. Who is arguing that describing Nigeria as a shit-hole country is out of order?
People were promised transmission of results from polling units, and they believed, and then…
The intent was to muddle and scuttle results of presidential election, unfortunately for the perpetrators, they weren’t great in simple arithmetic, God is already embarrassing them.
We have seen all those who claim to know politics, and the bridge builders; clowns everywhere.