Nigeria: 'Peace and Fraud Are Incompatible'

28 April 2003
allAfrica.com
opinion

The commentary below is one of hundreds of contributions to "Nigeria, What Next?", allAfrica.com's debate on the best way forward for Africa's most populous nation after April '03's contested election.

I strongly feel if we move forward on the basis of electoral frauds and obvious irregularities then there may, indeed, not be anything to hope for in years to come.

There are reported cases of manipulations that supposedly favour the ruling party. Spokesmen of PDP and some "analysts" have been urging aggrieved losers to channel their complaints through the proper channel(Electoral Tribunal)!!! A funny recommendation you would say. I cannot recall any of such tribunals anywhere in the world reversing the results so shamelessly announced and winner hurriedly presented with "Victory Certificate" when there are pending and crucial electoral matters awaiting resolution.

The INEC Chairman embarrassed me with the disgusting manner in which he announced the results of the Presidential elections. It neither followed decreasing order of votes nor was alphabetical! Obviously there was no prepared speech if those glaring mistakes and side-talks witnessed are anything to be commented on. There was no National Anthem to restore sanity into the tense INEC Media Resource Centre. It was just like any of those short announcements MCs make during concert. I guess the anthem is not for The President or Governors alone. I find his "good night" gesture boastful.I may be wrong with this anyway.

I do not belong to any party and do not speak for any. I knew we headed nowhere in the transition programme right from the voters' registration stage. Can you imagine INEC officials telling me 11 people were to be registered on the day I got to their booth in my street. I was the 12th person and could not register! I managed to register some 17km away from my house, 2km from my office. Hence,I could not vote. Nigerian Undergraduates and Postgraduates who registered on their campuses were cleverly excluded from the voting list as well courtesy of ASUU strike! Who shall speak for people in this category or have they no power to choose their leaders?

Fresh election in disputed states may be proper but I doubt if that will change the final result. Maybe the margin will be reduced but OBJ will still triumph. Win or lose, I'm not bothered. All I want is an administration that will safeguard lives and property of Nigerians both within and without. A government that will provide basic amenities for us; allow our children to be educated with NIL hindrance; a government that will truly fight corruption, un-employment,health problems, the menace of uniformed and licensed thieves and killers that call themselves police.

We all know what we want in Nigeria. If fraud will achieve peaceful co-existence then we better not be peaceful. Peace and fraud are incompatible but honest struggle and peace are! 19 Parties have headed for the tribunal against 1 party. It is going to be very tight for us ordinary Nigerians. Anything can happen. May God be with us.

Hammed Adewale Ibrahim, Lagos, Nigeria.

25 Apr 2003

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