Yes! A new INEC indeed

As the weekend got to climax, speculations got very high that in fact there were three nominees from whom one would be chosen. The information was too good to be free in a nation where the choice of electoral umpires in the past especially in the last ten years was based on who could play […]

As the weekend got to climax, speculations got very high that in fact there were three nominees from whom one would be chosen. The information was too good to be free in a nation where the choice of electoral umpires in the past especially in the last ten years was based on who could play the hangman before, during and after polls.

Not too long after Maurice Iwu left, the government was contemplating appointing Nigerians of impeccable character to chair the complex commission that has been unable to organize and conduct free, fair and credible elections in the last eleven years. Alas, on Tuesday evening, the nation was confronted with the appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as the new INEC Chairman.

Our view on who should be appointed into INEC was very clear. We challenged the government severally that there was no need chasing shadows. If they were prepared to appoint distinguished citizens who can do the job, they all know them from the length and breadth of this country. In the past, governments appointed undertakers who played to the gallery. This is responsible for the high level apathy and lack of confidence on the ability of government to do what is right.

The appointment of Professor Jega and other Nigerians most of whom are credible citizens has brightened the hope that come 2011, we should expect credible elections in the country. If character is anything to go by, the team is well made and worth the salt and therefore, very soon Nigeria would redeem its image within the committee of nations and it will be respected.

The task however is not just limited to that. No doubt the character, perseverance and will to do what is right is in the new INEC Chair and members. What is critical is the complimentary role that Nigerians will be playing in order to blend the quality of leadership of the commission with the required attitudinal change of the citizenry in the process of nation building.

In any election, there must be the resolve on the part of the public to ensure that it works and it succeeds. In the first place, what the umpire does is to ensure that level playing grounds as far as contest and opportunities are concerned. The most tasking job is rested on the citizenry who must participate by ensuring that they vote and protect the sanctity of their votes against any possible intrusion by political forces or even the electoral umpire.

What we are celebrating today is that for sure, with the constitution of the new commission, the problems of infraction on the part of the umpire is at least addressed and we are convinced that government has shown some measure of seriousness in its commitment to free, fair and credible elections because for nothing I can see those who cannot be intimidated or cajoled by the ecstasy of power on the saddle.

For me, Goodluck Jonathan has won one important battle and that is why those who are in positions of authority must always be reminded on what they must not do even if they are lacking in the knowledge of what they ought to do. The decision of Tuesday was certainly a national plus for the government and I am convinced that all things being equal elections in Nigeria would be conducted with a high degree of impartiality on the part of the umpire.

We will not be told any longer that a certain party was billed to win because it worked harder than others, Nigerians would no longer be disturbed with those ranting and uncharitable outbursts of desperate electoral umpires who out of the desperation of their biases chose to make up for the weaknesses of the public relations department of the government in power. The sanctity of INEC is therefore in the offing.

When Goodluck Jonathan became the president after the death of Umaru Yar’adua, it was clear that even before then, I took a hard stance against not just Mr. Jonathan but those around him who failed to be democratic, who failed to display the virtue self patience and pity as the major ingredient of the institution of democratic culture by doing all they could to pull the carpet off the feet of an ailing president.

That desperation whether anybody likes it or not was deeply recorded as a major issue and minus in our contemporary political history. I did not raise my voice against the action not because I don’t like either President Jonathan or any of those around him who saw ready power and access especially after Yar’adua had held the nation on his sick bed for over two years.

I am not writing in order to impress or run down anybody or institution but specifically to contribute to the critical national debate on how to get things better and right. I am not writing because my palms are greased or to satisfy certain tendencies for some objectives even if in token. My desire to write since the mid 1980s was informed by my faith in speaking on issues and not just sitting idly by when things are either going wrong or even good.

I shall continue to share my views on issues as I see them. I may be right and I might be wrong in my perception but certainly all my views are informed by my inner conviction on the issues under discourse. When those who allocate resources go wrong, it will be a natural responsibility to raise the flag so they may do the right thing. When they act in accordance with our aspirations and brighten our prospects, we also must speak on top of our voices so that they appreciate the wisdom of responsibility and even drive to improve in such good doings.

The appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega and his team to lead INEC I dare say is one of the best decisions that any government has taken in the recent times. We have seen no partial motifs in that decision and our prayer therefore is, may Nigerians compliment this wise governmental effort by standing firm and resolute that henceforth there must be elections in Nigeria beginning in 2011.

Election is not a one way affair. It is multi dimensional. Every stakeholder within the democratic enterprise must play his or her role minimally before credible elections is realizable. The task ahead of the new INEC will be to immediately begin a voter register side by side with public enlightenment campaign in form of its civic education responsibility to both the citizenry and the political especially.

Those who find themselves in positions of authority must be scared away from using their privileged positions to cause havoc on the system. That has been the problem with the Nigerian system but I believe sincerely that with the honest leadership in place and the required integrity that Nigerians will see in this leadership, we may soon begin to sing freedom from those who held us hostage and Nigeria shall rise and raise its voice as a nation of decent people.

God help the new INEC and its leadership.