Police alone cannot man elections –Odia

What is your take on the postponement of the 2015 general elections bearing in mind that INEC said it was due to advice by the security agencies?Well the postponement came to some Nigerians as a shock because they thought that we were ready for the elections. But to some people, it did not come as […]

What is your take on the postponement of the 2015 general elections bearing in mind that INEC said it was due to advice by the security agencies?
Well the postponement came to some Nigerians as a shock because they thought that we were ready for the elections. But to some people, it did not come as a shock because we saw the problems associated with the preparation so far, especially with the collection of PVCs. But by and large, what has happened, even INEC has admitted it a blessing in disguise. Because with the postponement INEC is able to put its house in order; with the postponement, about 20 million Nigerians who would have been disenfranchised would be able to exercise their franchise. What is more, the postponement is within the ambit of the law because by virtue of Section 26 of the Electoral Act, INEC has the powers to postpone the election. The postponement is lawful and legal. And it has given all the stakeholders the opportunity to put their house in order. My take is that it is good for our democracy.
 The other aspect is the accusing fingers directed at the military for their involvement in the postponement. Some groups see this as dangerous for our democracy especially with the Appeal Court ruling against military involvement in the elections. Do you agree?
This is a political period. Whatever action or inaction that is taken by the government of the day, meanings will be imputed to it. I see no reason why people would try to stigmatise the military that it is treasonable for them to get involved in the elections. Don’t forget the fact that before now, they have been involved in our daily national life like the insurgency, quelling riots etc. And the reasons are not far-fetched; it is because of the inadequacies of the police in terms of manpower viz-a-viz the population of the country; inadequacies in terms of the funding, equipment, and morale of the police. Assuming we have enough policemen, then they will be able to take charge of the elections. Don’t forget that over 40 per cent of the police we have are already attached to distinguished Nigerians. The little number that is left is not even enough to man a staggered election not to talk about the general elections.  Even the opposition admitted that the number of police we have cannot man the elections but they are now suggesting that instead of bringing in the soldiers, we should bring in the paramilitary like NSCDC, immigration and customs and what have you.
At the end of the day, I think we are playing politics with everything because this is a political period. Otherwise, if you look at it from an objective and positive angle without any bias, you will see that right now in our nation building, it is important to bring in the military. And don’t forget that in areas we brought in the military, they don’t go close to the ballot box, they man the general area of the environment. Even when policemen are used, they are not allowed to carry gun; those carrying gun must maintain a reasonable distance.
Don’t forget, INEC chairman Prof Attahiru Jega has told us that with the use of card readers, it would be impossible to rig the elections. If you know it will be impossible to rig, then why are you still scared of the deployment of soldiers.
 But opponents of the use of military in the elections are of the view that their presence could intimidate voters, making voting not to be free and may actually trigger the troubles we want to avoid?
I submit that military’s involvement in these elections will do us more good than harm. The people who intimidate voters are not people in uniform, but electoral thugs employed by politicians. Rather, the security agencies will instill confidence in the voters. When people know that the voting environment is secure by the presence of military, they will have the confidence to come out to vote.
Don’t forget that right now Nigerians look down on the police. They see the police as not being able to even defend themselves. Look at the number of police stations burnt down by insurgents. So I want to see it that rather than intimidate voters, it will instill confidence in voters to come out and vote.
What middle ground would you suggest in this troops deployment debate bearing in mind the Appeal Court and Sokoto High Court verdicts?
For me I would have two suggestions. One, the leadership of this government should try to convince and persuade the electorate and the opposition on the need to use the military for the elections. If they do anything to the contrary that would amount to contempt of court and that will be illegal. The second point is that if the people say they don’t want the use of the military, the government can make the military to be in their respective barracks but to be on standby and on the alert so that at the slightest call they should be able to quell any revolt from any part of the country.
What is your take on the audio by an army captain on the Ekiti governorship election which indicted Musuliu Obanikoro and others?
As I said this is political period and anything can happen. I would expect the All Progressives Congress, who are the victims in that audio to lay a comprehensive complaint to the law enforcement agencies, and I would expect them to do a forensic investigation of the audio clip to determine the authenticity or otherwise. It is not just enough to wave it aside. Fortunately or unfortunately, the Appeal Court has already ruled in favour of the incumbent governor in that election. But if I may ask, whoever that brought that clip did not do any good to either the PDP or APC, and our democracy in general. Immediately after the elections, the person should have brought it out to the tribunal and that would have assisted the court in arriving at a fair decision.
Obanikoro is threatening to go to court over the issue. One would have expected that the accuser should have taken up the matter in the principle of ‘he who asserts must prove’?
It is good. The law is that if you feel your right has been impugned, you go to court. The opposite of that would have been to resort to violence. I think that is what is expected. I am also aware that APC senators say that they would ensure he is not screened for appointment as minister. Well that is within their right. It is also within his right to go to court.
What is your take on the bills on the amendments forwarded to the President for assent one of which is the issue of the separation of the office of the Attorney General from that of the Minister of Justice?
That is a welcome development. It means that even a serving president can be taken to court by the Attorney General of the Federation. We have clamoured for this. We hope the president will give it timeous attention because it will help our democracy. As for the rejection of local government autonomy, it is a huge embarrassment.