AN OPEN CRITIQUE ON EKITI STATE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION: ANOTHER POLITICAL EPIHEMY. The Ekiti Governorship election conducted on 21/6/14 has come and gone with INEC declaring the PDP candidate, Mr. Ayo Fayose the Governor-Elect. Expectedly the PDP led Federal Government have been basking on the verdict with what I refer to as a nationwide calculated press hype that the election was free, fair and credible. However, I have a strong conviction by knowledge of hindsight that the just concluded election in Ekiti State was NOT free, fair or credible. To say the least, it is only a test case of PDP latest classified election rigging machinery, towards 2015 general elections in Nigeria. I have decided to present this report with a view to educate Nigerians on what happened, what to expect and be guided in subsequent elections in Nigeria, starting with upcoming Osun State Governorship elections. A new phase of election rigging approach has entered into Nigeria Politics by some rogues in total conspiracy with Federal Government of Nigeria who deploy coercive agents of the State as official political thugs, to wit; the army, Police and INEC officials to achieve a desired objective. Nigerians witnessed very robust campaign in Ekiti State among the contestants. But that is expected, so as to give an impression that there is an election. Meanwhile the election proper and its outcome have long being decided in Abuja by the powers that be, who deploy agents of Federal Government on the election day to fulfill all righteousness. This was what happened in Ekiti State on 21/6/14 as championed by Minister of State for Defense, Sen. Musliu Obanikoro, Minister of Police Affairs, and Chief Chris Uba. The three men were on specific assignment to intimidate and influence the electoral process to deliver a pre-determined result. Meanwhile, none of them is from Ekiti State or suppose to be there as accredited observers. It is on record that before the election, certain actions by agents of Federal Government took place as a signpost of expected impunity acts. Governors of Kano, Edo and Rivers State were banned to attend a grand rally for the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi by soldiers and policemen, on orders from the above. You can imagine the great threat and intimidation to the lives of even serving Governors. Meanwhile the three men above mentioned as foot soldiers of Federal Government among others were allowed into Ekiti State to have a field day, using their police details as official uniformed thugs to influence the election result. Ekiti State citizens were brazenly raped and short-changed by unimaginable intimidation acts and electoral irregularities orchestrated by the three whose script was perfected in Abuja. Of course, Governor Kayode Fayemi and his wife were shouting about the presence and free movement of the three men without imagining their mission in Ekiti State. About five journalists were reportedly hounded out of Ekiti State with a view not to report their observation of the election. The little irregularities they saw and could write after the election result have been announced will be down-played by the Federal Government press hype that the election was free and fair. it should be noted that the now celebrated Fayose was initially impeached by 24 out of the 26 Ekiti state house of assembly lawmakers. They passed a guilty judgement on the Governor who they earlier accused of embezzling state funds, particularly the Ekiti state poultry project handled by his childhood friend and contractor Gbenga James. Gbenga was star witness against his formal pal. Ayo Fayose. How could such a person become a governor again in a state reputed to be filled of educated people? this cant be election but I call stomach infrastructure it is a mechanical exercise than conventional casting of votes. Im very much elated when I saw the head line that APC has finally filed a case at the tribunal purporting an alleged manipulation of the election in favour of the PDP candidate, undue militarization, impeachment of Mr Fayose in 2006, as well as EFCCs cases hanging on the governor-elect. A.U. Atima (HRA)
Posted on: Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:05:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015