Oh, At Last, We Are Here!

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

This Saturday, Nigerians will pour into the streets to find out if Professor Maurice Iwu and his “Independent” National Electoral Commission (INEC) were really serious when a few days ago they once again assured the nation that they were ready to conduct the April 14 and 21 elections.

Indeed, the desire for change in many Nigerians has reached fever pitch, and become so palpable. What has become clear is that so many people are eager to perform their constitutionally assigned role this Saturday to ensure that this long-awaited change comes. It is to be hoped that nothing would happen to reward their pleasant expectation with devastating disappointment.

It should be quite clear that the change most people crave so much, perhaps, more than any other, is that the current (outgoing) gaggle of garrulous, incompetent fellows at Aso Rock should just give way to some other people come May 29, and they can’t wait to embrace April 21 to do what is expected of them to ensure that this happens. In fact, to some people, just anybody can reclaim Aso Rock, so long as he was not part of the outgoing most disappointing mob.

The abysmal failure of the outgoing regime in virtually all spheres of life has so traumatized Nigerians that many now feel that no other leadership can be worse than it. What they are saying is that the exit of the current regime in Aso Rock will mark the end of the worse of the worst in Nigeria.

I just hope they are right. What I think I strongly believe, however, is that our environment is changing, for the better. Nigerian citizens are beginning to shed the colonial view of government as some kind of oracle or god that must not be questioned by any “ordinary person”, and have in fact started looking into the eyes of their rulers to demand responsible leadership and accountability from them.

What this means is that the end of the Obasanjo regime would automatically translate to the end the Kabiyesi syndrome or what has been variously described as Babacrazy. I foresee a much freer (even if not less corrupt) National Assembly. I foresee many threats and actual enactments of impeachments, even at the highest level of governance. I see excesses by chief executives in the states and at Aso Rock thoroughly abridged.

As I look at the various presidential candidates, I fail to locate any Emperors waiting to be crowned, to ride roughshod on Nigerians, and be rewarded with superfluous praises by an army of sycophants. Yes, the sycophants would still be there, but I see the level of impunity that marked this expiring era being drastically reduced. I see rulers realizing that the populace would no longer be content to watch them passively as they squander the nation’s resources and mortgage the people’s future. I see them fearing the possibility of immediate repercussions, yes, serious challenges from a citizenry that has lost patience with incompetence and shameless thievery.

Also, I see a Presidency that would shed its current excessive weight and powers, and limitless access to funds. I see a truly federal structure emerging.

Again, I foresee a Presidency that can even be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and kicked out in disgrace. Change is here, my people, and I am so excited.

The states too will not be spared this refreshing wind of change. I wonder how many governors that will be on their seats to celebrate their first hundred days in office.

By the time the gods that imposed them on the people have all become powerless ex-emperors, chances are many of them would be shoved aside. Very soon, also, Iwu and his INEC would take the backstage, and many of the genuine cases brought against some candidates, which it had conveniently ignored, would be properly tried in courts of competent jurisdiction. I don’t see the judiciary easily jettisoning its post-Uwais vibrancy and recovering independence. What I see are judges who would not like to end up like Wilson Egbo-Egbo, and would stand up to be counted on the side of decency and justice. Indeed, the vestigial remains of this decadent era, where people catch thieves with horribly soiled hands, where mere scums and renegades are planted in positions of responsibility, would soon be blown away by the cleansing wind of the new era that is coming.

What I see, therefore, is that some candidates who have remained reluctant to clear the clouds swirling around their hideous pasts would have no place to hide again. Yes, those who had made false declarations in their INEC forms will be put in their right places, as their matters would surely receive fair hearings in the courts, after the lords of lawlessness, who derive peculiar animaiton from obtructing the course of justice,  have left the stage. Indeed, I can’t see any godfather after this dark era who would successfully manipulate the judiciary to kill such celebrated cases.

By the way, has anyone located any of Prof Iwu’s polling centres? Has anyone seen where he has displayed the voters’ registers for the elections that are just a couple of days away? Please, if you have, just give me a call and I would go and see the wonder with my own eyes.

Again, who can say with assurance that his name would eventually be found in the voters’ register which Iwu till now (Tuesday afternoon) has refused to display?

Or is this part of the winning formula of the “largest party in Africa” which INEC does not pretend anymore it has great sympathy for?

Well whatever happens this Saturday, I am confident that Nigeria would never remain the same after April 14 and 21 no matter what next Iwu will bring out from his bag of tricks. There is a wind of change blowing across the landscape, and it can only sweep away anyone that tries to resist it.

