The APC Chieftain said the elections was postponed because GEJ feared he was going to lose. The statement is stated 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.
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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