The political system of Democracy - resting on the pillars of free and fair elections, universal franchise, regular holding of elections by independent and impartial electoral body, multi-party system and formation of government by elected majority - has proven success in holding nations together as well as removing discredited governments when need be. But, here in Nigeria, Democracy has faced manifold challenges for some decades now. Our vastly blessed country, instead of growing in strength, is fast losing her vitality and possible its existence, due to attempts by very few Nigeria elite to scuttle all efforts at entrenching democracy in the country.
Yes, as opposed to the idea that democracy bears ample testimony to the wisdom of people against tyranny and despotism, our own political system today suffers from various disabilities, at the very root of which, lie the lack of a genuine appreciation and unqualified acceptance of the basic values and processes of democracy, as well as imposition of unelected/bad governments by a handful of politicians on the citizenry. The brazen use of money and muscle power to seek for political power nowadays are bizarre pointers to the aforesaid peril. The criminalization of Nigeria politics and the attempt at misuse of the administrative machinery by parties in power are parts of the malady that has beset our political system.
As a result, a large number of Nigerians have become disillusioned with this political/electoral system, which do not guarantee their basic rights and freedom. Indeed, the lack of democracy, lust for power and the abandoning of the welfare and interests of the common people also contributed in the growing dissatisfaction and feeling of anguish among the populace.
A free and fair election, no doubt, is the foundation of democracy, and it is the primary responsibility of any election management body to organize this free, fair, and credible elections. Consequently, it is criminal for an election management body to instead orchestrate a rigged election or foist same on the electorates. The crime of rigged election or giving legitimacy to a flawed electoral process is worst than armed robbery – while an armed bandit attacks one or few persons, a rigged election produces unelected government that destroys the entire society as such government is often accountable only to itself.
This is why Nigeria is today bleeding unstoppably, due to the activities of the government that was imposed on the masses through the electoral robbery and rape called April 2007 “General Elections”, which Maurice Iwu commandeered as the INEC boss. This charade turned out to be one of the worst general elections in Africa. Although the preparation by Iwu-led INEC towards to the said ‘elections’ with a whopping budget of N54.5billion started early, the entire process was programmed to be non-transparent from the beginning, thus leading to the foisting of the present illegitimate government on Nigerians. Millions of the electorates were disenfranchised just as over 2000 Nigerians were killed to pave way for the installation of some outlaws and malcontents who are now in leadership positions in the country-those questionable characters that have continued to emasculate the populace and desecrate the nation’s landscape with corrupt and devilish policies.
The sheer number of National/House of Assembly and Governorship ‘election results’ that have so far been nullified by Election Tribunals, the worst in the history of this country, is an indication of the copious nature of the electoral fraud perpetrated by the Iwu-led INEC and the magnitude of damage done to our democratic values and culture. The impunity with which Iwu boasts and his conclusion that the organizers of the successful presidential elections in Ghana and America have lessons to learn from the one he conducted in 2007 also shows how unrepentant and incorrigible he is, and his preparedness to unleash more harm on the country’s polity. More so, as a response to the condemnation that followed his betrayal of Nigerian electorates, Iwu has not failed to continue to wage verbal war of attrition against the injured citizenry.
Nigeria has since been put on tenterhook by the Iwu’s April 2007 ‘elections’ waiting for a way out.
Of course, a government that found itself in power through stolen mandate cannot do better than the process that created it-Nemo dat quo non-habet. This is why Alhaji Musa Yar”adua who came to power through a flawed, fraudulent and widely condemned election, and who was also the first to admitted that the process that created his government was deeply tainted now renege on the promise of Electoral Reform he made when he was battling to win recognition for his government.
When Yar’adua set up the Justice Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee with powers to get to the root of the electoral malaise that has been the bare of democracy in Nigeria, many Nigerians who would have gone the way of Ukrainians, Kenyans, etc, sheathed their swords of revolt against the electoral sacrilege of April 2007, as they thought that they had seen in him a reliable fellow. But unfortunately, the subsequent events since the submission of the recommendations of Uwais Committee have seemingly shown that Yar’adua is not indeed ready to genuinely reform our electoral system to guarantee free and fair elections. He merely used the Uwais Committee to buy time. The Federal Government’s arrogant attempt at doctoring the recommendations of the Uwais Committee he freely set up exposes Yar’adua’s insincerity and nonchalance to the interests of electorates.
