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Author: Sunday Iduh
Posted to the web: 5/29/2007 7:15:28 PM

The April 2007 polls has come and gone, won and lost, but for a long time to come the memories will linger on, not only in Nigeria but the rest of the international community as represented by various observers. The outcome of the polls had deepened Nigerians’ agony but Nigerians should continue their commitment to democracy, national development and live in peace despite the glaring democratic deficit recorded. Nigeria’s strength lies in unity.

 

The elections never measured up to the international standard and expectations. Not even under the military rule had such obvious fraud ever been perpetrated against the electorate. The core value of democracy is the expansion of frontiers of freedom, where people have the right to choose their leaders but not forceful imposition of un-elected officers on the citizens through irregularities and massively rigged elections.

 

The tortuous journey into the Nigeria’s 2007 elections started with flaws by delays and lack of transparency in the voter registration process that disenfranchised many eligible voters, disqualification of some contestants on issue of eligibility of party candidates based on corruption indictments by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). During the elections, there were widespread disregard to non-disclosure of secrecy in balloting, vandalization, stolen, snatching and stuffing of ballot boxes by political thugs for their candidates and party stalwarts and the alteration of results during collation process.

 

The elections, which were contested by three major political parties; the Action Congress (AC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the ruling party – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along other forty-eight political parties (many without candidates) were marred by violence that left behind them scores of deaths and many injuries.

 

The electoral umpire; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the April polls, waving away the reports of sharp malpractices in some states as inconsequential to the overall success of the election.

 

However, the National Democratic Institute of International Affairs (NDI) in their preliminary statement established that “In many places, and in a number of ways, the electoral process failed the Nigerian people… it is unclear whether the April 21 elections reflect the will of the Nigerian people.” It went further to state that “Regrettably, the 2007 polls represent a step backward in the conduct of elections in Nigeria. At the same time, there are positive trends in the country's democratization process that give rise to hope”

 

The victory of the Vice President Atiku Abubakar from the Supreme Court caused logistical disaster, in the last minute inclusion of Atiku’s name on the ballot, reprinted in South Africa a few days prior to the presidential election.

 

With total dismay, the coalition of opposition parties is seeking cancellation of the general elections, and for the chairman of INEC Professor Maurice Iwu to organize new and acceptable elections. It would be in the interest of all and sundry to continue in the human and social aspects of the country’s national life, rather than calling for mass action, aggrieved political parties and their candidates should challenge results in the election tribunals now sitting. Nigeria should move forward, differences should be resolved within the confines of the law, this may take some time, but justice will definitely take its course through the judicial and constitutional means in the best interest of the country.

 

We can draw examples from where we got our democracy. The November 7, 2000 presidential election in the United States, one of the closest and most controversial presidential elections in the U.S history, the Republican George W. Bush was elected over Democrat Al Gore. The then Governor George W. Bush of Florida State was not fully supported by the Americans, but at the end, the Americans were united after the United States Supreme Court verdict that gave Bush victory. Vice President Al Gore called Bush and congratulated him. When Senator John Kerry lost the 2004 presidential election to Bush, he conceded and supported the goal for America to move forward. These are true democrats; there are lessons to be learned here by Nigerian politicians, meaning that hell should not be let loose, all complains and grievances should be channeled in the right direction using the tribunal as appropriate tool of dispute resolution. Mediation as alternative dispute resolution is also a welcome development. It is reasonable to achieve peace by peaceful means. At this stage of her national life, Nigeria cannot afford to return back to the dark days of military rule, Nigeria may not be perfect now, but someday it shall get there through dialogue.

 

This is the time to eschew violence and show true sportsmanship. Nigeria must let the world know that it is a true democracy by upholding the rule of law, not through extra-constitutional actions, which could foster insecurity. The Judiciary has shown and proved to the world that it is one of the most vibrant and a reliable institution to be trusted in Nigeria and truly it has stood the test of time. It could be recalled that the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Dr. Peter Obi of Anambra State contested and reclaimed his 2003 stolen mandate at the polls through electoral tribunal. When same Dr. Peter Obi was impeached, the action of the State Assembly was declared unconstitutionally, null and void in the court and he was re-instated. Other states whose governors suffered illegal and unconstitutional impeachment but find justices through the right procedure of the rule of law were Oyo State and Plateau State governors respectively. If the history of Nigeria is written, the Vice President Atiku Abubakar will be remembered as a true democrat; his seat as a Vice President was declared vacant for joining another political party, he was indicted of corruption, and he was disqualified from contesting the 2007 presidential election. Rather than resolving to ‘jungle justice,’ he went to court to seek redress. He fought gallantly, defended and won all the charges against him up to the Supreme Court. In this way his name was cleared.