I am still hopeful… And watching...

scruples2006@yahoo.com 

www.ugochukwu.blog.com 

Robot  Villager

# 1 This Saturday, Nigerians will pour into the streets to find out if Professor Maurice Iwu and his ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 10.04.2007 11:50

britroyal1  Villager

# 2 I think you're being overly optimistic. We have a situation where the candidate for election was basically handpicked by the incumbent despite the plethora of more qualified and able candidates, the INEC is in league with the administration so as to ensure the "victory" of the specified candidates, there is no viable opposition as those running against the PDP are either corrupt, incompetent, irrelevant or a combination of all three (With the possible exception of patrick utomi, but the system doesn't facilitate his candidacy). To make matters worse, even when the PDP candidate wins (and nothing short of a miracle would avert that), we can be sure that his presidency would be a continuation of baba's presidency because he was handpicked by him. The situation is laughable and it is ridiculous to expect the validation of democracy here. My only prayer is that chaos akin to the June 12 situation does not erupt after the elections. Let us have a peaceful transition even though the process of election was via political thievery and lawlessness. Posted by britroyal1| 10.04.2007 12:47

villagembr  Villager

# 3 If anyone calls you that he or she has located any of the polling centers, please, call me too. I would like to see for myself as well. Anyway, I like your optimism. Nigerians can't wait any longer for a better Nigeria without lawless executives. Posted by villagembr| 10.04.2007 13:06

Ugochukwu  Villager

# 4 =britroyal1;167350>I think you're being overly optimistic. We have a situation where the candidate for election was basically handpicked by the incumbent despite the plethora of more qualified and able candidates, the INEC is in league with the administration so as to ensure the "victory" of the specified candidates, there is no viable opposition as those running against the PDP are either corrupt, incompetent, irrelevant or a combination of all three (With the possible exception of patrick utomi, but the system doesn't facilitate his candidacy). To make matters worse, even when the PDP candidate wins (and nothing short of a miracle would avert that), we can be sure that his presidency would be a continuation of baba's presidency because he was handpicked by him. The situation is laughable and it is ridiculous to expect the validation of democracy here. My only prayer is that chaos akin to the June 12 situation does not erupt after the elections. Let us have a peaceful transition even though the process of election was via political thievery and lawlessness. **************************************** I agree with you about my being "overly optimistic." But I also think the whole grotesque set-up in Nigeria today will backfire. I foresee an implosion in the PDP, not in the polity. To be frank with you, I don't see the PDP surviving after this election. If indeed it does, it will be a different kind of party, which, even if filled with criminals, would at least be a place where many people would be free to say their minds. I can't see any emperor somewhere again dictating and hand-picking candidates. 2007 is already a spilt milk. We are already looking beyond that. But some beneficiaries of the fraud will not last long in the feast. They will surely be blown away -- that's my point. The judiciary, we hope, would keep aflame their current new fire. Definitely some criminals who will benefit from the fraudulent polls would not last in those offices. Now on another note: Imagine this scenario: assuming the people of ODI and ZAKI IBIAM decide after May to drag OBJ to the UN Human Rights Court for crimes against humanity, do you think that Ya'Adua, even if he is successfully rigged into office this April, would be willing to resist the pressure from the UN and the US to give him the Charles Taylor treatment? I so much doubt it. You may wish to see again an article I had earlier published here captioned: "After The OBJ Primaries" http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/ugochukwu-ejinkeonye/after-the-obj-primaries.html That's why I see hope... If eventually I am wrong, that would only confirm one thing: I am still human... Posted by Ugochukwu| 10.04.2007 13:36

Shoko Loko Bangoshe  Villager

# 5 Ugochukwu, Can I ask you just one question - why do you believe that the PDP will implode after the 2007 election? Is this what you hope will happen, or are there signs of weakness you can see already? What events or stories point to these signs? Posted by Shoko Loko Bangoshe| 10.04.2007 14:11

