For the first time since 1999, since the re-enactment of civilian rule and democracy in Nigeria and after protracted and successive military dictatorships, Nigeria is witnessing, what from all indications appears to be the world's first coup in a democracy.
No one would have conceived the notion that in this era and time, when more and more nations are embracing democracy and upholding the rule of law, Nigeria would be championing the reversal of democratic gains, which were the legacy achievements of the Jonathan government that bowed out gracefully only a fortnight ago.
Who would have thought that a Federal Government would endorse the misuse of Federal forces to undermine democracy and the sanctity of the ballot? Who would have thought that citizens would be felled by the bullets of soldiers while exercising their franchise within a democracy? Who would have thought that Soldiers would stand against the rights of citizens to freely choose their leaders? Who would have thought that at the end of an election in which the Federal Government itself played roles to undermine and doctor the results, and lost out due to the courageous insistence of Rivers people in upholding the sanctity of the ballot, the results won't be respected and declared? Who would have thought that these would be happening in 2016? Who would have thought so?
The blunt refusal by INEC to release collated results of already conducted and concluded elections amounts to a coup d'etat against the people of Rivers State who have freely expressed their wishes and entrusted their mandates to eminently qualified representatives. Rivers people have freely expressed their choices. It is not the duty of INEC or whoever somewhere in Abuja to evaluate the propriety or otherwise of those choices. The results must be respected and declared.
The delay in the declaration of all results of elections conducted in the Rivers Rerun doesn't only portray the Federal Government of APC, from whom both INEC and the Military are commandeered, as unduly interfering with the electoral process but most importantly, reasonably pitches it as instigating strife and break down of law and order in the country, not just in Rivers State. While this may not be the case, they are logical inferences that any reasonable mind can deduce. It is for this cause, that it would serve Nigeria well, especially the Federal Government, to douse the escalating tensions and #ReleaseRiversResults without further unwarranted delays.
Nothing else will suffice.
No one would have conceived the notion that in this era and time, when more and more nations are embracing democracy and upholding the rule of law, Nigeria would be championing the reversal of democratic gains, which were the legacy achievements of the Jonathan government that bowed out gracefully only a fortnight ago.
Who would have thought that a Federal Government would endorse the misuse of Federal forces to undermine democracy and the sanctity of the ballot? Who would have thought that citizens would be felled by the bullets of soldiers while exercising their franchise within a democracy? Who would have thought that Soldiers would stand against the rights of citizens to freely choose their leaders? Who would have thought that at the end of an election in which the Federal Government itself played roles to undermine and doctor the results, and lost out due to the courageous insistence of Rivers people in upholding the sanctity of the ballot, the results won't be respected and declared? Who would have thought that these would be happening in 2016? Who would have thought so?
The blunt refusal by INEC to release collated results of already conducted and concluded elections amounts to a coup d'etat against the people of Rivers State who have freely expressed their wishes and entrusted their mandates to eminently qualified representatives. Rivers people have freely expressed their choices. It is not the duty of INEC or whoever somewhere in Abuja to evaluate the propriety or otherwise of those choices. The results must be respected and declared.
The delay in the declaration of all results of elections conducted in the Rivers Rerun doesn't only portray the Federal Government of APC, from whom both INEC and the Military are commandeered, as unduly interfering with the electoral process but most importantly, reasonably pitches it as instigating strife and break down of law and order in the country, not just in Rivers State. While this may not be the case, they are logical inferences that any reasonable mind can deduce. It is for this cause, that it would serve Nigeria well, especially the Federal Government, to douse the escalating tensions and #ReleaseRiversResults without further unwarranted delays.
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