 

Already, Britain and the United States of America had indicated their readiness to support the President-elect and the incumbent Governor of Katsina State Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to foster Nigeria development. The leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Valerie Amos at a lecture titled 'Better Future in Africa' in Lagos admonished that 'Nigerians should not expect a perfect election, but what is important is that the country is moving forward in terms of democratic development,'' while Tom Casey the Deputy Spokesman of U.S Department of States Washington DC indicated that the “United States is prepared to work with Nigeria's next administration in building upon our excellent bilateral relations and to continue the promotion of peace and security throughout Africa.”

 

Nigeria has succeeded in breaking the jinx, by killing any form of tenure extension, interim government, caretaker government or whatever it might be named. A civilian government can now transfer power to another civilian government for the first time on May 29, 2007.

 

The popular mood congratulates the President – elect, in May 29, 2007, he will become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the father of the nation, all the responsibility of the Nigerian state will lie on his shoulder. There should be no victor nor vanquish; all hands should be on deck to move Nigeria forward. Nigeria needs teamwork; it is advisable that Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and his Vice President-elect Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, another incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State in the Niger Delta should extend olive branch to the opposition. Right now, Nigeria is faced by various challenges; socio-economic, political, and various ethnic conflicts.

 

The Niger Delta issue is an acid test for the President-elect. The President–elect had accepted that his administration would give special priority to the Niger Delta crisis, as a veritable way of ensuring quick development, lasting peace and posterity for Nigeria.

 

This national healing and reconciliation should be total to include the release of all the detainees facing charges of treason, like Alhaji Asari Dokubo of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) in the struggle for resource control for the people of Niger Delta and Ralph Uwazuruike the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) a separatist group fighting against the marginalisation of Igbos ethnic group in the scheme of things in Nigeria. The Niger Delta people and the militants should use this opportunity of Vice Presidency in their zone to initiate a new dialogue for the fair share/revenue allocations of the resources beneath their feet.

 

Nigerians at this point should cooperate and give Umaru Musa Yar'Adua a chance, a University graduate and a former lecturer. Also to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan who holds a Doctor of Philosophy. Anyone who has ever been a class captain or student representative at such low level will know that leadership is not easy; it is too early for criticisms, uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Since every ethnic group in Nigeria complains of marginalization, now is the time to unite and work together. It is to be seen how the leadership of these seasoned administrators, academics, democrats, and accomplished technocrats will transform Nigeria. However the tasks before them are numerous, they are familiar with the Nigerian political landscape, they should be aware that the stakes are high and the struggle for “national cake” resources from oil is fierce. The competition for who gain or loses at the federal, state and the local arenas are political machinations for less public initiative and more of private purposes and interests, therefore yielding little or no dividend for the people who are supposed to be the beneficiary.

 

Undoubtedly the overbearing political infrastructures and pervasive corruption are both standing impediments to the economic, political and socio-cultural development of Nigeria. In addition, the pursuit of religious and ethnic agenda at the expense of national harmony results in internal disputes and sectarian violence.

 

Nigeria’s true salvation will ultimately come only through a judicious blend of internal reconstruction of socio-political and economic policies with external cooperation run on good will and accountability. If the country is to overcome the enormous socio-political burden posed by political and economic imperatives, then the leadership of Umaru Musa Yar'Adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan should put the Nigerian people at the center of their development goals. They should initiate political dialogue, fight corruption, improve on governance, strengthen productive capacities and create employment, enhance health, quality and functional education etc. God bless Nigeria.

 

Sunday Iduh holds a Master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace, Ciudad Colon, San Jose, Costa Rica.

iduhsunny@yahoo.com  siduh@alumni.upeace.org