ozoodoo  Villager

# 6 =britroyal1;167350>I think you're being overly optimistic. We have a situation where the candidate for election was basically handpicked by the incumbent despite the plethora of more qualified and able candidates, the INEC is in league with the administration so as to ensure the "victory" of the specified candidates, there is no viable opposition as those running against the PDP are either corrupt, incompetent, irrelevant or a combination of all three (With the possible exception of patrick utomi, but the system doesn't facilitate his candidacy). To make matters worse, even when the PDP candidate wins (and nothing short of a miracle would avert that), we can be sure that his presidency would be a continuation of baba's presidency because he was handpicked by him. The situation is laughable and it is ridiculous to expect the validation of democracy here. My only prayer is that chaos akin to the June 12 situation does not erupt after the elections. Let us have a peaceful transition even though the process of election was via political thievery and lawlessness. I think we should not pre-judge this Yar Adua of a Man. This is the first time a university graduate is having a fair go at power. Having him there may not be the perfect outcome that we all cherish but I would see such scenario as the fruit of a more realistic efforts of taking the country back, bit by bit, from the imbeciles that have held power in Nigeria for so long. Posted by ozoodoo| 10.04.2007 14:12

Ugochukwu  Villager

# 7 =Shoko Loko Bangoshe;167377>Ugochukwu, Can I ask you just one question - why do you believe that the PDP will implode after the 2007 election? Is this what you hope will happen, or are there signs of weakness you can see already? What events or stories point to these signs? Shoko, Many people in the PDP today are still there NOT b/c they still believe in the party, but because they dread the consequences of daring to opt out, or even air their grievances, which is sudden appearance in a newly, hastily drawn up EFCC and ICPC list of corrupt politicians! How many governors in the PDP following Baba's campaign train around the country do not have their own "Plan B", that is, secretly, funding the candidates of other parties? How many of those who "accepted happily" the presidential order to pack up their ambitions to make way for anointed candidates are truly happy today? PDP is a congregation of bitter people, who dare not give expression to their feelings, b/c of the current oppressive air choking the party. But when that oppressor air is gone, everybody would be free to assert his new found freedom, air his grievances and demand his pound of flesh. If that won't cause an implosion, then, that would be another miracle of the 21st century. I hope you have heard that Ladoja has defected to the Labour Party. Many others are still too afraid to say where they are! Posted by Ugochukwu| 10.04.2007 14:45

britroyal1  Villager

# 8 =ozoodoo;167378>I think we should not pre-judge this Yar Adua of a Man. This is the first time a university graduate that we can relate to intellectually is having a fair go at power. Having him there may not be the perfect outcome that we all cherish but I would see such scenario as the fruit of a more realistic efforts of taking the country back, bit by bit, from the imbeciles that have held power in Nigeria for so long. Normally, I would agree with you. However, considering the fact that this guy was cherrypicked in a most machiavellian manner despite the vast array of more competent (albeit flawed) candidates, I am quite wary. That he is a university graduate is admirable but when his actions (and the actions of many politicians) don't reflect the education he got. Education should teach respect for the rule of law, to eschew corruption and for God's sake to abolish ridiculous institutions like sharia law. When you then include the "Obasanjo factor" and his running mate jonathan goodluck (never has a man been more ironically named), one cannot but be concerned at least. Like I said though, my prayer is for post-election peace no matter what commander in thief emerges Posted by britroyal1| 10.04.2007 15:16

ikechukwu  Villager

# 9 Ugochukwu, First answer me where is your own polling booth? I will be suprised if you have an answer. It is quite sad. What is playing out in Nigeria is just madness of the highest order. First let me challenge whoever believes INEC has what it takes to do the election to point out the polling booth he is going to vote. Ofcourse the ground is set for the declaration of Yaradua as the President elect (if obj is sincere with him o! in this criminal game ) whether we like it or not.I have said it that , there is no free and fair election on the ta ble come April. INEC has deliberately bungled the election. What I have found out fro m people clamoring for the election is that they, themselves, can not see any concret e measures taken by INEC on these elections to be succesful, what they are banking on now is just sentiment. No tangible or concrete structure on the ground by INEC becau se it is all a deliberate design. Under this present scenario anybody hoping or thi nking he is contesting election, not under PDP, but on another party will be lucky if INEC records that he even voted for himself. The election as it is now can not hold, not because we want it to be so, but because \'the owners of Nigeria\' want it so an d theyve made everything possible for it to be so. Holding the election is a disser vice to Nigeria as a country and Nigerians as a people. there is no way what Iwu is p romising us can ever be election, because, abinitio, Iwu has already messed it up./ It is foolhardy for anyone to say there is enough preparation for election to be hel d in april because ther is none and the person knows it. I challenge anyone with co ntrary opinion on INEC preparations to come out, first he shoud point at his polling booth for me today, wednesday, 11-04-07, for an election that will hold on saturday. Posted by ikechukwu| 11.04.2007 12:13