Bola Bolawole

By Bola Bolawole

Caller: Is this INEC Office?

Official: Yes, Sir.

Caller: How prepared are you for the coming election?

Official: Sir, as I speak to you, everything is ready… including the results!

You may have come across the above posting on social media. It is as saddening as it is laughable. It, however, portrays the true and poignant picture of elections since the coming of APC and Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Virtually every election has been tainted. Free and fair elections, which the late President Umaru Yar’Adua started, and which ex-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan continued with, has been thrown to the dogs by APC/Buhari such that, today, our elections are no longer credible. From one election to another, we have witnessed all manner of shenanigans and different rigging formulas unfurled by the ruling party to “win” elections. In this, the INEC and security agencies have been willing and enthusiastic accomplices of the APC. After losing in the Anambra governorship election, APC appeared to have sworn “Never Again!” So, in Edo state, when it was crystal clear who was losing in the governorship election, release of election results was stopped mid-way (as was done with the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola) and abracadabra was played overnight. When release of election results continued next day, right had been shifted and given to the wrong person and vice-versa. Seeing the hoopla that followed, a cleverer but more audacious system was invented for the Ondo gubernatorial poll. Each time a thief gets away with crime; he becomes further emboldened. So, in Ondo, it was brazen rigging of APC’s primaries and, following, open and audacious vote-buying. “Dibo k’e se’be” entered our political lexicon therefrom. Getting away with this, they got emboldened further still to practice “See and buy” in Ekiti, to the consternation of the whole world. So bad was the situation that INEC and government could no longer pretend like the ostrich that all is well with our democracy. INEC has been shedding ever since crocodile tears on vote-buying. President Buhari himself has travelled to far-away China to assure he will allow credible elections.

But two recent events give the lie to these assurances. One is the Paris Club refund of a whopping $16. 6billion to Osun State two weeks’ to the 22^nd September Osun governorship election. And the other is the surprise resignation of the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun. It is beyond debate that the money released to Osun was to help APC in Saturday’s governorship election. To start with, only Osun got the refund; other states, including even APC states, were not considered. All these are states that need money to offset arrears of workers’ salaries and pensions. Besides, the refund is not a loan but money legally belonging to the States and which they should receive back from the FG without pleas and conditions attached. Now, the APC-controlled Osun State Government, which is sponsoring a candidate in Saturday’s election, is using this windfall to woe voters and look good in the eyes of Osun people. The opposition parties have also alleged that there is no way some of this money will not go into the election. Ekiti, an opposition state, had its own election on July 14; not only did it not get its own Paris Club refund, not only did it not get the refund of money spent on Federal roads in the state; it was even denied statutory allocations from the Federation Account and went into the election without being able to pay salaries. But with the windfall given to Osun, it has paid four months’ salary arrears and pensions and gratuities. This, clearly, is a new face of election rigging by APC/Buhari.

Kemi Adeosun’s resignation was, ostensibly, on account of NYSC exemption certificate forgery but the real reason is to clear the way for an unrestrained access to the Federation’s coffers to prosecute the 2019 election. Those who championed the Minister’s exit from office may have unwittingly played into the hands of Presidency cabals who were not happy that Adeosun blew the whistle on NNPC for sitting on money that should have been remitted to the Federation Account. Note that Buhari remains the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources. Now, she has been replaced by a Northerner who will play ball. Whether or not INEC budget is passed by the National Assembly, be assured the acting Minister of Finance will release funds as directed by the Presidency. Note also two critical appointments made at about same time: That of the substantive DSS-DG and of the Managing Director of the Print and Security Company (which prints sensitive election materials). Both are Northerners and the latter is even said to be Buhari’s relative). All these point in the direction of 2019. Adeosun’s exit has nothing to do with the integrity of a government that has none. The president himself haven’t not come clean on issues surrounding his own certificates, there is “Toronto”; there is “Obla-gate”; and many more damning cases of certificate forgeries in the Buhari administration. Were Adeosun’s exit a case of integrity, there are many other heads that would have rolled before her own.

FEEDBACK

Your “When Buhari stirred the hornets’ nest” (5^th September) coincided with reports of Pa Edwin Clark’s house’s raid. With “search warrant” thrown at the old man’s face, the IGP still denied knowledge of same. What a democracy! Change, indeed! Of course, it is so-called national security and national interest! The Nigeria police claimed they always promptly act to abort crime and criminality when called upon! What a country! The hawk that stole the chicken must hear the mother hen’s cry, the reaction of the hawk notwithstanding. – C. Kalu, Jos.

You, by the grace of God, will make a good success of your chosen service in Jesus name! – 070088557634.

You stated that Buhari is a retired two-star General. He is not; he is a three-star General. – 08043160543.

I am aware he was overthrown in a military coup in 1985 as Major-General (two-star). I am not aware he was ever promoted, decorated or addressed as Lt.-General (three-star).

If President Buhari thinks he is the Alfa and Omega or the messiah Nigeria needs, then, he must be joking. Buhari believes in the divine right of the President. As absolute power corrupts absolutely, Buhari by his words and actions is actually a despot. If his repressive measures continue unabated, our PVC will definitely determine in 2019. May God deliver us from Buhari! – Odu Umoru Linus, Oyo.

I agree with you as regards President Buhari’s speech at the NBA conference concerning the rule of law. Even though he is not a professor, many of (his) aides, advisers, assistants, and ministers are educated and parade degrees. I do not think they need an encyclopaedia to understand what the “rule of law” means. Many of them are even Law teachers. They should understand the doctrines of rule of law, separation of powers, checks and balances, etc. But it is one thing to know what is right; it is another to do it. It is of great concern that the VP is a lawyer, a SAN, and also a professor of Law! What of the Attorney-General? Under their watch, there is disobedience of court orders, indefinite detention without trial, human rights abuses, refusal to honour Legislature summons, etc. This impunity must stop! Without justice, equity and fair play, there may not be peace, regardless of intimidation and threats by the powers-that-be. –Oluremi Adeyeye, Lagos.

No leader in recent history has scored more own-goals than President Buhari. The man’s action, inaction, speeches, and body language are a complete disaster. “When Buhari stirred the hornets’ nest” simply stated the obvious. – Joseph Eyo, Garki, Abuja.

You were apt and factual. I must say aside journalism; you would make a good political adviser as the skill is in your DNA. – Peter.

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