It is in the light of these ugly developments, that we of ACCESS TO LIFE have decided to embark on this campaign aimed at mobilizing Nigerians, including the CSO, Trade Unions, Professional Organisations, Political Parties and International Organizations, etc., to demand for immediate sack and prosecution of Maurice Iwu as well as the implementation of the undoctored recommendations of Uwais-led Committee. The continued retention of the incorrigible Iwu as INEC boss despite his electoral atrocities, even when his tenure had expired in August, 2007 by the combined effect of sections 155 & 161 (c) of the CFRN 1990, since he was appointed into INEC in August 2003, is a slight on the will and affront on the sensibility of citizenry.
Fellow Nigerians, some politicians in leadership positions have taken us for a ride too long. It is now time for us to begin to take our destiny in our hands. This formal launching of IWU-MUST-GO campaign and the demand for immediate implementation of Uwais-led Committee’s Recommendations is on of the vital steps we must take to reclaim our rights and freedom, remembering that freedom mostly comes by struggle. We shall be compelling President Yar’adua and the National Assembly to sack and prosecute Maurice Iwu now or we will teach them how oppressed but conscious masses handle such things. Nigerians have also rejected the reason given by the government of Yar’adua for trying to doctor or possibly throw away Uwais Committee’s recommendations and we are now poised to mobilized millions of Nigerians to ensure an immediate amendment of our Electoral Act and the Constitution to accommodate all the recommendations made by Uwais-led Committee, which among others include: the appointment of members of INEC by NJC, establishment of financially independent and impartial INEC, prosecution of electoral offenders, independent candidacy; option A4, unboundling of INEC and the determination of all election petitions before the swearing-in of candidates who were victorious in the elections.
We therefore reject the Federal Government’s so-called ‘white paper’ and hereby mark it as ‘bad paper’.
Nigerians, we have come a long tortuous way. No doubt, this is a challenging times in our effort at democratic leadership and good governance, but we must not allow the blood and sacrifices of the fallen heroes of the Nigerian people’s struggle for democracy, justice and better society to be in vain.
The designs by ruling classes and cabals to obstruct the democratic path have always been foiled by the collective might of the masses. So, it is our duty now to clean up the path to democracy and justice for development and prosperity of Nigerian masses. It is our task to strengthen and enforce the democratic and federal character of our Constitution. The democratic rights of the people as enshrined in the Constitution must be protected. The flaws in our Constitution which hinders democracy and cripple the Federal structure of our polity must be rectified now. Adequate guarantees against the subversion of the people’s will and the undermining of democratic institutions must be incorporated in the Constitution.
The essential ingredients for free and fair electoral process lay in given precedence to democratic norms rather than to individual party interest. Thus, the survival and progress of democracy demands broader vision and bolder initiatives and not the old desperate and stingy pursuit of the politics of cowardice and power.
Our objective is neither recrimination nor witch-hunting, but an enforcement of the rights and will of the Nigerian people. Our patience has been over-stretched and we are tired of having people who have made little or no contributions to the advancement of this country being placed in charge of our affairs and the country. Enough of these grand inquisitors – those square pegs in round holes.
This effort at reclaiming our electoral freedom must be conscious, concrete and all-embracing. We shall work together in pursuit of this common good. Today, ACCESS TO LIFE has undertaken to bear any burden, meet any challenge, corporate with any friend and oppose any foe to ensure the survival of democracy and entrenchment of good governance in Nigeria. We will continue to advance this campaign and to mobilize the populace across various zones and states in the country to enable us collect the petitions we need to realize this dream. Yes, the campaign and mobilization shall hence continue unabated until the will of Nigerian masses triumphs.
This much we pledge-and many more.
Thank you all for your patience and solidarity. The struggle continues!
Benedict C.O. Ezeagu, Esq.
National President, Access to Life
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