By Ilobi Austin
Prof. Jega’s appointment as the chairman of the INEC was widely
hailed by major stakeholders, from the six geo-political zones of the country;
irrespective of party affiliation or stand on the current raging zoning debate.
This high rate of acceptance of his
nomination was a national tribute to his personal attributes, as promoted by
his life-long associates. These otherwise coveted personal qualities, it seems,
is set to be eroded as the count down to the 2011 general elections commences under his supervision,
with his maiden press conference.
In his maiden press conference to outline his visions for the
commission, he seemingly gave conditions under which he could guarantee a free
and fair election, next year. Amongst the conditions was his demand of between
#55 billion and #72 billion for the preparation of a fresh voter’s register and
then, an amendment of the laws relating to the conduct of the election, to give
him more time to carry out the registration exercise. Alternatively, he said he
could disinfect the existing register—also at a staggering cost—with the likelihood
of eliminating 20% of the germs, therein, in other words, a 20% reduction in
pro-rigging actions and inactions, from the INEC side.
As at the time he was addressing the press and by extension, the
public on the above conditions and others, there was no information in the
public domain that suggested that he had addressed the presidency and the
legislature who have the legal power to meet his conditions, by way of
presenting them with figures of estimates and had met a brick wall, in both
arms.
What he has achieved with his conference is nothing but a depletion
of the commission’s resources on the psychological preparation of the minds of
Nigerians to accept the old order of things while craftily exonerating himself
from any blame—He is only distributing blame, in advance for.
Check this scenario: Dr. Goodluck contest for the office of the
president, against the zoning agreement of the founding fathers of his party
which produced him and every occupant of any political position in the country,
today, as is being mooted in some quarters, and Jega’s 20% reduction in rigging
is manifested in the South-South states, that is, using the up-graded voters
register option while rigging—PDP wining formula— is massively encouraged in
the North and possibly, the South-East where he is bound to come against
oppositions, then Jega throws his hands up in the air and shouts out, “I said it!”
and afterwards, with the support of the biased southern based press that can
deodorize issues that are morally reprehensive and offends common sense when it suits their interest, launches into a
circus show across the country on the theme, elections, preparation, funding
etc. with a view to diverting attention from the real issue, which is that the
election has been rigged, as usual.
Prof. Jega has no business with the press, for now. His concern, for
now, should be with putting financial figures to all the activities of INEC
towards the conduct of the general election and the submission of same to the
federal executive council for the onward delivery to the Distinguished Senator David
Mark led National Assembly, for passage. And this is not the time for any estacode
connected activities like visits to the commission out posts. As
for his demand on the electoral laws, he should be told that the laws are not
an ad hoc rules and regulations designed for just the 2011 elections.
He should think creatively and not demand more time—the wish of the
anti-zoning, pro Goodluck elements—to do a simple registration exercise when
top drawer technological on such matters already exist. He should talk to the
GSM service providers, as a starter.
Ilobi Austin sent in this piece via thinkingaustin@gmail.com