It should not be difficult for anybody to know who is a clown. In other words, you know him when you see him act and/or hear him talk. But for the purpose of this article, I would like to look at some dictionary definitions. The American Heritage^® Dictionary of the English Language defines ‘clown’ as ‘a coarse, rude, vulgar person; a boor.’ The Ultralingua Online Dictionary, on the other hand, defines it as ‘a person who amuses others by ridiculous behavior.’ Anyhow one looks at it, these definitions fit the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu.

It is on record that before the recent elections, Prof. Iwu had sworn to conduct free and fair elections even if that was the last thing he would do in life. Many, however, took that with a pinch of salt. Although he did not sound convincing, some chose to give him a chance. I remember very well that one of the issues, especially at the Square, was that even if he wanted to conduct a free and fair election, he did not have the requisite qualification to do so. Giving him a chance has however turned out to be out greatest undoing.  

Here was a man whom many knew simply as a professor of pharmacognosy. As far as I know, there is nothing anywhere to show that he knew anything about elections, apart from the fact that he had exercised his voting right at one point or the other. How he became the most qualified candidate, or at least one of the most qualified candidates, for the sensitive position of the chairman of INEC therefore left many with unanswered questions.

I remember someone who said that they were neighbours for donkey years coming out to say that he was a man of unparalleled integrity. Of course, that should make him the right man for the job. But the fact that he was rumoured to have been recommended by Chris Uba, a man many know to have little respect for such a character trait as integrity was enough to make nonsense of that argument. And, more than anything else, Maurice Iwu’s integrity has been called to question again and again since the elections ended.

Irrespective of what anybody thinks about the elections, the INEC boss was on air last night, for the umpteenth time, to declare that the elections he presided over were free and fair. That makes everyone who holds a contrary opinion a liar. All the local and international observers who have described the elections in various terms as a sham have been hallucinating. Last night, he still referred to those who wanted the results of the elections cancelled as anti-democratic forces. It would seem that the only people who are truly for democracy right now are Maurice Iwu and whoever toes his line.

If the INEC boss sincerely made a mistake during the last elections, the right thing to do was to apologise and promise to make amends. That is from a public relations point of view. But with his recalcitrant posture, it is obvious that everything that happened during the elections was pre-planned; he merely executed the grand plan of his masters. In that regard, he could score himself 80 percent and pat himself on the back for a job well done. Is it therefore any wonder that Maurice Iwu would never bow his head in shame and admit failure, even in the face of overwhelming contrary evidence?

Sometime ago, Prof. Iwu tried to explain why the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) deserved to win the elections. According to him, no other party, except the PDP, campaigned in every state of the federation. That would be no surprise if it came from a party stalwart. Please tell me, why should the boss of a supposedly independent electoral body make such an unguarded statement? Did INEC award marks to parties based on the number of states they campaigned in? Or why would that become a criterion for endorsing a particular party?

I feel Maurice Iwu should have gone a step further to tell us whose resources the PDP used to campaign in all the states of the federation. Whose aircraft did President Olusegun Obasanjo fly to almost every state capital for the campaigns? Who was paying the bills and his allowances for the period he was presenting his anointed candidates to electorates across the length and breadth of this country? Was it his party? If anything, I believe President Obasanjo should be reprimanded for using state resources to execute his personal plans.      

The INEC chairman was at it again recently, crying wolf, just because the National Assembly asked him to give account of the many billions of naira he was given for the elections. According to him, members of the house want to do ‘a hatchet man’s job.’ He had probably forgotten that this was the same National Assembly that had, contrary to all expectations, refused to officially debate the elections. So why was he crying foul? Or did he really think that nobody would scrutinise his accounts? Since he may never tell us everything that happened at the elections, he should at least tell us how he spent all the money he asked for and was approved.

It may not be in his place to, but Prof. Iwu has also told us that, come what may, the president-elect would be sworn in on May 29. The truth is, every time the man speaks he reminds me of a comment in Wikipedia about a clown. It states:

"...one’s response to a clown might depend on where it’s seen. At a circus or a party, a clown is normal and one may find a clown funny. The same clown knocking on one’s front door late one evening is more likely to generate fear or distress than laughter or amusement."

Will someone please tell the INEC chairman that Nigerians are still trying to forget his role in the botched elections? He should at least show some remorse and stop rubbing salt (and pepper) on the injury he has inflicted on us.

