INEC, The Rule is Simple

Berylpubaf '2011' Ticker, Nig.
By Gabriel O. Omowaye

The rule is simple or the rule should be simple, either way, a concise and achievable solution to a lingering problem is always worthwhile especially with its non-confusing arithmetic. Looking back to Nigerian History, there has never been any really elected democratic President. In a political arena of such, in a democratic government, for any election to be free and fair, the electoral governing body should ban all military men from contesting for Presidential or Gubernatorial positions for the next coming elections.

Professor Jega’s radicalism, many would have thought it would bring a major reform to the electoral body but who knows? Yet, connecting the links might raise doubts to the credibility of any election. So far, the INEC requested for a budget of an initial N72 billion that was hiked to N74 billion but over N76.5 billion was approved by the Senate, within the request limited time frame, executed by the Budget Ministry at quick disposal.

The former President Olusegun Obasanjo was a former head of state whose administration brought up a lot of dust. These days, the former President who is known to be outspoken has been canvassing for major electoral and constitutional changes. To a known observer it is for two reasons: to try to revive the dented image of his personality and/or a testing water for the presidential candidature for 'his political godson, Mr President'.
So far, General Muhammadu Buhari and General Ibrahim Babaginda are front-runners in the current election campaign. The National Security Adviser, General Aliyu would have thrown his cap into the ring but declined for security and personal reasons, perhaps known to the allies. Not to forget, the Senate President was in the army too. Chief Obasanjo once said democracy or democratic leadership is a by-product of military training. He argued discipline in the military from the first day to the very last day even after retirement. In that case, when that setting displaces to a democratic setting, it becomes an established if principled godfather-ism. So who decides - the military senior ranking officers or the ballot papers? The case of Mr Buhari would have argued for a case against the proposition of the argument for the ban of military officers for the presidential and gubernatorial positions but also, someone has to put in perspective that majority of the other Senior men were in PDP as against Mr Buhari’s APP/ANPP; and another factor is that General Abdusalam Abubakar who historically handed the reign to a democratic setting, lean closer to the PDP angle. Besides, the (retired) military senior officers are not known to appear before tribunals or anti-corruption agencies. Those who might have tried to appear, the result never comes out, and the few that did were side-waded. So what is the point of voting for them? Yet, they make responsible elders, and some of them who have been on diplomatic missions have reportedly excelled.

All things being equal, every one qualified is able to vote and be voted for. When the system leans to a direction, it is no equity in the first dimension. To balance things out, politics in Nigeria should not be like soccer, it is no David and Goliath battle as to military and civilian, let it be played among the politicians even though many of Nigerian politicians lack moral sense or simple common sense. Electoral knowledge should be promoted and encouraged; transparency, credibility and integrity should not be shrugged off, and perhaps a credible ballot paper could dictate the head that wears the crown. Yet, it should not be totally the winners’ take-all at least for the start.


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