The APC Chieftain, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the postponement of elections by Jonathan’s government
was the by-product of overt political interference undermining the independence
of the election management body, INEC. Find the statement below...
What happened Saturday was actually not a postponement
due to security or logistical reasons. What happened was the by-product of
overt political interference undermining the independence of the election
management body, INEC. The elections were postponed not because they could
safely be held.
They were postponed because one man, President Jonathan,
feared that an election held on February 14 would for him become an election
lost. While the mouth was Jega, the words were Jonathan. He chose to place our
democracy at risk than do what democracy demands by facing and risking the
verdict of the people. That he would use our security agencies to provide his
excuse only adds insult to injury.
This act was one desperation of a man in fear of defeat.
It was not done for the national good. It was the wrong thing done for the
wrong reason by the wrong man.
The rationale stated by the heavily intimidated INEC
chairman does not withstand close scrutiny nor the rigors of logical thought.
It is nothing but a lie draped in a falsehood born by deceit.
Jega said he hinged his decision on a purported letter
stating that due to an impending offensive the security agencies will not have
the personnel to spare to adequately guard the polling areas in the
northeastern states.
For the Service Chiefs to be inserted in the electoral
process in this manner and at the eleventh hour reveals nothing but a cynical
plot to thwart elections. President Jonathan has revealed that he only wants
elections where the guaranty is that he shall win. This is not the nature of
democratic elections. Jonathan's government has purposefully undermined the
electoral process because he is not interested in a free and fair honest where
the outcome reflects the sovereign will of the people. He wants an elaborate
coronation dressed in the garb of an election. The Nigerian people are too
smart for this rude trick.
This postponement is a smokescreen because what the
letter says is that they are advising a postponement of six weeks in the first
instance subject to the amelioration of the security situation in the North
East. This is coming from a Chief of Defence staff that vowed to crush the
insurgents within four months early last year. A year later, nothing has
changed. He is now asking Nigerians to believe this government can do in six
weeks what it could not do in six years.
I ask Nigerians to question why these Service Chiefs
decided to launch a major operation a week before the elections? What is new
about the security situation in the last two weeks that has not been there
these past several years? The date and importance of the election was well
publicized. Why did they wait till now? They waited because they were given
marching orders by the president to delay the elections.
They have gone on an offensive already. However, the true
offensive is not against Boko Haram. It is against the Nigerian people and our
democracy.
If elections could hold in Afghanistan, Pakistan and
Iraq, why not in Nigeria where only 14 out of 774 council areas are under
siege?
This postponement may be the prelude to even rasher more
authoritarian action by this desperate, inept government.
This postponement has deeply wounded Nigerian democracy.
While my party hoped to go into the election and win it that we may offer a new
and honest deal to the people. This government continues to feed the people a
raw deal.
The ambition of one man should not be allowed to affect
the destiny of 170 million Nigerians.Nigerians have signalled their desire for
change and there is nothing this government can do to erase it.
Thus, we do not despair. I ask our supporters and
Nigerians to remain calm and do everything to keep the peace. I ask you to
renew your determination in the face of this insult to our democracy and common
sense. It is inevitable that change shall come and we shall bring it fairly,
democratically and peacefully.
They will attempt more tricks before the six weeks is
over. Each time, they will be defeated by the power of our commitment to a new
day in a new democratic Nigeria.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
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