From all available indications the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega may cave in and postpone the scheduled elections of 14th February.
Going by my prediction, we should expect this announcement after their marathon meetings of today. Once this is done, Jega and his team should forget about ever conducting any elections in Nigeria again, because the chaotic situation and uncertainty in the country maybe worst than what it is now.
Next, like the former Central Bank Governor, Sanusi Lamido, Professor Jega will be ordered to proceed on early retirement. That would give them breathing space to shop for a more “amendable” umpire to orchestrate their rigging.
If INEC has common sense, it should NOT postpone the elections. But it seems too late! They have taken a decision because they are scared to the marrows! This is a battle of facing two monsters: one is the Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari and the other is the electorates. The ruling class is in disarray and is facing a clear uncertainty. What happen to them after the elections is what they hate to think about because of fear of the unknown. But what will happen to the country after shifting the elections is something they think can be handled by their partisan security agencies.
They are talking of security issues and less collections of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). No where in the world has 100 percent of registered voters ever voted even in the best and safest democracy known to man, and in Nigeria,we have never recorded a turn out of more than 40 million voters in any previous elections to the best of my knowledge. Therefore, with over 50 million permanent voters cards in the hands of Nigerian voters, it is just crass expectation that all the over 50 million will vote much less the near 70million registered voters.
Professor Jega and his INEC should do the right thing and allow Nigerians to vote come 14th February so that we get this over our heads once and for all. Enough of all these threats, chest beating and high-tension as well as the air of “Nigeria to-be or not-to-be gimmicks and nonsense!!!
Postponing the elections may create more insecurity than the present insecurity situation as it may engulf the whole country not only a section of it. Only if this is what the government wants to create. No matter what, we say NO to elections postponement and Nigeria must remain one. The interest of few individuals must not be allowed to override the interest of the entire nation.
Comrade Kassim A. Gamawa (Concerned Citizen & Sardaunan Gamji) wrote from Gamawa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State. [myad]