Robot  Villager

# 1 var sbtitle1116=encodeURIComponent(This clown ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 24.05.2007 09:12

ozion ozumba  Villager

# 2 That Prof maurice Iwu has no shame has long been established. This in no way an attempt at name calling, but one is appalled at the audacity and gutsy theatrics by the umpire of Nigerias' brand of demcratic (s)election every other day as he tries to rub salt into injury just to hide the truth. We have witnesses to INEC's deliberate falsehood and rewriting of results long after the (s)elections. That much has left us wondering how we would explain these times to our children. To worsen matters, the irritant refuses to go away and continues to insult our sensibilities - pray brethen, this cup will also pass. Posted by ozion ozumba| 24.05.2007 14:50

Docemo5  Villager

# 3 The likes of Iwu abound in our land. They have no concience; and where one exist, it could be hijacked on the most satisfactory terms. Iwu was chosen to play a role and has performed creditably. The problem is , Nigerians are used to settling for any condition that is foisted on them. It is absurd to allow this illegality to stand just becuse of smooth transition of power according to some deluded and morally bankrupt individuals in our society. The best amongst us shall not have the privilege of ruling the country is this ruinous attitude is not reversed. I personally take umbrage to Professor Iwu's bold face explanations. God Bless Nigeria Posted by Docemo5| 24.05.2007 15:12

Onukulunjo  Villager

# 4 The Prof is an average Nigerian, a typical Nigerian. He is a student of Nigerian culture and politics. He's just carrying out the wishes of his master, OBJ. If his boss could ignore every court order and gets away with it, why should the little prof bother to toe the path of righteousness. He knows that the law is meant for the unconnected. If you know somebody who knows somebody in the corridors of power, the law does not apply to you in Nigeria. So the prof is just being a true Nigerian. If the National Assembly should stand idle while OBJ perpetrates all sorts of wicked acts against his people, why should little prof worry about any thing when he has OBJ as his father. Posted by Onukulunjo| 24.05.2007 17:05

pappilo  Villager

# 5 35 MILLION COULD NOT HAVE VOTED ON APRIL 21ST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FORMULAR: AIVT X TVC ÷ NOPUN = VT AIVT – is Average Individual Voting Time (time taken by a Voter through Voting process at their turn in queue (i.e. from having their name checked by the Presiding Officer in the Voter list; collecting ballot papers of Reps, Senate and Presidential; moving to the polling booth; ascertain Candidates; thumping the ballots; wrapping and dropping in the Ballot Box; coming back for indelible ink to taking back their voter card (my AIVT is 2 minutes after several practical reconstruction of voting process). TVC – is Total Vote Cast, which is 35,365,752 by INEC, Ref: Thisday Newspaper of 29th April. NOPUN – is Number Of Polling Units in Nigeria, which is 120,000 units. VT – is Voting Time Lets apply AIVT X TVC ÷ NOPUN Therefore: 2 Minutes x 35,365,752 = 70,731,504 minutes 70,731,504 minutes = 589.4292minutes 120,000 Polling Units 589.4292 minutes = 9.8 Hrs 60 This means it would have taken 9.8 hrs of non-stop or perhaps automated voting in all the 120,000 polling units to arrive at INEC’s figures. And INEC’s official time allotted for voting was from 10am to 5pm which is 7 hrs. Therefore, 9.8 hrs – 7 hrs = 2.8 hrs, is this the official cheating by INEC? Figures of official voting for 7 hrs = 25,200,000 but INEC got 35,365,752 Votes. There is difference of 10,165,752 votes. How? This computation does not include void votes it is based on hitch free, smooth like automated voting of one person at 2 minutes interval for 7 hrs in all the 120,000 polling units in the country. It also discounted scuffles at polling stations, party agents challenged to voters’ eligibility, running away with ballot boxes as witnessed, police intervention, weather (e.g rain, storm, and any other natural disturbances), late arrival of materials – but just in the Sprit of all things being equal! AIVT at 3 minutes will give you 14 hrs of voting time as against 7 hrs of INEC with TVC of only 16,800,000 as against INEC’s 35,365,752. A whooping difference of 18,565,752.These marked differences must have been through other means but certainly not through normal voting. 210 votes is the maximum for every polling unit based on 2 minutes of AIVT, Which is 30 votes an hour 30 x 7 hrs = 210. Any difference is through other means. (I can still dissect it further if required) NB: I understand that INEC used only 30,000 polling units as against their official 120,000. If it is so, the Presidential Election of 21st April was more than flabbergasting. Lets apply AIVT X TVC ÷ NOPUN again on 30,000 polling units. Therefore: 2 minutes x 35,365,752 = 70,731,504 minutes 70,731,504 minutes = 2,357.7168 minutes 30,000 Polling Units 2,357.7168 minutes = 39.2 Hrs of non-stop automated voting 60 Now AIVT at 2 minutes for official 7 hrs of voting at 30,000 polling units will give you TVC of 6,300,000. Reduce AIVT to 1 minute you will have TVC of 12,600,000. But 30,000 polling units is still subject to confirmation from INEC. Please intervene in public awareness here in Nigeria and abroad. This formular can work in any election with specific voting time. BABAGANA TAIDUMA, GOLDEN GABLE CONSULTANTS, SUIT 5, N/HOOD CENTRE, 12TH CRESCENT, KADO ESTATE, ABUJA 7th MAY 2007 TEL: 08033143530 Posted by pappilo| 25.05.2007 04:08

Bablo  JJC

# 6 @pappilo, That's some very interesting calculations I reckon can be posted as an article to allow members corroborate or disprove your basis and the results. Thanks. Posted by Bablo| 25.05.2007 08:22